See all 3 routes on Manitowoc River
Wisconsin | East-Central Wisconsin
Manitowoc RiverNorth Union Road to Manitowoc River Public Access / Mill Road
Longer lower-Manitowoc water-trail day from North Union Road to the Mill Road public access, with direct-gauge minimum guidance and I-43 rapid caveats.
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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
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.
Access map
Put-in
North Union Road accessMRW 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 RoadMiles Paddled publishes GPS for the Mill Road public access and cautions that the lower access can be poor depending on water level.
Road shuttle
Stage at Manitowoc River Public Access near Mill Road/North Rapids Road, then launch from North Union Road. Scout the take-out first because sources warn the public access can be difficult or impossible at some levels.
Additional access notes
- North Union has limited roadside parking; the Mill Road access has park-style support but should still be checked before the shuttle.
More route and safety guidance
- The public access park can be difficult at some water levels; scout the take-out before shuttling.
- Expect private banks, wood, cold water in spring, manure-runoff water-quality concerns after rain, and few easy exits on the long lower reach.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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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 | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength 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 |
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 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.
- 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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