Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
Tomorrow RiverRising Star Mill, Nelsonville to Amherst Dam
A 6.5-mile Tomorrow River paddle from the public Rising Star Mill landing in Nelsonville to the downtown Amherst dam take-out, with clear water, quick riffles, a narrow channel, and a short flowage finish.
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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
A clear-water Tomorrow River day from Nelsonville to Amherst, ending above the Amherst dam. The direct gauge and route-specific observed level support a conservative low-water screen, but the narrow channel, cold water, and mandatory dam take-out require same-day inspection.
Access map
Put-in
Rising Star Mill landing, NelsonvilleRising Star Mill and the Amherst take-out are named route endpoints, but confirm current parking, landing, and event conditions before launching.
Take-out
Amherst downtown dam take-outThe Amherst dam is a hard route boundary. Do not continue downstream or attempt an improvised portage.
Road shuttle
Stage the Amherst dam take-out first, then shuttle to the Rising Star Mill landing in Nelsonville. Miles Paddled describes a roughly six-mile bike or car shuttle; verify parking and landing conditions before launch.
Additional access notes
- The source's upper access descriptions include steep or awkward launches; use a stable entry and do not slide into fast current.
More route and safety guidance
- Take out above the Amherst dam at the named downtown public area. Do not run, line, or portage the dam without a separate plan and current local confirmation.
- Stay within the public river corridor and use only the named landing and take-out. Carry a properly fitted PFD, whistle, phone, and a way to exit if trees or rising water block the channel.
- Cold spring-fed water and private banks make an accidental swim consequential; do not treat the minimum-only gauge reference as a safety guarantee.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Short-route forecast
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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
Tomorrow River near Nelsonville, 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.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Tomorrow River near Nelsonville, 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 34 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Tomorrow River recorded paddling level |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route-specific trip reportRising Star Mill to Amherst Dam, 6.5 mi
Miles Paddled documents both endpoint pairs, GPS coordinates, route distance, difficulty, and the 33.5 cfs observed paddling level.
- Public access contextTomorrow River Wayside and Portage County access network
Portage County identifies public Tomorrow River access, including Tomorrow River Wayside on Highway Q near Nelsonville; the route's named Rising Star Mill landing is corroborated by the route source and local visitor materials.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 04080798 Tomorrow River near Nelsonville
USGS publishes continuous discharge and gage-height telemetry for the direct station near Nelsonville.
- Minimum-only threshold33.5 cfs observed trip level
Use this as a conservative low-water screen only; it is an observed community trip level, not a full ideal/high ladder or guarantee of safe conditions.
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
Nearby routes within 75 miles
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