The Namekagon River’s headwaters are at Lake Namekagon.  From there, it flows for roughly 100 miles before reaching the Saint Croix River in northeastern Burnett County.  Being part of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, it’s uninhabited for most of its length.

Upstream from Hayward, the Namekagon is a small trout stream.  Below Hayward, it widens out, warms up slightly, and is more likely to yield smallmouth bass, walleyes, northerns, muskies, and panfish.  The Namekagon is also popular for canoeing and kayaking, especially in its lower reaches.

From Cable all the way to Trego, the Namekagon parallels Highway 63 and is never far from civilization.  But from the river, you’d hardly notice.  Then, from the Trego dam on down, the Namekagon provides a near-wilderness experience.  There’s no take-out at the mouth of the river; the next chance to pull out is at Riverside, where the Saint Croix River crosses Highway 35 above Danbury.

Along most of its length, however, the river has numerous access points.  On its upper reaches it passes near or through the towns of Cable, Seeley, Hayward, and Trego.  If you’re paddling its lower reaches, you’ll find numerous campsites that are only accessible by canoe or kayak.

The Namekagon is a Wild and Scenic River with special protections; there are few opportunities to actually live on the Namekagon.  Nearly all of the exceptions are on Hayward Lake and Trego Lake.  The river does, however, provide the sort of recreational opportunities that draw so many people to this part of the state.

Looking for a lake home, cabin, or waterfront real estate on the Namekagon River? Give me a call at 218-590-6634. Or, you can reach me at jeanhedren@edinarealty.com.