See all 3 routes on Manitowoc River
Wisconsin | East-Central Wisconsin
Manitowoc RiverClarks Mills Dam carry-in to County Road S / Game Protection Site
Short upper-Manitowoc water-trail segment below Clarks Mills Dam, with official access support, Lower Cato Falls scouting, and a direct Manitowoc USGS gauge.
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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 Clarks Mills Dam for the short ledgy upper-Manitowoc segment to County Road S. The reach is compact but not casual: Lower Cato Falls, boulder gardens, private banks, and water-quality issues after rain all need a conservative scout.
Access map
Put-in
Clarks Mills Dam carry-in below damMRW lists the Clarks Mills site as a carry-in just below the dam with adjacent parking; do not launch upstream of the dam.
Take-out
County Road S / Manitowoc County Game Protection SiteLower Cato Falls County Park provides public scouting access via steep stairs to the river. The available sources do not establish a bypass carry around the falls; do not launch unless every paddler is prepared to run the rapid safely.
Road shuttle
Stage the County Road S / Game Protection Site take-out first, then launch only from the carry-in below Clarks Mills Dam. Walk the take-out and scout Lower Cato Falls from Lower Cato Falls County Park before committing.
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Clarks Mills Dam carry-in below dam to County Road S / Manitowoc County Game Protection Site is about 2.7 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- County Road S / Game Protection Site is the selected take-out; verify parking and footing before launching because flows and mud can change access quality.
More route and safety guidance
- Scout Lower Cato Falls from the public park before launching. The park's stair access reaches the river but does not establish a bypass carry; do not launch unless every paddler is prepared to run the rapid safely.
- Expect fast current, boulder gardens, strainers, manure-runoff water-quality concerns after rain, private banks, and limited legal bailout choices.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Manitowoc River at Manitowoc, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
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 | Manitowoc River at Manitowoc, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 101 cfs to 300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 60 cfs |
| High threshold | 501 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Manitowoc River depth guide |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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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.
- Official access chainClarks Mills Dam to County Road S
The Manitowoc River Watershed water-trail access inventory lists the carry-in below Clarks Mills Dam, Lower Cato Falls County Park, the County Road S/Game Protection Site, and downstream bridges as public water-trail sites.
- Route split and hazardsClarks Mills to County S, about 2.7 mi
Wisconsin River Trips breaks the upper Manitowoc into Clarks Mills-to-County-S and County-S-to-North-Union pieces, notes the dam-adjacent launch, Lower Cato Falls, strainers, fast current, and water-quality concerns.
- Whitewater corroborationCato ledges and direct gauge
American Whitewater documents the Manitowoc A/Cato reach with bedrock ledges, Lower Cato features, County Road S take-out, and USGS 04085427 as the gauge.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 04085427 22.6 cfs / 4.13 ft at 2026-07-23 10:00 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.
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 Manitowoc River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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