See all 3 routes on Manitowoc River
Wisconsin | East-Central Wisconsin
Manitowoc River
North Union Road to Manitowoc River Public Access / Mill Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Manitowoc River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Paddle the longer lower-Manitowoc continuation from North Union Road to the Mill Road public access. This is a committed day with the I-43 rapid complex, boulder gardens, private banks, water-quality caveats, and a direct-gauge floor rather than an invented upper cutoff.
Put-in
North Union Road accessOpen mapMRW lists North Union Road and Manitowoc River Public Access as downstream water-trail sites, and Manitowoc County identifies the river access west of the County R bridge.
Take-out
Manitowoc River Public Access / Mill RoadOpen mapMiles Paddled publishes GPS for the Mill Road public access and cautions that the lower access can be poor depending on water level.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- MRW lists North Union Road and Manitowoc River Public Access as downstream water-trail sites, and Manitowoc County identifies the river access west of the County R bridge.
- Miles Paddled publishes GPS for the Mill Road public access and cautions that the lower access can be poor depending on water level.
- North Union has limited roadside parking; the Mill Road access has park-style support but should still be checked before the shuttle.
Watch for
- A nearly mile-long Class I-II rapid and boulder-garden area around I-43, especially at higher whitewater flows.
- Low-water scraping below the selected 250 cfs floor, fresh strainers, bridge debris, and fast rises after rain.
- Private banks, limited exits, cold spring water, and manure-runoff water-quality concerns after storms.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Manitowoc River II recommendations |
| 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.
- Official access chainNorth Union Road to Manitowoc River Public Access
MRW lists North Union Road and the Manitowoc River Public Access as downstream water-trail sites; Manitowoc County also describes the public river access west of the County R bridge.
- Route split and mileageNorth Union to Manitowoc River Access Park, about 11.3 mi
Wisconsin River Trips lists the North Union-to-Manitowoc River Access Park option and notes the nearly mile-long Class I-II rapid complex under I-43 on the lower route family.
- Gauge recommendation250 cfs minimum floor selected
Miles Paddled frames 250-500 cfs as an ordinary paddler band for the lower Manitowoc family, while higher dedicated-whitewater flows start around 500 cfs; the app uses only the conservative floor.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 04085427 22.6 cfs / 4.13 ft at 2026-07-23 10:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Manitowoc River at Manitowoc data during this run, well below the selected floor.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Manitowoc River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Manitowoc River?
Paddle Today watches Manitowoc River at Manitowoc, WI and uses 250 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Manitowoc River route start and end?
This route starts at North Union Road access and ends at Manitowoc River Public Access / Mill Road, about About 11.3 mi on the water.
Is this Manitowoc River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.