See all 6 routes on Mecan River
Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Mecan River
Cumberland Road to 11th Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Mecan River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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
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.
Put-in
Cumberland Road bridge accessOpen mapWRT 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 accessOpen map11th Road has a bridge take-out and nearby public fishing parking, but check shoulder space, mud, vegetation, and other users before leaving a vehicle.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
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 | 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 |
| Data confidence 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
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
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.