See all 4 routes on La Crosse River
Wisconsin | Western Wisconsin
La Crosse River
Veterans Memorial County Park to Holiday Heights Park
Check current paddling conditions for this La Crosse 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 from the Veterans Memorial Campground canoe landing on the La Crosse River and take out at Holiday Heights Landing in Holiday Heights Park. The first miles are straighter and noisier near I-90, while the lower half has better sandbanks, faster current, and bluff views.
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
Veterans Memorial Campground canoe landingLa Crosse County publishes campground coordinates for Veterans Memorial Campground and confirms river access; Wisconsin River Trips notes the actual canoe landing is inside the campground and parking may be several hundred feet from the water.
Take-out
Holiday Heights Park / Holiday Heights LandingHoliday Heights Park is a public Onalaska park, and Wisconsin River Trips describes the landing as a good public-access take-out with parking but no restroom.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- La Crosse County publishes campground coordinates for Veterans Memorial Campground and confirms river access; Wisconsin River Trips notes the actual canoe landing is inside the campground and parking may be several hundred feet from the water.
- Holiday Heights Park is a public Onalaska park, and Wisconsin River Trips describes the landing as a good public-access take-out with parking but no restroom.
- The Holiday Heights access road can be easy to miss from Highway 16; confirm the turn pattern before leaving a shuttle vehicle.
Watch for
- Fast strainers and tight gaps around downed wood, especially in the second half of the trip.
- Pushier current and covered sandbars above about 500 cfs on the La Crosse gauge.
- Minor Class I current around I-90 and changing wood after storms or spring runoff.
- Campground traffic, bike-trail traffic, and limited take-out amenities.
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 | La Crosse River Near La Crosse, 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 |
| Target band | 301 cfs to 400 cfs |
| Low threshold | 0 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 La Crosse River - Veterans Memorial Campground depth guide |
| 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.
- Depth guide301-400 cfs target
Wisconsin River Trips treats 301-400 cfs as the average target range, 401-500 cfs as high but navigable, 501-600 cfs as very high and skilled-paddler-only, and 601+ cfs as perhaps too high for enjoyable paddling.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05383075
USGS operates the La Crosse River Near La Crosse, WI monitoring location used by Wisconsin River Trips for this lower-river route.
- Route shape8.6 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents Veterans Memorial Campground to Holiday Heights Park as an 8.6-mile route normally taking about three to four hours.
- Put-in supportVeterans Memorial Campground canoe landing
La Crosse County lists Veterans Memorial Campground at N4668 County Road VP with GPS coordinates, confirms it is located on the La Crosse River, and related trail/campground materials list a canoe landing.
- Take-out supportHoliday Heights Park / landing
Onalaska records Holiday Heights Park as a public city park, while Wisconsin River Trips describes Holiday Heights Landing as a public-access take-out with parking.
- HazardsFast strainers and high-water push
Wisconsin River Trips reports fast current, minor Class I riffles, and several strainers that should be avoided or portaged if a paddler is not comfortable squeezing past.
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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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
La Crosse River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling La Crosse River?
Paddle Today watches La Crosse River Near La Crosse, WI and treats 301 cfs to 400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this La Crosse River route start and end?
This route starts at Veterans Memorial Campground canoe landing and ends at Holiday Heights Park / Holiday Heights Landing, about 8.6 mi on the water.
Is this La Crosse River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.