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Kansas | Northeast Kansas
Kansas RiverOgden to Wamego
Long upper-Kaw continuation from Ogden to Wamego through Manhattan and St. George. Friends of the Kaw documents the public access chain, and the Wamego gauge sits in the take-out corridor for a direct same-day level check.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Ogden and take out at Wamego for a full upper-Kaw continuation through Manhattan and St. George. The Wamego USGS gauge measures the take-out corridor, so it may not represent conditions across this long, exposed reach.
Access map
Put-in
Ogden Access RampThe Ogden ramp is straightforward, but same-day mud, sand, and trailer traffic still affect launch conditions.
Take-out
Wamego Access RampThe Manhattan K-177 / Fairmont ramp mid-corridor often has a sandbar at the toe, and nearby Blue River current can change when Tuttle Creek releases rise.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at the Wamego ramp beneath the K-99 bridge first, then drive back to Ogden. Inspect Wamego before launching because the approach often involves passing under the bridge and turning upstream next to the bank after a very long day.
Additional access notes
- At Wamego, Friends of the Kaw says it is often advisable to pass under the K-99 bridge and turn upstream next to the bank to reach the ramp.
- Stay with public ramps and legal sandbar stops between the high-water marks. The banks above the river are private property.
More route and safety guidance
- Check Blue River and Tuttle Creek release context before launching, and scout the bridge-area approach into Wamego if the current is pushy.
- Stay with public ramps and legal sandbar stops between the high-water marks; do not use private banks as planned rest or bailout points.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Kansas River at Wamego, KS. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Kansas River at Wamego, KS |
| 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 1,500 cfs to 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 8,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Friends of the Kaw safety bands and USACE Kansas River recreation flow impacts |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Public put-inOgden Access Ramp, RM 163.4
Friends of the Kaw lists the Ogden ramp with GPS 39.10503, -96.69633, river-left access, trailer parking, and public amenities.
- Public take-outWamego Access Ramp, RM 128.5
Friends of the Kaw lists the Wamego ramp with GPS 39.19828, -96.30537 under the K-99 bridge, with public parking, a wide concrete ramp, and easy access to town services.
- Route distanceAbout 34.5 mi
Friends of the Kaw says Ogden to Manhattan is about 14 miles, Manhattan to St. George is 12 miles, and St. George to Wamego is 8.5 miles, which supports this longer combined public route.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 06887500 at Wamego
This USGS station provides direct Kansas River discharge readings near the Wamego take-out. Check the latest value and trend along with weather and local river conditions before launching.
- Flow safety bands1,000 / 1,500-5,000 / 8,000 cfs
Friends of the Kaw recommends novice paddlers stay below 5,000 cfs and everyone else below 8,000 cfs, while USACE recreation guidance supports the difficult-below-1,000 and no-impact 1,500-5,000 calibration.
- Mid-route and take-out caveatsManhattan sandbar, Blue River release context, and Wamego bridge turn
The Ogden and Manhattan pages note the sandbar at the Manhattan ramp and Blue River release effects near Tuttle Creek, while St. George warns that approaching Wamego often works best by passing under K-99 and turning upstream next to the bank.
- Camping supportPublic sandbar camping between high-water marks
Friends of the Kaw says the Kansas River is public, sandbar camping is allowed without a special permit, and private banks above the high-water mark remain off-limits.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- Friends of the Kaw Kansas River access map
- Friends of the Kaw Ogden access
- Friends of the Kaw Manhattan K-177 / Fairmont access
- Friends of the Kaw St. George / Boggs Landing access
- Friends of the Kaw Wamego access
- Friends of the Kaw Paddle FAQ
- Friends of the Kaw camping on the Kaw
- USACE Kansas River recreation appendix
- USGS 06887500 Kansas River at Wamego
Other routes nearby
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