Chippewa River — Dunnville to Durand (Lower): River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 27, 10:45 AM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
Estimated range
2,200 cfs
1.9 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05369500
Runnable 1,000 – ? cfs
What this means today
At 2,200 cfs the Chippewa River is 1,200 cfs above the 1,000 cfs minimum for this reach. There is no published upper bound for this section, so the reading tells you it is floatable, not how pushy it is.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 2,270 cfs to 2,200 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 2,200 cfs and 2,310 cfs, ending roughly where it started.
Paddling Dunnville to Durand (Lower)
Chippewa River at Dunnville to Durand (Lower) is a 10.25-mile Flatwater float in Wisconsin — no rapids under normal flows, just moving water and the odd riffle. Most paddlers put in at Dunnville / County Y landing and take out at Durand (Veterans Memorial Park), a trip that runs about 3.5 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at above 1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Chippewa River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05369500 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–October. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Flatwater
- Length
- 10.25 mi
- Float time
- ~3.5 hr
- Best months
- April–October
- Put-in
- Dunnville / County Y landing
- Take-out
- Durand (Veterans Memorial Park)
Reading USGS gauge 05369500 — CHIPPEWA RIVER AT DURAND, WI ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Chippewa River — Dunnville to Durand (Lower)?
- This section is generally runnable at above 1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Chippewa River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05369500 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Chippewa River — Dunnville to Durand (Lower) good for beginners?
- This is a flatwater section — no rapids under normal levels — so it's beginner-friendly when the gauge is in range. High water changes everything: cold, fast water is dangerous for anyone.
- When is the best time to paddle Chippewa River here?
- Typically April–October, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Chippewa River — Dunnville to Durand (Lower)?
- This reach is about 10.25 miles, roughly 3.5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.