WPG
A canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting guide to Wisconsin's most popular paddle rivers.

distance:

most difficult rapids:

approx. trip time:

elevation drop:

average gradient:
(feet per mile)

17.5 miles

class I

8 hours

59 feet

3.4 fpm

Namekagon River (N5)
Fritz Landing, Hwy 77 to Riverside Landing, Hwy 35

This is another popular section for full-day trips and overnight canoe camping. From Fritz Landing the river flows through a varied landscape of open marsh, lowland forest and rolling hills. Beautiful groves of birch, ash, maple, spruce and pine are common. A large number of wooded islands fork the river adding to the wonderful scenery. The water is usually very clear, often revealing a sandy river bed.

This stretch is almost completely flat-water with only two class 1 rapids worth noting. The first occurs where the Namekagon nears the St Croix River confluence, and the second is on the St Croix in the main channel alongside Big Island. Neither of these rapids should pose a problem for most novice paddlers except during high flows.

Paddlers seeking a fun 'back country', multi-day expedition may not find a better stretch of river in Wisconsin than can be found in the thirty-five mile stretch between the County K Landing on the Namekagon, and Riverside Landing on the St Croix! Just realize that when you hear wolves howling and yelping on a full moon night, they are usually much farther away than they sound... usually.

The last three and a half miles of this section are on the St Croix River.

Season

This section is usually navigable throughout the warm-weather season.

River Level Information

on the web: National Park Service website
phone contact: NPS, Namekagon River Visitor Center; 715.635.8346

Namekagon River (N5)Fritz Landing, Hwy 77 to Riverside Landing, Hwy 35

Season

River Level Information

Namekagon River (N5)
Fritz Landing, Hwy 77 to Riverside Landing, Hwy 35