See all 4 routes on Wolf River
Wisconsin | Northwoods Wisconsin
Wolf RiverHwy 52 to West Hollister Road
Short rocky Wolf River warm-up with class I-II rapids and multiple boulder-garden lines. This is one of the clearer gauge-driven whitewater-ish day trips in the old repo, but it still deserves a moderate-skill stance.
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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
Put in at Hwy 52 in Lily and take out at West Hollister just above Burnt Point Rapids. This is a compact bouldery run, not a lazy scenic float.
Access map
Put-in
Hwy 52 access (Lily)Both landings are backed by Wisconsin DNR access records, but check parking conditions on the ground before you leave a vehicle.
Take-out
West Hollister Road carry-inThe take-out is near the next rapid zone, so do not drift past your exit while you are distracted or tired.
Road shuttle
Vehicle shuttle is easiest. A bike shuttle on the Wolf River State Trail is possible if your group wants it.
More route and safety guidance
- The Langlade gauge is 8.3 river miles downstream. Check its trend and recent rain as well as the reading; Wisconsin Trail Guide warns that wood hazards increase at high water and does not recommend paddling above 2,000 cfs.
- Finish at river-left Hollister Landing before continuing into Burnt Point Rapids. Identify the landing before launch so the group is ready for the take-out.
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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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
Wolf River at Langlade, 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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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Wolf River at Langlade, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 500 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Wolf River Lily-to-Hollister suggested river levels |
| 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.
- Working band250 to 2,000 cfs
Wisconsin Trail Guide says below 250 cfs is not recommended, 250-500 cfs is low runnable, 500-1,000 cfs is very good for novice whitewater paddlers, 1,400-2,000 cfs is unusually high and novice paddlers should avoid it, and above 2,000 cfs is not recommended.
- Strong target~500 cfs
Miles Paddled describes about 500 cfs as an awesome level for this exact Lily to Hollister section.
- Too low cutoff~250 cfs
Miles Paddled treats roughly 250 cfs as the too-low cutoff point for this route.
- Access confidenceVerified
Both landings are backed by Wisconsin DNR boat-access inventory records.
- Route character6.4 miles, Class I-II
Wisconsin Trail Guide and the National Rivers Project describe Lily to Hollister as a 6.4-mile upper Wolf route with riffles, Class I-II rapids, boulder gardens, islands, and DNR-managed corridor context.
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
More on Wolf River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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