The Namekagon River is the northern tributary of the St. Criox National Scenic Riverway, a federally pretected; funded wild and scenic waterway stretching from Cable to where it meets the St. Croix near Danbury. The national park service maintains primitive campsites for canoeist and overnight tenting. Most campsites are accessible by water only. Most of the Namekagon portion of the river is undeveloped offering the canoeist or kayaker a genuine wilderness experience.

The riverbanks are abundant with deer, beaver, ducks, turtles, osprey, bald eagles, river otters and occasional black bear. The Namekagon offers varying degrees of difficulty and scenary. Rapids consist of a few rippled rocks to class II rapids. Anglers can fish to their hearts content for small mouth, northern, walleye and pan fish.