Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Hay River
County Road FF to Highway 25 at Wheeler
Check current paddling conditions for this Hay River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Paddle the clear, sandy Hay River from County FF to Highway 25 at Wheeler. The river is scenic and riffly, but WRT reports many deadfalls and two portages at the selected reference level.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
County Road FF Hay River accessCounty FF is an informal bridge-area put-in with poison ivy noted by WRT; confirm legal parking and carry-in footing before unloading.
Take-out
Highway 25 at Wheeler take-outCounty N is the only mid-route bridge noted in the overview and should not be assumed as a routine exit without a same-day access check.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- County FF is an informal bridge-area put-in with poison ivy noted by WRT; confirm legal parking and carry-in footing before unloading.
- County N is the only mid-route bridge noted in the overview and should not be assumed as a routine exit without a same-day access check.
- Highway 25 has road-traffic exposure. Know the take-out line before reaching the bridge.
Watch for
- More than 20 deadfalls or snags, including pass-throughs and likely portages.
- Steady riffles, cold water, sandy footing that can hide holes, and limited bailouts.
- Private banks, poison ivy, and higher-water strainer hazards after storms.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Hay River at Wheeler, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Hay River Dunn County route-day level |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Exact route reportCounty Road FF to Highway 25 at Wheeler, 9.9 miles
WRT documents the route endpoints, distance, 4.5-hour trip time, deadfall count, two portages, and Highway 25 take-out indicators.
- Route-day threshold250 cfs / about 4 ft at Wheeler
WRT ties the route to the Hay River at Wheeler gauge and reports the completed trip at 250 cfs, a bit below median.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05368000 Hay River at Wheeler
USGS locates the Wheeler gauge just downstream from the Highway 25 bridge and 2.4 miles below the South Fork Hay River.
- Current gauge check206 cfs and 3.59 ft at 2026-07-16 16:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current direct-gauge values below the selected minimum-only floor during this run.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Hay River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Hay River?
Paddle Today watches Hay River at Wheeler, WI and uses 250 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Hay River route start and end?
This route starts at County Road FF Hay River access and ends at Highway 25 at Wheeler take-out, about About 9.9 mi on the water.
Is this Hay River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.