See all 11 routes on St. Croix River
Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
St. Croix River
Gordon Dam Landing to Riverside Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this St. Croix 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 Gordon Dam Landing and finish at Riverside Landing after the Namekagon confluence corridor. The route is a long Wild and Scenic Riverway paddle with boulder-bed Class I-II rapids, public landing options, and enough remoteness that conservative groups should plan it as an overnight.
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
Gordon Dam LandingDo not start the full reach unless the shuttle, campsite plan, and daylight plan are realistic for a 23.4-mile trip.
Take-out
Riverside LandingIntermediate landings make shorter sections possible, but each landing and campsite should be verified on the latest NPS map before use.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Do not start the full reach unless the shuttle, campsite plan, and daylight plan are realistic for a 23.4-mile trip.
- Intermediate landings make shorter sections possible, but each landing and campsite should be verified on the latest NPS map before use.
- Bring drinking water or treatment; NPS warns river water is not safe to drink unless purified.
Watch for
- Low-water rock dodging and possible wading through boulder-bed rapids.
- Class I-II rapids before Scott Bridge, Fish Trap Rapids with no portage, and more rapids near Big Island and Riverside.
- Coppermine Dam / sluice hazards; scout the chute or use the right-side portage.
- Fallen trees, cold water, ticks, poison ivy, and slow rescue response in the upper Riverway.
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 | St. Croix River near Danbury, 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 |
| Target band | 1,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 1,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater St. Croix Gordon Dam-to-Riverside runnable range |
| 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 Riverway mapMap 4: Gordon Dam to Riverside Landing
NPS publishes the current Section 4 map for this exact St. Croix reach and says the maps show landings, picnic areas, campsites, and river miles.
- Route-specific AW reach23.4 miles; Class I-II
American Whitewater documents Gordon Dam to Riverside Landing as a 23.4-mile Class I-II reach on the St. Croix River.
- Runnable range1,000 to 3,000 cfs
American Whitewater ties the Gordon Dam-to-Riverside reach to USGS 05333500 St. Croix River near Danbury and publishes 1,000-3,000 cfs as its route-specific runnable band.
- Camping supportDesignated campsites along route
American Whitewater describes small and large designated river campsites with fire rings and pit toilets, while NPS Map 4 shows campsite and landing information for the corridor.
- Primary safety cautionsLow water rocks, sudden rapids, Coppermine Dam
NPS Map 4 warns that low water can make paddlers dodge rocks and boulders, that Class I-II rapids can come up suddenly before Scott Bridge, that Coppermine Dam should be scouted or portaged, and that Fish Trap Rapids have no portage.
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
St. Croix River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling St. Croix River?
Paddle Today watches St. Croix River near Danbury, WI and treats 1,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this St. Croix River route start and end?
This route starts at Gordon Dam Landing and ends at Riverside Landing, about 23.4 mi on the water.
Is this St. Croix 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.