Wisconsin | Northwest Wisconsin
White RiverMaple Ridge Road Bridge to Highway 112 Dam
Remote Bayfield/Ashland County White River run from Maple Ridge Road to the Highway 112 Dam landing, with long riffles, Class I-II rapids, flowage-drawdown caveats, and direct Ashland gauge support.
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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
Run the WH1 White River reach from Maple Ridge Road to the Highway 112 Dam landing. The first miles are remote and wooded; the lower half adds frequent riffles, Class I-II rapids, ledges, strainers, and a mandatory stop at the flowage/dam boundary.
Access map
Put-in
Maple Ridge Road BridgeThe Highway 112 landing is the mandatory plan stop. Do not continue below the dam or into drawdown-exposed drops without a separate whitewater plan.
Take-out
Highway 112 Dam / Xcel Energy LandingThe Ashland gauge is direct, but AW and Miles Paddled evidence makes the current 181 cfs reading low for this route. Scout before committing at marginal levels.
Road shuttle
Stage the Highway 112 / White River Flowage take-out first, then drive back to Maple Ridge Road. Confirm the flowage is not drawn down and that the take-out above the dam is usable before launching.
Additional access notes
- Private banks and remote forested corridors limit casual bailouts. Carry repair, insulation, and enough daylight for a long shuttle day.
More route and safety guidance
- Expect a long remote day with fast riffles, Class I-II rapids, overhanging trees, deadfall, and few simple bailout options.
- At 181 cfs during this run the AW-linked gauge is below the selected floor, so treat the route as low/scrapy until same-day readings recover and a visual check confirms enough water.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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
White River near Ashland, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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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 | White River near Ashland, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 201 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 | American Whitewater White River WH1 flow guidance |
| 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.
- Official-style route familyWTG WH1 Maple Ridge Road Bridge to Highway 112 Dam, 14.9 miles
Wisconsin Trail Guide maps the route, access pair, distance, Class I-II rapids, ledges, gradient, and nearby camping context.
- Whitewater reach and gaugeAW White River WH1, Class I-II, USGS 04027500
American Whitewater documents the same reach ending at the Highway 112 flowage/dam and ties it directly to the White River near Ashland gauge.
- Endpoint coordinates46.43763, -91.0262 to 46.49858, -90.90995
Miles Paddled publishes GPS coordinates for the Maple Ridge put-in and Highway 112 Dam take-out and reports 200 cfs as a recommended near-floor level.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16181 cfs and 0.76 ft at 2026-07-16 18:35 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
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
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