USGS Gauge: 190 sq.mi.

USGS lists this site being 5.2 mi upstream from mouth. So, for anyone curious about paddling all the way to the lake, that would be your total distance. However, for whitewater paddlers, there is very little of interest beyond our listed take-out in Quarry Park. There may be a few areas minor splishy-splash waves, but predominantly it will be merely swiftwater and flowing water until it reaches backwater level of Lake Michigan, which it does nearly two full miles before actually reaching the lake!

The Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC) has canoes and kayaks for rent (roughly Memorial weekend through end of September). Many recreational paddlers talk about 'paddling the Root River' as they paddle here. While that is technically correct, at all but the highest flows this area is paddled upstream nearly as easily as downstream! To me, that makes it just an extension of the lake and the harbor (in essence, paddling not a river, but a long narrow bay of the lake).