See all 5 routes on Namekagon River
Wisconsin | St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Namekagon River
Hayward Landing to Stinnett Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Namekagon River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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
Use Hayward Landing to Stinnett for the short upper-middle Namekagon day route. The reach starts fast and rocky, then alternates clearer main channel, islands, sloughs, and calmer stretches before Stinnett.
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
Hayward LandingThis card starts at Hayward Landing. If launching at the dam landing upstream, scout the dam-adjacent current and the known first-mile strainer before committing.
Take-out
Stinnett LandingStinnett is the planned take-out. Continuing to Groat or Springbrook adds more rapids and should be treated as a separate route decision.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- This card starts at Hayward Landing. If launching at the dam landing upstream, scout the dam-adjacent current and the known first-mile strainer before committing.
- Stinnett is the planned take-out. Continuing to Groat or Springbrook adds more rapids and should be treated as a separate route decision.
- Use Riverway landings and designated campsites only; private banks and side channels are not assumed bailout points.
Watch for
- Fast first miles below Hayward, Warder Rapids, Fox Slough riffles, a known tricky strainer below the dam landing, and shallow or blocked side channels.
- Low water near the 50 cfs floor, when light craft may still pass but loaded canoes can scrape or require channel picking.
- Cold water, floating wood, fast post-rain rises, tubing traffic near Hayward, and private or restricted banks.
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
Why this score
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 | Namekagon River at Leonards, 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 | 50 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 Hayward-to-Stinnett Leonards gauge notes |
| 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.
- Exact route reportHayward Dam / Hayward Landing to Stinnett, 9.1 miles
WRT documents the route, access, rapid character, side-channel hazards, campsites, Stinnett take-out, and Leonards gauge notes including 250 cfs normal and roughly 50 cfs as a useful low-water context for light craft.
- Official Riverway mapNamekagon Map 2
NPS Map 2 documents Hayward-to-Trego river character, Stinnett chute, Class I rapids downstream, Riverway rules, and designated-campsite regulations.
- WTG segment supportN2 Hayward Landing to Springbrook Landing
WTG documents the broader N2 route, access chain, novice/riffle rating, campsite rules, warm-weather season, and GPX coordinates for Hayward, West River, Stinnett, Groat, and Springbrook landings.
- Current gauge check57.9 cfs / 1.45 ft at 2026-07-22 23:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Leonards discharge and stage during this run, just above the selected minimum-only floor.
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
Namekagon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Namekagon River?
Paddle Today watches Namekagon River at Leonards, WI and uses 50 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Namekagon River route start and end?
This route starts at Hayward Landing and ends at Stinnett Landing, about About 9.1 mi on the water.
Is this Namekagon 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.