See all 5 routes on Pine River
Wisconsin | Northeast Wisconsin
Pine River
Stevens Lake Road to Chipmunk Rapids
Check current paddling conditions for this Pine 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 Stevens Lake Road and take out at the USFS Chipmunk Rapids landing. The reach is mostly flowing flatwater with Class I-II rapids and useful intermediate access checks at Highway 139 and Fay Lake Road.
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
Stevens Lake Road bridge put-inStevens Lake Road parking is along the road only.
Take-out
Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area landingThe Highway 139 optional take-out is river left below the bridge with swift current; be set up early if using it.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Stevens Lake Road parking is along the road only.
- The Highway 139 optional take-out is river left below the bridge with swift current; be set up early if using it.
- Fay Lake Road is an undeveloped optional exit with roadside parking, not a polished public launch.
- At Chipmunk Rapids, use the landing 150 feet below the bridge and the path to the USFS parking/campground area.
Watch for
- Stevens Creek Rapids, long Class I swifts toward Highway 139, and Class II Chipmunk Rapids near the finish.
- Private land along the first Chipmunk Rapids drop before the channel re-enters USFS land.
- Low-water scraping below 2 ft, stronger bridge eddies at higher water, strainers, cold water, and remote road logistics.
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 | Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, WI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 |
| Target band | 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.00 ft |
| High threshold | 10.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Pine B gauge correlation |
| 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.
- AW route9.9 mi, Class I-II
American Whitewater lists Pine B from Stevens Lake Road to Chipmunk Rapids as a 9.9-mile Class I-II reach with about four hours of paddle time.
- AW gauge correlation2 to 10 ft
The current AW page serializes the USGS 04064500 correlation as a 2 ft low-runnable floor and 10 ft high-runnable ceiling for Pine B.
- Access coordinatesStevens 45.87403, -88.68587; Chipmunk 45.89334, -88.55771
AW publishes coordinate-backed access records for Stevens Lake Road and the Chipmunk Rapids take-out; the page also documents Highway 139 and Fay Lake Road optional exits.
- USFS endpoint supportChipmunk Rapids Recreation Area
The Forest Service says Chipmunk Rapids is on the Pine River, has carry-in canoe access nearby, and includes campsites, potable water, and a vault toilet.
- Live gauge checkUSGS 04064500 at 1.88 ft / 177 cfs
USGS Water Services returned current data for Pine River below Pine River Powerplant near Florence at 2026-07-22 17:00 CDT.
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
Pine River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Pine River?
Paddle Today watches Pine River Below Pine River Powerplant near Florence, WI and treats 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Pine River route start and end?
This route starts at Stevens Lake Road bridge put-in and ends at Chipmunk Rapids Recreation Area landing, about About 9.9 to 10.1 mi on the water.
Is this Pine 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.