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 snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
County Road FF Hay River accessOpen mapCounty 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-outOpen mapCounty 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.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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 |
| Data confidence 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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.