River Levels
Before you pack the car, use this real-time guide to check your river’s water levels. This tool combines automated 15-minute gauge updates with decades of personal paddling experience to show you exactly which Wisconsin waterways are currently navigable, too shallow, or dangerously high.
⚠️ River safety is subjective: Ideal paddling depths vary heavily by boat type, skill level, and personal preference. Additionally, conditions can shift rapidly, and unexpected logjams can make a river stretch far more dangerous than initially expected. Always use your own best judgment and treat this table as a baseline guide.
For advanced planning, I highly recommend checking out USGS and NOAA, which feature detailed live charts and readings. Disagree with a recommendation or notice a waterway missing? Please drop a comment below to help keep this tool accurate.
| Region | Water Trail | Rating | Monitoring Site | Review | Reading | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NW WI | Allen Creek | Medium | Sugar River @ Verona | Report | 62 cfs ↗ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Alto Creek | Low (some wading) | Beaver Dam River @ Beaver Dam | Report | 56 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Arnold Creek | Medium | Black River @ Neillsville | Report | 855 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Ashippun River | Too Low (lots of wading) | Bark River @ Delafield | Report | 28 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Bad Axe River - North Fork | Too Low (lots of wading) | Kickapoo River @ Ontario | Report | 81 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Bad Axe River - South Fork | Too Low (lots of wading) | Kickapoo River @ Ontario | Report | 8.57 ft → | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Badfish Creek | Medium | Badfish Creek @ Cooksville | Report | 126 cfs ↗ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Badger Mill Creek | Too Low (lots of wading) | Badger Mill Creek @ Verona | Report | 6 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Baraboo River 1 (Upstream from Baraboo) | Medium | Baraboo River @ Baraboo | Report | 298 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Baraboo River 2 (Baraboo the City) | Low (some wading) | Baraboo River @ Baraboo | Report | 298 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Baraboo River 3 (Below Baraboo) | Medium | Baraboo River @ Baraboo | Report | 298 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Bark River 1 - Upstream from Delafield | Low (some wading) | Bark River @ Delafield | Report | 28 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Bark River 2 - Delafield to Hwy 18 | Low (some wading) | Bark River @ Delafield | Report | 28 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Bark River 3 - Hwy 13 to Hwy 106 | Medium | Bark River @ Delafield | Report | 28 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Bark River 4 - Hwy 106 to Mouth | Medium | Bark River @ Delafield | Report | 28 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Bass Creek | Too Low (lots of wading) | Sugar River @ Verona | Report | 62 cfs ↗ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| MN | Bear Creek | Too Low (lots of wading) | Middle Branch Root River @ Fillmore | Report | 90 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NE WI | Bearskin Creek | High (slightly dangerous) | Spirit River @ Spirit Falls | Report | 44 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Beaver Creek | High (somewhat dangerous) | Trempealeau River @ Dodge | Report | 700 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Beaver Dam River 1 (Upper Leg) | Too Low (lots of wading) | Beaver Dam River @ Beaver Dam | Report | 56 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SE WI | Belle Fountain Creek | High (slightly dangerous) | Fox River @ Pardeeville | Report | 8.14 ft → | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Big Eau Pleine River | Medium | Big Eau Pleine River @ Stratford | Report | 213 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Big Green River | High (somewhat dangerous) | Platte River @ Rockville | Report | 241 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Big Rib River | Medium | Big Rib River @ Rib Falls | Report | 263 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Billings Creek | Medium | Kickapoo River @ Ontario | Report | 81 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NE WI | Black Creek | Medium | Waupaca River @ Waupaca | Report | 1.73 ft ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Black Earth Creek 1 (Above Black Earth) | High (not dangerous) | Black Earth Creek @ Cross Plains | Report | 38 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Black Earth Creek 2 (Below Black Earth) | High (not dangerous) | Black Earth Creek @ Black Earth | Report | 54 cfs ↗ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Black River – East Fork - 1 (Upstream of Overguard Road) | Low (some wading) | East Fork @ East Fork Road | Report | 891.62 ft → | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Black River – East Fork - 2 (Downstream of Overguard Road) | Low (some wading) | East Fork @ East Fork Road | Report | 891.62 ft → | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Black River 1 - Above Lake Arbutus | High (somewhat dangerous) | https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?05381000 | Report | 855 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| NW WI | Black River 2 - Hatfield to Halls Creek | High (somewhat dangerous) | Black River @ Neillsville | Report | 855 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Blue River 1 - Upper | High (not dangerous) | Platte River @ Rockville | Report | 241 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Blue River 2 - Lower | High (slightly dangerous) | Platte River @ Rockville | Report | 241 cfs ↘ | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
| SW WI | Kickapooo River (Upper) | Low (some wading) | Kickapoo River @ Ontario | Report | 8.58 ft → | Jun 22, 11:42 AM |
How did your trip turn out? Questions or comments? Feel free to leave your feedback.
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