Namekagon River
★ Wild & Scenic
Bayfield / Sawyer Co. · 98 mi · Class I–II
1,870CFS/ 1.96 ft
Above Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 200–800 CFS · USGS #05333500
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (NPS) · National Wild & Scenic River
The Namekagon is the northern arm of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — 98 miles of pristine northwoods paddling from Namekagon Lake near Cable to its confluence with the St. Croix at Riverside. Crystal-clear water over sand and gravel, Class I–II riffles, and virtually no development make this one of the finest multi-day canoe trips in the Midwest.
Trip sections
Namekagon Lake to Hayward — 30 mi, intimate headwaters
Hayward to Trego — 35 mi, classic northwoods corridor
Trego to Riverside — 33 mi, wider river, excellent camping
Outfitters
Namekagon Paddle & Bike
Canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle service along the Namekagon
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.