See all 3 routes on La Crosse River
Wisconsin | Western Wisconsin
La Crosse RiverHighway 108 / County C to Veterans Memorial County Park
Short West Salem moving-water route from the public landing below the Neshonoc dam to the Veterans Memorial campground landing. It has riffles, a class II former-dam ledge, and a direct downstream La Crosse gauge with route-specific guidance.
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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 below the West Salem / Neshonoc dam area and take out at Veterans Memorial County Park for a compact La Crosse River moving-water route. The La Crosse gauge is currently inside the preferred window but near its high end, so expect brisker current than a low-water day.
Access map
Put-in
Highway 108 / County C public landing below Neshonoc damLaunch below the dam/outflow area. Do not drift upstream toward the dam or treat the powerhouse/tunnel outflow as part of this route.
Take-out
Veterans Memorial County Park canoe landingThe Veterans Memorial campground landing is marked from the water but easier to miss from land. Scout it before launching.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out inside Veterans Memorial County Park first, then launch below the Highway 108 / County C dam area. Identify the campground landing from land because it is easy to miss from the river.
Additional access notes
- The former-dam ledge downstream from County M can be portaged on river left only where access is legal and practical; do not use private river-right yards.
More route and safety guidance
- The former-dam ledge downstream from County M is class II and should be read from the boat or scouted where legal. Avoid being sideways in the rocks.
- Leaning branches and strainers sit in fast current even though the segment is normally logjam-free. High water reduces reaction time.
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Conditions
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View at the gauge
La Crosse River Near La Crosse, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
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Recent notes from paddlers
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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 | La Crosse River Near La Crosse, WI |
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| Preferred range | 300 cfs to 450 cfs |
| Low threshold | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | 601 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips and Miles Paddled West Salem / La Crosse gauge notes |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Exact route reportHighway 108 to Veterans Memorial Campground, 4.2 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the public landing by Highway 108, Veterans Memorial Campground take-out, 4.2-mile distance, riffles, and former-dam class II ledge.
- Gauge bands300-450 cfs useful, 601+ too high
Wisconsin River Trips says 300 cfs is typical, 250 cfs is rarely reached, above 450 cfs gets ugly, and 1000 cfs happens only a few times a year. Miles Paddled separately points downstream West Salem-to-Mississippi paddling toward about 450 cfs at the La Crosse gauge.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23435 cfs / 3.05 ft at 2026-07-23 01:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Endpoint coordinates43.91421, -91.07612 to 43.89187, -91.11906
Miles Paddled publishes coordinates for the below-dam Highway 108 / County C put-in and Veterans Memorial County Park take-out.
- Campground endpointVeterans Memorial County Park
La Crosse County lists Veterans Memorial Campground on the La Crosse River, with a normal camping season and park services. Treat camping as endpoint campground support, not informal river camping.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on La Crosse River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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