Wisconsin | Southeast Wisconsin
Ashippun River
Druid Lake Boat Ramp to Highway O
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Druid Lake Boat Ramp / Clearwater Beach RoadDruid 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 accessHighway O is a bridge/shoulder take-out, not a developed ramp. Keep vehicles clear of traffic and do not block driveways or farm access.
Plan this segment
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.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| Evidence strength 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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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.