Wisconsin · Langlade, WI

Wolf River float season

Gauge 04074950 on the Whitewater sections near Langlade. Granite-ledge rapids strung between quiet pine flats have made this Wisconsin's storied whitewater pilgrimage for rafters and boaters.

raftkayakcanoe Fullest: Apr–Jun Leanest: Dec–Feb
Wolf River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 100 400 1k 1.5k
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Wolf River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Langlade gauge, the Wolf River runs fullest Apr–Jun and leanest Dec–Feb. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past April days at this gauge ran above 778 CFS; the August median is 281 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 290
February 285
March 380
April 778
May 544
June 422
July 318
August 281
September 317
October 365
November 398
December 330

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1966 — 60 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 2,750 CFS, in July 2020. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.

Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.

More Wisconsin float rivers

Common questions

When is the Wolf River usually at its fullest?

At the Langlade gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Apr–Jun, with the single highest monthly median in April (about 778 CFS). The leanest months are usually Dec–Feb.

What is a typical summer flow on the Wolf River?

The July median at this gauge is about 318 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Late summer is this river's lean season, so expect readings to drift down as the season goes on.

Is the Wolf River safe to float right now?

No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 59 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.

Which USGS gauge does this page use?

USGS gauge 04074950 (WOLF RIVER AT LANGLADE, WI), chosen because it best represents the Whitewater sections near Langlade. Daily records here reach back to 1966.

Data: USGS gauge 04074950, approved daily records 1966–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.