See all 5 routes on Wolf River
Wisconsin | Northwoods Wisconsin
Wolf River
Hwy 52 to West Hollister Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Wolf River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
Hwy 52 access (Lily)Open mapBoth 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-inOpen mapThe take-out is near the next rapid zone, so do not drift past your exit while you are distracted or tired.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Both landings are backed by Wisconsin DNR access records, but check parking conditions on the ground before you leave a vehicle.
- The take-out is near the next rapid zone, so do not drift past your exit while you are distracted or tired.
Watch for
- Shallow boulder gardens at lower flows.
- Pushier hydraulics and faster swims when the flow climbs.
- Cold water and downed trees on blind corners.
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.
No approved route photos yet
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Wolf River at Langlade, 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 | 500 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 250 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 |
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.
- 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.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Wolf River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Wolf River?
Paddle Today watches Wolf River at Langlade, WI and treats 500 cfs to 1,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Wolf River route start and end?
This route starts at Hwy 52 access (Lily) and ends at West Hollister Road carry-in, about 6.5 mi on the water.
Is this Wolf 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.