See all 6 routes on Mecan River
Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Mecan River
Cumberland Road to 11th Road
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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 at Cumberland Road and take out at 11th Road for a fast, narrow, clear upper-Mecan spring-creek run. Chaffee Creek is only a rough proxy, so bridge visuals and recent wood reports control the final go/no-go call.
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
Cumberland Road bridge accessWRT no longer recommends the upstream pre-Cumberland approach because the first 500 feet can be congested; use the direct bridge-side launch if footing and current are manageable.
Take-out
11th Road bridge access11th Road has a bridge take-out and nearby public fishing parking, but check shoulder space, mud, vegetation, and other users before leaving a vehicle.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- WRT no longer recommends the upstream pre-Cumberland approach because the first 500 feet can be congested; use the direct bridge-side launch if footing and current are manageable.
- 11th Road has a bridge take-out and nearby public fishing parking, but check shoulder space, mud, vegetation, and other users before leaving a vehicle.
- The Chaffee Creek proxy can miss exact upper-Mecan water level. Treat marginal scores as a reason to scout, not as permission to force the run.
Watch for
- Low branches, slide-overs, and short easy portages, especially in the faster first mile.
- Cold water, narrow blind bends, shallow riffles, and fresh wood after storms or wind events.
- Private banks and tight rural-road parking along the access chain.
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
Data and sources
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 | Chaffee Creek at I-39 near Coloma, WI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 3.56 ft to 3.65 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.55 ft |
| High threshold | 3.71 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Cumberland Road Chaffee Creek stage estimates |
| 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.
- Route reportCumberland Road to 11th Road, 3.9 miles
WRT documents the exact route, KML access points, public parking, logjam/current notes, and Chaffee Creek stage bands.
- Recent clearing statusOpen with low trees reported after 2024-2025 updates
WRT comments report Mad City Paddlers cleared Cumberland-to-Y in 2024 and a 2025 Cumberland-to-Dakota trip found no complete blockages, only duck-unders.
- Current gauge check3.62 ft / 11.6 cfs at 2026-07-22 22:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned this fresh Chaffee Creek reading inside the selected WRT usable band.
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.
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
Mecan River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mecan River?
Paddle Today watches Chaffee Creek at I-39 near Coloma, WI and treats 3.56 ft to 3.65 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Mecan River route start and end?
This route starts at Cumberland Road bridge access and ends at 11th Road bridge access, about About 3.9 mi on the water.
Is this Mecan 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.