See all 6 routes on Namekagon River
Wisconsin | St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Namekagon RiverCounty Road K Landing to Whispering Pines Landing
NPS's 9.9-mile County K–Whispering Pine day paddle on the Namekagon is mostly flatwater with brief Class I riffles, eight campsites (two group), and the Leisure Lake trail near river mile 29.3.
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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
This NPS-listed 9.9-mile day trip runs from County Road K to Whispering Pine through mostly calm water and a few short Class I riffles. Islands and bends make the reach feel secluded; back channels can be blocked by debris or vegetation. Eight designated campsites (two group) are listed for this stretch, and the Leisure Lake trail is near river mile 29.3 on river left.
Access map
Put-in
County Road K LandingStart at County Road K Landing below the Trego Dam/flowage corridor. Do not fold the upstream dam portage into this card.
Take-out
Whispering Pines LandingWhispering Pines is the default exit. Howell, Fritz, McDowell, and Riverside are separate downstream planning choices.
Road shuttle
Stage Whispering Pines Landing first, then return to County Road K Landing below the Trego Dam corridor. Verify both Riverway landings before launching because this is a secluded lower Namekagon reach with limited exits.
Additional access notes
- NPS and WTG describe this recommended day trip as 9.9 miles; a 2024 WRT trip log records 11.0 miles for the same named endpoints. Allow for route and distance-measurement variation.
- Riverway camps are first-come and designated only; do not assume private banks, islands, or sandbars are legal overnight stops.
More route and safety guidance
- Island side channels can be shallow, blocked, or strainer-prone. Stay in the main channel when water is low or visibility is poor.
- The route is secluded with limited exits. Carry repair, communication, and warm layers even though the rapid rating is easy.
More trip guidance
Before you go
Plan the County K day paddle
Use the official itinerary for the day plan and treat a past paddler’s gauge observation as a separate kind of evidence.
Allow for the longer day
NPS gives 9.9 miles and three to six hours. Its islanded, mostly calm route differs from the shorter Big Bend–Trego outing. Check the listed distance discrepancy before treating a recorded GPS mileage as exact.
Understand what 155 cfs establishes
The 155 cfs Leonards reading belongs to one May 2024 trip report. It is evidence of that outing, not a minimum or a calibrated range. This guide therefore supplies planning and station context without a same-day score. Check current river information and local observations before departure.
Plan the exit before exploring islands
NPS warns that back channels may be obstructed by debris or vegetation. Locate Whispering Pine on Map 3 before leaving County K; downstream landings belong to a longer itinerary.
Guides and maps checked . We have not inspected this trip in person. Check with the launch manager for current access and closures.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
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Plan ahead
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.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Guides and maps checked 2026-10-20. 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.
- Exact route reportCounty K to Whispering Pines, 11.0 miles
A May 2024 trip report records these named endpoints as an 11.0-mile, 3-hour paddle and notes Leonards at 155 cfs / 1.99 ft that day. The single reading is not a published minimum-flow threshold.
- WTG recommended splitCounty K to Whispering Pines, 9.9 miles
WTG identifies this as one of the National Park Service's recommended single-day paddles. Its fourteen-campsite count applies to the broader 17.5-mile County K-to-Fritz N4 segment.
- Official Riverway mapNamekagon Map 3
NPS Map 3 covers Trego to Riverside Landing, including County K, downstream riffles, islands, rocky sections, safety rules, and designated-campsite regulations.
- NPS route descriptionCounty K to Whispering Pine, 9.9 miles
NPS lists a 3–6 hour easy trip with short Class I sections, eight campsites (two group sites), and the Leisure Lake Hiking Trail near river mile 29.3. It says the reach is generally floatable, with infrequent scraping possible during particularly low rainfall.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2257.9 cfs / 1.45 ft at 2026-07-22 23:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
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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