Pecatonica River – Mineral Point Branch
While not frequented by paddlers, this is a surprisingly nice paddling stream. Scenory will include rolling hills, some cow pasture, riffles, and even some nice rock outcrops.
Trip Reports
Ludden Lake Boat Ramp to North Oak Park Road
Date Paddled: May 5th, 2018
Distance: 4.8 miles
Time: 3 hours 29 minutes (atypical...expect 2.5 hours)
If you can catch the Mineral Point Branch with enough water you'll be rewarded with a nice paddle through open pastures, rolling green hills, sandstone outcrops, and light rapids.
Read More...N. Oak Park Road to S. Oak Park Road
Date Paddled: August 23rd, 2025
Distance: 4.7 miles
Time: Expect 2 hours
The river starts fast, narrow and scenic with gorgeous rolling hills and a few outcrops. After the Sudan Branch joins up, the river doubles in size. It also becomes a little less interesting, but remains pleasant with nice open vistas and brisk current.
Read More...Oak Park Road to Hwy O
Date Paddled: July 16th, 2023
Distance: 4.6 miles
Time: Expect 2 hours
This was a surprisingly nice trip on an overlooked stretch of the Mineral Point Branch. The big highlight of this stretch are its many bankside outcrops.
Read More...Overview Map
Detailed Overview
- Mill Creek Road to Ludden Lake Boat Ramp: 4.0 miles. Very small and will require high water. Fences might be an issue. Mostly open pasture with maybe 1-2 logjams. There are likely several scenic outcrops on this section.
- Ludden Lake Boat Ramp to N. Oak Park Road: 4.8 miles. A nice paddle through open pastures, rolling green hills, occasional outcrops and some light rapids.
- Ludden Lake Boat Ramp to Ludden Dam: 0.5 miles. Ludden Lake is a popular kayaking lake that consists of a scenic rocky shore with occasional outcrops.
- Ludden Dam to Hwy 39: 0.7 miles. A fun section with maybe three Class 1 rapids and several sandstone outcrops. I am not 100% sure the land below the dam is public access, but the locals and fishermen use it all the time.
- Hwy 39 to N. Oak Park Road: 3.6 miles. A great stretch through an open valley with fast current, several larger outcrops and only one logjam.
- N. Oak Park Road to S. Oak Park Road: 4.3 miles. Starts small, fast, narrow and scenic with gorgeous rolling hills and a few outcrops. The Sudan Branch doubles the river and afterwards it becomes less interesting, but remains pleasant with nice open vistas and brisk current.
- S. Oak Park Road to Hwy O 1st Bridge: 4.7 miles. A good leg with many outcrops and no logjams.
- Hwy O 1st Bridge to Hwy O 2nd Bridge: 1.6 miles. There could be a few logjams. Likely no outcrops, but maybe one. Hwy O (2nd Bridge) marks the confluence with the main branch of the Pecatonica.
- For more paddling options on the main branch, see my Pecatonica River Overview Map.
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Comments
Thanks for the feedback. When I did the trip, water levels were pretty high and I likely took that for granted. This definitely sounds like a trip you don't want to do when low.
We did this summer of 2021. Water was rather low. Only some water on the left side (facing) of the dam. Checked a few days earlier and it would have been better then, the dam had water coming down across the whole length and water at the start of the stream was 5-8 inches higher. We started at the bottom of the dam.
In higher water I can see this being a nice trip, in low water I would not do it again. Water was very smelly and we really did not want to step in it. Unfortunately, we had to walk a large number of sections. Only obstacle was just past the 39 bridge, you can see it if you stop there. In the low water we could sneak under a tree, not sure if you could in higher water. Overall, it was a pretty trip. Getting in and out is super easy other than a little walk from the parking area at the start.
The "old dam that was washed out" is actually an old bridge. Back in the day, High street ran straight from down town Mineral Point to this bridge, then close to the existing road from 39.
How did your trip turn out? Questions or comments? Feel free to leave your feedback.
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