Wisconsin | Southeast Wisconsin
Ashippun River
Druid Lake Boat Ramp to Highway O
Check current paddling conditions for this Ashippun River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch from the DNR-supported Druid Lake public landing, cross the north end of the lake, then follow the Ashippun outlet to the Highway O bridge. This short route is mostly protected once off the lake, but wood and low bridges make portage readiness mandatory.
Put-in
Druid Lake Boat Ramp / Clearwater Beach RoadOpen mapDruid Lake is the only confirmed developed/public launch for the selected route; use posted public landing areas rather than private lake lots.
Take-out
Highway O bridge accessOpen mapHighway O is a bridge/shoulder take-out, not a developed ramp. Keep vehicles clear of traffic and do not block driveways or farm access.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Druid Lake is the only confirmed developed/public launch for the selected route; use posted public landing areas rather than private lake lots.
- Highway O is a bridge/shoulder take-out, not a developed ramp. Keep vehicles clear of traffic and do not block driveways or farm access.
- The Bark River at Delafield gauge is only a WRT-selected proxy, so a same-day visual check at the outlet and take-out is required.
Watch for
- Five WRT-documented logjam portages and two low bridges that may require portaging.
- Open-water Druid Lake wind, motorboat traffic, and cold water before the river narrows.
- Private banks, soft shoulders, high/rising water above the proxy high band, and shallow riffles below the WRT floor.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Bark River at Nagawicka Road at Delafield, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 31 cfs to 55 cfs |
| Low threshold | 15 cfs |
| High threshold | 101 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Ashippun River Druid Lake proxy ladder |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route and mileageDruid Lake Boat Ramp to Highway O, about 3.3 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents this exact Ashippun route and shuttle from Highway O to the Druid Lake landing.
- Public put-in contextDruid Lake public boat landing
Wisconsin DNR lists Druid Lake as having one public boat landing.
- Threshold ladder31-55 cfs target; 15 cfs low; 101+ cfs high caution
WRT ties the route to the Bark River at Delafield proxy and publishes route-specific cfs bands for low, target, and high-water decisions.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05426067 20.1 cfs / 12.46 ft at 2026-07-23 15:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Bark River at Delafield data during this run, in the low-but-above-floor Ashippun band.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Ashippun River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Ashippun River?
Paddle Today watches Bark River at Nagawicka Road at Delafield, WI and treats 31 cfs to 55 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Ashippun River route start and end?
This route starts at Druid Lake Boat Ramp / Clearwater Beach Road and ends at Highway O bridge access, about About 3.3 mi on the water.
Is this Ashippun River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.