Wisconsin | Northern Wisconsin

White River

Maple Ridge Road to Highway 112 Dam

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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.

Level Checking Checking
Trend Checking Checking 24h change
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Recent trend

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Difficulty moderate Mostly class I-II, but nearly continuous current, boulder gardens, and the dam finish reward paddlers who can read lines and stay attentive for the full day.
Permits None noted No route-specific permit is known. Access rules at Maple Ridge Road and the Highway 112 dam area still deserve a same-day check before you leave a vehicle.
Camping Day trip No dependable on-route camping is confirmed. Treat this as a long day trip unless you separately confirm legal overnight options.
Season May-Sep Late spring through early fall is the core window. Cold shoulder-season water and hydro-related fluctuation make the route less forgiving than its class rating alone suggests.

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, shuttle, and map

Put in at Maple Ridge Road near Mason and take out above the Highway 112 dam / flowage. This is a full moving-water day with a dam-finish mindset, not a casual float.

Start

Put-in

Maple Ridge Road Access Open map

Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes WGS84 coordinates for Maple Ridge Road Access and Highway 112 Dam Landing, but official landing or parking authority is weaker than on the strongest DNR-led routes.

Finish

Take-out

Highway 112 Dam Landing Open map

Do not drift toward the dam or restricted area at the take-out. Treat the finish as a deliberate exit, not a soft glide into flatwater.

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

Access caveats

  • Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes WGS84 coordinates for Maple Ridge Road Access and Highway 112 Dam Landing, but official landing or parking authority is weaker than on the strongest DNR-led routes.
  • Do not drift toward the dam or restricted area at the take-out. Treat the finish as a deliberate exit, not a soft glide into flatwater.

Watch for

  • Nearly continuous current and class I-II features with fewer easy bailout points than a typical family float.
  • Boulder gardens, strainers, and pin risk that become more serious as levels rise.
  • Hydropeaking or diurnal fluctuation, plus cold-water exposure outside midsummer.

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.

Read quality
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Today'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.

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Tomorrow and weekend

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site White River near Ashland, WI
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24h trend Checking
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Target band 1.35 ft to 1.75 ft
Low threshold 1.10 ft
High threshold 2.60 ft
Data confidence behind the range Local route guidance
Gauge observed Checking
Paddle Today updated Checking
Main source behind this score MilesPaddled White River same-route gauge note
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What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Exact-route gauge note 1.47 ft / 200 cfs = recommended

    MilesPaddled ties this exact Maple Ridge to Hwy 112 route to a recommended day around 1.47 ft / 200 cfs on the White River gauge near Ashland.

    Source

  • Route guide 14.9 miles; Class II

    Wisconsin Trail Guide documents White River WH1 from Maple Ridge Road Bridge to Highway 112 Dam as a 14.9-mile novice route with frequent riffles, low-hazard rapids, and Class II as the most difficult rapid rating.

    Source

  • Published coordinates 46.43755, -91.02610 to 46.49834, -90.91032

    Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes NAD83 / WGS84 coordinates for Maple Ridge Road Access and Highway 112 Dam Landing.

    Source

  • Primary caution Continuous current plus dam take-out

    This is not a drift-and-chat river. Quick current, boulder gardens, frequent riffles, and the dam finish mean consequence rises before the number alone looks extreme.

  • USGS gauge note Hydropeaking / diurnal fluctuation possible

    USGS remarks mention hydroelectric-plant-driven fluctuation, so the same reading can feel less stable than on a free-flowing scenic river.

    Source

  • Access confidence Named guide access points

    Wisconsin Trail Guide identifies both endpoints as Maple Ridge Road Access and Highway 112 Dam Landing, and its map labels the route with canoe/kayak access symbols. Official manager landing pages remain weaker than on the strongest DNR-led routes.

    Source

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White River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling White River?

Paddle Today watches White River near Ashland, WI and treats 1.35 ft to 1.75 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this White River route start and end?

This route starts at Maple Ridge Road Access and ends at Highway 112 Dam Landing, about 15 mi on the water.

Is this White 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.