Michigan | Southeast Michigan
Huron River
Argo Park Canoe Livery to Gallup Park Livery
Check current paddling conditions for this Huron 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
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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
Launch at Argo Park Canoe Livery, run the Argo Cascades or use the appropriate city launch option for your craft, then continue through Ann Arbor parkland to Gallup Park Livery. Use the Ann Arbor USGS gauge plus same-day livery, signage, and visual checks because the Cascades are dam-adjacent and can be crowded.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Argo Park Canoe Livery public launchArgo and Gallup are City of Ann Arbor facilities with seasonal livery operations, launches, parking, restrooms, and rentals; hours and shuttle availability change by season.
Take-out
Gallup Park Livery public launchThe Gallup marker is the City-mapped boat dock at the canoe livery. The livery parking area is northwest of the dock and is stored separately; do not confuse this endpoint with the separate trailer boat ramp farther east in Gallup Park.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Argo and Gallup are City of Ann Arbor facilities with seasonal livery operations, launches, parking, restrooms, and rentals; hours and shuttle availability change by season.
- The Gallup marker is the City-mapped boat dock at the canoe livery. The livery parking area is northwest of the dock and is stored separately; do not confuse this endpoint with the separate trailer boat ramp farther east in Gallup Park.
- Canoes may be launched downstream of the Cascades under city livery operations, while kayaks, rafts, tubes, and properly skilled private paddlers use the Cascades according to current rules and signage.
- The Barton Dam / Barton Pond closure is upstream of this route, but it affects longer Huron River trip planning and should not be treated as a usable upstream portage.
Watch for
- Argo Cascades drops, rock chutes, and pools; scout from the adjacent path if you have not run them before.
- Crowded summer weekends with kayaks, rafts, tubes, paddleboards, rowboats, and livery traffic sharing a short corridor.
- Low, high, or changing dam-adjacent levels; verify current livery rules, boat availability, and visual conditions even when the Ann Arbor gauge looks acceptable.
- PFAS advisories on the Huron River include avoiding contact with foam and washing hands, pets, and gear after exposure.
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 | Huron River at Ann Arbor, MI |
| 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 |
| Target band | 400 cfs to 1,700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 80 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,700 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Huron River at Ann Arbor gauge bands |
| 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.
- Official trip shape3.5 miles / about 1.5 hours
The Huron River Water Trail / HRWC Washtenaw trips page lists Argo to Gallup as a 3.5-mile, 1.5-hour trip, and the Ann Arbor page says it is the Huron River's most popular trip with a paddle down the Cascades drops and pools to Gallup Livery.
- Public endpointsCity of Ann Arbor liveries
City pages identify Argo Park Canoe Livery at 1055 Longshore Drive and Gallup Park Livery at 3000 Fuller Road, with boat launches, canoe/kayak rentals, parking, and restrooms.
- Gauge bands80 / 400-1,700 / 1,700 cfs
American Whitewater lists 80-400 cfs as less ideal, 400-1,700 cfs as runnable/playable, and 1,700 cfs and above as generally washed out for the Huron River at Ann Arbor gauge family.
- Whitewater featureArgo Cascades
HRWC describes Argo Cascades as a moderate manmade series of 1.5- to 2-foot drops between pools that bypass Argo Dam, with a paved path for walking back to the top.
- Current-condition supportUSGS 04174500
The City of Ann Arbor points paddlers and residents to the USGS Huron River gauge for discharge, gauge height, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and turbidity.
- Closures and advisoriesBarton closure upstream; PFAS foam advisory
HRWC river conditions list the Barton Dam / Barton Pond access closure through 2027 upstream of this route and PFAS advisories that include avoiding contact with river foam.
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
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Quick answers
Huron River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Huron River?
Paddle Today watches Huron River at Ann Arbor, MI and treats 400 cfs to 1,700 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Huron River route start and end?
This route starts at Argo Park Canoe Livery public launch and ends at Gallup Park Livery public launch, about 3.5 mi on the water.
Is this Huron 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.