Beautiful scenery and a large number of canoe campsites make this reach popular for multi-day excursions. Numerous landings make it easy to paddle shorter trips rather than taking on the whole 16+ miles. This segment features long stretches of flatwater with scattered pitches of low hazard rapids that should pose no problems for novice paddlers with basic maneuvering skills. The river continues to run through the protected boundaries of the St Croix National Scenic Riverway.
As you paddle south from Hayward, the homes and businesses disappear within a half-mile and the first named rapids occur at Warder Rapids, an easy class 1-2. Scenic hardwoods and pines surround the river with occasional areas of open bog.
More riffles and a class 1 rapids occur downstream at Fox Slough. Below Fox Slough, the river flows through an area of open marsh and splits around grassy and wooded islands. A number of creeks feed into the river throughout this stretch. The forest close in again briefly before another, longer stretch of open wetlands where you'll paddle past more stream outlets and islands.
Below Stinnett Landing, the surrounding landscape becomes drier as the river flows through an area of upland forest. Steep, wooded banks often rise sharply from the edges of the riverway with occasional sandy banks on the outside of bends. The forest continues to be a scenic mix of hardwoods and conifers.
Riffles and low-hazard rapids occur more often over the next several miles including Chippanazie Rapids, just below the Brickman Lake Road Bridge. This short rapid will rate class 1 or class 2 depending on river levels with the most challenging rip occuring in the right fork around a large wooded island. Downstream, the river continues to flow past steep wooded banks and small hills all the way to Springbrook Landing.
Even though the lower part of this segment runs close to Highway 63, it is still a scenic trip and very much worthwhile!
River Camping
The National Park Service has five individual and seven group campsites in this segment. Individual sites accommodate up to three tents and/or eight people, while the group sites hold up to six tents and/or sixteen people. There are no fees for accessing, camping, or parking in any of the National Scenic Riverway areas. There is a three night limit of stay. All sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Glass beverage containers are not allowed on the riverway!
Camping in the Chequamegon
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has three campgrounds within a 45 minute drive of this segment. All three offer online reservations; Namekagon (34 sites) and Two Lakes (94 sites) are the closest. Both are popular campgrounds located on scenic lakes with plenty of shady, secluded sites.
The third campground with reservable sites is at Moose Lake (15 sites). This one is not as popular as the previous two, but it does offer more seclusion and also sits next to a beautiful northwoods lake.
Season
This segment is usually navigable throughout the warm-weather season.
River Level Information
River levels are monitored by the National Park Service with frequent status updates on the webpage link below.
NPS Website: St Croix and Namekagon River Levels
Phone: Namekagon River Visitor Center: 715.635.8346