See all 6 routes on Mecan River
Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Mecan River
Mecan Springs Boat Ramp to 9th Avenue
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 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.
Put-in
Mecan Springs Boat RampOpen mapMecan 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 accessOpen mapWRT 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.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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
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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 |
| 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 |
| Data confidence 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
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 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.