See all 6 routes on Namekagon River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
Namekagon RiverBig Bend Landing to Trego Town Park
NPS's 7.7-mile Big Bend-to-Trego day paddle takes about two to four hours, with Earl Park as an intermediate landing and a shallow islanded finish below Highway 63. The upstream Leonards gauge provides context; check local water before launching.
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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
Put in at Big Bend Landing and take out at Trego Town Park Landing. Expect a mellow wooded first half, a prettier busier stretch past Earl Park, and a slower braided finish toward Trego that gets scratchier first when the river is low.
Access map
Put-in
Big Bend LandingDo not confuse the Trego Town Park finish with the permanently closed Lakeside Road picnic area and parking lot called out on the NPS maps page.
Take-out
Trego Town Park LandingNPS's current Namekagon Map 2 identifies Trego Town Park Landing. The stored point is an access-area anchor in the active campground corridor, not a surveyed waterline toe; confirm the public carry and parking signs, especially during busy summer periods.
Road shuttle
Short paved-road shuttle in the Trego area. Several local outfitters run Big Bend, Earl, and Trego shuttles, but a simple two-car setup is easy if you are self-supporting.
Additional access notes
- This route is beginner-friendly by Riverway standards, but the take-out still deserves a same-day look if your group has not used the Trego landing before.
More route and safety guidance
- NPS reports occasional rock gardens, quicker current near Highway 63, and a braided island finish where low water can require scraping or walking. Stay in the main channel, reassess the island section if the gauge is low, and allow extra time for channel picking.
- Confirm the exact landing before launching. NPS identifies Big Bend and Trego Town Park on the section map, while the Lakeside Road picnic area and parking lot in Trego are permanently closed; expect campground and tubing traffic around Earl Park and Trego and follow posted access rules.
More trip guidance
Before you go
Plan the Big Bend-to-Trego finish
The final channels and the choice of landing matter as much as the easy difficulty label.
Budget the full NPS time range
NPS lists 7.7 miles and two to four hours. Add stops and the vehicle shuttle separately; Earl Park provides an intermediate landing for planning.
Reassess the channels near Trego
Below Highway 63, islands divide a wider, slower channel. NPS specifically identifies this area as prone to scraping in dry periods and advises using the main channel.
Keep the flowage a separate trip
Use Trego Town Park as this trip’s finish. NPS describes the downstream Trego Flowage as a five-mile extension with slow current and motorboat traffic; continuing changes the outing.
Guides and maps checked . We have not inspected this trip in person. Check with the launch manager for current access and closures.
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Conditions
Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.
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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
Namekagon River at Leonards, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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
Guides and maps checked 2026-10-19. We have not inspected this trip in person.
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 trip detail7.7 miles; 2 to 4 hours
NPS lists Big Bend to Trego as an easy middle-Namekagon trip with occasional riffles and rock gardens.
- Official level context150 to 230 cfs normal; 650+ cfs high
The NPS current-conditions dataset uses the Leonards gauge as the Namekagon river-level reference and publishes 150 to 230 cfs as Normal Level with High Level above 650 cfs.
- Route characterEasy with occasional rock gardens
NPS says the first half is lazy and sandy, the stretch near Earl Park is more scenic and popular, and quicker current appears as the river approaches Highway 63 in Trego.
- Low-water cautionScraping possible near the islands below Highway 63
NPS says this stretch is generally floatable throughout the season, but low-rainfall periods can require scraping or walking, especially after Highway 63 near the islands.
- Access qualityNPS landings and town-park finish
NPS Section Map 2 names Big Bend Landing and Trego Town Park Landing, and the Town of Trego confirms its campground sits on the Namekagon River at the take-out area.
- Useful amenities4 campsites; potable water at Earl Park Landing
NPS lists four campsites on this trip, including group-site support and potable water at Earl Park Landing.
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 Namekagon River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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