See all 5 routes on Namekagon River
Wisconsin | St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Namekagon River
Namekagon Dam Landing to Highway 63 / Cable Wayside 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
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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 Namekagon Dam Landing and take out at Cable Wayside / Highway 63 for the upper Namekagon N1 corridor. This is a scenic but shallow, rocky, and isolated Riverway day with Class I-II ledges and beaver-dam/wood exposure.
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
Namekagon Dam LandingNamekagon Dam Landing is the start. Do not treat the upstream flowage or dam structure as part of this route.
Take-out
Highway 63 / Cable Wayside LandingNPS warns the first ten miles are isolated and can become extremely low or impassable during dry conditions.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Namekagon Dam Landing is the start. Do not treat the upstream flowage or dam structure as part of this route.
- NPS warns the first ten miles are isolated and can become extremely low or impassable during dry conditions.
- Cable Wayside is the planned exit just beyond the Highway 63 bridge; identify the take-out before the shuttle feels committed.
- Riverway camping is limited to designated sites; do not improvise on islands, marsh banks, or private/restricted land.
Watch for
- Shallow rocky Class I-II rapids below the 170 cfs floor, where boats can pin or grind on ledges.
- Beaver dams, downed trees, low bridges, strainers, cold water, poison ivy, ticks, and remote rescue exposure.
- Fast rises or storm debris after rain; the Leonards gauge cannot show individual new obstructions.
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 | 170 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 Namekagon Dam route observed Leonards level |
| 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 reportNamekagon Dam to Hwy 63 Wayside, 14.7 miles
WRT documents the put-in, take-out, distance, 5.25-hour paddle time, Class I-II rapids, and a Leonards reading of 170 cfs / 2.08 ft.
- Official Riverway mapNamekagon Map 1
NPS Map 1 covers Namekagon Dam to Hayward Landing and warns of beaver dams, downed trees, low bridges, dry-condition low water, and the need to check conditions.
- WTG segment supportN1 Namekagon Dam Landing to Cable Wayside Landing
WTG lists the N1 section as 13.5 guide miles with canoe/kayak access, Class I whitewater, a 5-6 hour paddle time, one NPS individual campsite, and GPX endpoint coordinates.
- 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, below 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.
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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 170 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 Namekagon Dam Landing and ends at Highway 63 / Cable Wayside Landing, about About 14.7 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.