Wisconsin | Northwoods Wisconsin

Wolf River

West Hollister Road to Highway 64 DNR Landing

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Difficulty moderate American Whitewater lists this as Class I-II and Wisconsin River Trips frames it as the popular intermediate Hollister-to-Langlade section. It is not a lazy float: Burnt Point, Oxbow, Cedar, Hemlock, Sherry, and Larzelere rapids require line choice, boat control, and whitewater safety basics.
Permits None noted No route-specific paddling permit is known for this public-access reach. Follow posted Wisconsin DNR landing rules and confirm local parking conditions before leaving vehicles.
Camping Day trip No on-route camping is documented for this Section II day run. Treat it as a day paddle unless you separately reserve legal nearby camping.
Season May-Sep Warm-weather paddling is the normal fit. The Wolf often holds enough water through summer, but low levels make boulder gardens scrapey and higher rain-fed water makes swims more consequential.

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

Launch at West Hollister Road above Burnt Point Rapids and take out at the DNR landing just past the Highway 64 bridge in Langlade. This is the classic Section II Wolf run: scenic, clear, and approachable for novice whitewater paddlers, but still a rapids route rather than a casual flatwater float.

Start

Put-in

West Hollister Road Landing Open map

The West Hollister landing is public and route-standard, but it is a rocky carry-in with no outhouse and parking set back from the turnaround loop.

Finish

Take-out

Highway 64 DNR Landing / Langlade bridge Open map

The Highway 64 DNR landing has parking and toilets, but expect a carry from the water back to the lot.

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Access caveats

  • The West Hollister landing is public and route-standard, but it is a rocky carry-in with no outhouse and parking set back from the turnaround loop.
  • The Highway 64 DNR landing has parking and toilets, but expect a carry from the water back to the lot.
  • The take-out sits immediately after the Langlade bridge and near the USGS gauge corridor, so identify it before launching and do not drift downstream into the stronger lower Wolf sections by mistake.

Watch for

  • Class I-II boulder gardens and named rapids including Burnt Point, Oxbow, Cedar, Hemlock, Sherry, and Larzelere.
  • Scrapey rock contact below the conservative target window and pushier swims as the Langlade gauge rises above about 500 cfs.
  • Cold-water exposure, pinned feet in moving water, and limited casual bailout options in the forested corridor.

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge site Wolf River at Langlade, WI
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Target band 250 cfs to 500 cfs
Low threshold 150 cfs
High threshold 1,000 cfs
Data confidence behind the range Official and local sources
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Main source behind this score American Whitewater Wolf Section II gauge bands plus Wisconsin River Trips route notes
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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.

  • AW flow bands 250-1,000 cfs low-to-moderate runnable

    American Whitewater ties Section II to USGS 04074950 and lists 150-250 cfs as marginal bump-and-scrape, 250-1,000 cfs as low-to-moderate boatable, 1,000-2,000 cfs as moderate boatable, and 2,000-3,000 cfs as high boatable.

    Source

  • Route-specific target 200-500 cfs intermediate window

    Wisconsin River Trips says intermediate paddlers should do the Hollister-to-Langlade section at 200-500 cfs, calls 210 cfs low but workable, and warns that 500 cfs and up is for paddlers with whitewater gear and training.

    Source

  • Direct gauge USGS 04074950

    USGS locates the Wolf River at Langlade gauge at the State Highway 64 bridge, and American Whitewater notes that the gauge is at the end of the reach and accurately reflects actual flow.

    Source

  • Access coordinates 45.248, -88.8062 to 45.1901, -88.7333

    Riverfacts publishes Hollister-to-Langlade put-in and take-out coordinates that align with Wisconsin River Trips, American Whitewater, Wisconsin Trail Guide map context, and the USGS Highway 64 bridge gauge location.

    Source

  • Public take-out Highway 64 DNR Landing

    American Whitewater describes the take-out as a Wisconsin DNR-maintained public access on river right just past the Langlade bridge, with outhouses and a large parking area.

    Source

  • River character Class I-II boulder gardens

    Wisconsin Trail Guide maps the 8.3-mile Hollister-to-Langlade segment and names the main rapids, including Burnt Point, Oxbow, Cedar, Hemlock, Sherry, and Larzelere.

    Source

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Wolf River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Wolf River?

Paddle Today watches Wolf River at Langlade, WI and treats 250 cfs to 500 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 West Hollister Road Landing and ends at Highway 64 DNR Landing / Langlade bridge, about 8.3 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.

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