See all 6 routes on Mecan River
Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Mecan River
Mecan Springs Boat Ramp to 9th Avenue
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
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 the Mecan Springs Boat Ramp, explore the spring-fed headwater lake if conditions are calm, then continue past Highway GG to the 9th Avenue bridge access. The app uses Chaffee Creek as a rough proxy and keeps the route conservative because the river is shallow and woody.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Mecan Springs Boat RampMecan Springs is a DNR-owned State Natural Area with limited facilities and specific public-use rules; camping and campfires are prohibited.
Take-out
9th Avenue bridge accessWRT notes the 9th Avenue take-out is usable but small, with tight parking and No Trespassing signs on adjacent properties. Keep the exit within the right-of-way/access area.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Mecan Springs is a DNR-owned State Natural Area with limited facilities and specific public-use rules; camping and campfires are prohibited.
- WRT notes the 9th Avenue take-out is usable but small, with tight parking and No Trespassing signs on adjacent properties. Keep the exit within the right-of-way/access area.
- The Chaffee Creek gauge is a tributary proxy, not a direct Mecan gauge. Same-day visual checks at Mecan Springs, Highway GG, and 9th Avenue override the score.
Watch for
- Soft/quicksand-style spring-bottom areas in Mecan Springs; avoid wading the spring boils or shallow lake margins.
- Downed trees, duck-unders, shallow riffles, and the partially obstructed 9th Avenue culvert approach.
- Cold spring water, low-water scraping, wind across the spring basin, and private banks near the take-out.
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 |
| 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 | 10 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Mecan Springs Chaffee Creek flow 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 reportMecan Springs to 9th Avenue, 3.9 miles including spring-bay exploration
WRT documents the put-in, take-out, distance, light riffles, logjam/culvert notes, quicksand caution, and Chaffee Creek flow estimates.
- Public-land supportDNR-owned Mecan Springs State Natural Area
Wisconsin DNR says Mecan Springs protects the headwaters of the Mecan River, is DNR-owned, has public-use rules, and prohibits camping and campfires.
- Current gauge check11.6 cfs / 3.62 ft at 2026-07-22 22:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned a fresh Chaffee Creek proxy reading during this run.
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 uses 10 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Mecan River route start and end?
This route starts at Mecan Springs Boat Ramp and ends at 9th Avenue bridge access, about About 3.9 mi with spring-bay exploration; about 2.1 mi if paddled directly on the water.
Is this Mecan River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.