Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin
West Branch White River
Cottonville Avenue to South White River Road
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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.
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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 from the Cottonville Avenue DNR lot and take out at the South White River Road DNR pull-off for the cleaner West Branch White River option. Use the Chaffee Creek proxy cautiously and be ready for small-stream wood and low-bridge portages.
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
Cottonville Avenue DNR parking lotCottonville Avenue is a small DNR parking lot and hand-carry launch, not a developed boat ramp.
Take-out
South White River Road DNR pull-offSouth White River Road has a DNR pull-off and roughly 150-foot trail to the water; the shoreline can be deep enough for a dock-style dismount.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Cottonville Avenue is a small DNR parking lot and hand-carry launch, not a developed boat ramp.
- South White River Road has a DNR pull-off and roughly 150-foot trail to the water; the shoreline can be deep enough for a dock-style dismount.
- Cottonville Lane bridge is an alternate take-out just upstream, but WRT recommends the South White River Road fishing access for better parking.
Watch for
- Three downed-tree duck/portage spots from the source report, plus any fresh storm wood.
- Class I+ riffles under Highway 22 and a low trail bridge that needs an easy portage.
- Proxy-gauge mismatch, cold spring-fed water, private banks, and the impounded reach below the take-out.
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
Data and sources
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 | Chaffee Creek at I-39 Near Coloma, 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 | 13 cfs to 14 cfs |
| Low threshold | 11 cfs |
| High threshold | 15 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips West Branch White River Chaffee Creek ladder |
| 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.
- Route guide4.8 miles; 2-3 hr
Wisconsin River Trips documents Cottonville Avenue to Cottonville Lane / South White River Road as a 4.8-mile West Branch White River route.
- Public accessDNR lot to DNR pull-off
The route source describes a small DNR parking lot at Cottonville Avenue and a South White River Road DNR pull-off with a 150-foot trail to the water.
- Proxy gauge ladder12.5-13.5 cfs target; 15+ high
Wisconsin River Trips uses Chaffee Creek at I-39 as the most approximate gauge and publishes a specific West Branch depth ladder with an explicit proxy caveat.
- HazardsClass I+ riffle; wood; low bridge
The route report lists light riffles near Hwy 22, Class I+ rapids under Hwy 22, three downed trees requiring ducking or portage, and one low trail bridge portage.
- DNR corridor contextWhite River Fishery Area canoeing
Wisconsin DNR identifies the White River system as a fishery area and includes canoeing among recreational opportunities.
- Current conditions check11.9 cfs / 3.63 ft on 2026-07-17 00:00 CDT
USGS legacy current conditions showed the Chaffee Creek proxy below the preferred target but above the route-source low floor during this run.
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
West Branch White River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling West Branch White River?
Paddle Today watches Chaffee Creek at I-39 Near Coloma, WI and treats 13 cfs to 14 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this West Branch White River route start and end?
This route starts at Cottonville Avenue DNR parking lot and ends at South White River Road DNR pull-off, about 4.8 mi on the water.
Is this West Branch White River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.