See all 3 routes on Manitowoc River
Wisconsin | East-Central Wisconsin
Manitowoc RiverCounty Road S / Game Protection Site to North Union Road
Compact Manitowoc water-trail continuation from County Road S to North Union Road, using official access sites and the 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
Continue from County Road S to North Union Road for a short Manitowoc water-trail run below the Cato ledges. The route is useful as its own half-day paddle or as a connector, but shallow ledges, strainers, fast rises, and private banks keep it in a caution profile.
Access map
Put-in
County Road S / Manitowoc County Game Protection SiteMRW lists County Road S, County Road H, and North Union Road as consecutive public water-trail access sites.
Take-out
North Union Road accessNorth Union Road has limited roadside parking in the official access inventory; stage compactly and leave room for local traffic.
Road shuttle
Stage at North Union Road, then launch from the County Road S / Game Protection Site. This is a short rural shuttle, but both accesses should be checked from land because roadside parking and muddy footing are limited.
Additional access notes
- County Road S and North Union coordinates are access anchors, not promises that every water level creates an easy bank landing.
More route and safety guidance
- Expect riffles, boulder gardens, fast turns, strainers, and pushier water after rain.
- Banks are largely private away from named access sites; do not count on informal exits or on-route camping.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
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 | Manitowoc River at Manitowoc, 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
- Official access chainCounty Road S to North Union Road
MRW lists the County Road S/Game Protection Site, County Road H, and North Union Road as consecutive Manitowoc River water-trail access sites.
- Route split and mileageCounty S to North Union Road, about 3.5 mi
Wisconsin River Trips separates this reach from the Clarks Mills start and describes County S and North Union as practical public access points.
- Threshold model101-300 cfs useful; 60 low; 501+ whitewater-only
The selected model uses the WRT Manitowoc depth guide tied to USGS 04085427 and avoids inventing a different segment-specific band.
- 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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