Wisconsin | Southwest Wisconsin
Badger Mill Creek
Old County Road PB to Highway 69
Check current paddling conditions for this Badger Mill Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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
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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 near Old County Road PB and follow Badger Mill Creek to the Sugar River and Highway 69. The route has clear water and riffles, but it is defined by deadfall, low cattle gates, a long tunnel, and very narrow level tolerance.
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
Old County Road PB / Military Ridge Park and Ride accessLaunch downstream from the PB bridge and park at the Military Ridge Park and Ride rather than assuming garden or farm access is open.
Take-out
Highway 69 take-out on the Sugar RiverThe Highway 69 take-out is on the Sugar River after the confluence; scout parking and bank footing before launching.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Launch downstream from the PB bridge and park at the Military Ridge Park and Ride rather than assuming garden or farm access is open.
- The Highway 69 take-out is on the Sugar River after the confluence; scout parking and bank footing before launching.
- The Verona gauge is direct. If stage is near or above 5 ft, low gates and tunnel clearance can make the run unsafe.
Watch for
- Deadfall, climbovers, duck-unders, shallow riffles, cow encounters, low cattle gates, and a 100-yard tunnel.
- Fast rises after rain, low clearance above 5 ft, and too much dragging below about 4.75 ft.
- Private banks, limited clean exits, and cold-water consequences outside summer.
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
Why this score
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 | Badger Mill Creek at Verona, WI |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 4.75 ft to 4.95 ft |
| Low threshold | 4.74 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Badger Mill Creek route-specific level guidance |
| 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.
- Exact route reportOld County Road PB to Highway 69, 5.75 miles
Miles Paddled documents the route, access points, distance, skill level, riffles, cattle gates, tunnel, deadfall, and shuttle context.
- Route-specific gauge guidance4.75 ft / 20 cfs minimum; avoid above 5 ft
Miles Paddled ties the route to the Badger Mill Creek at Verona gauge and gives both a minimum and an upper stage warning.
- Endpoint coordinates42.99188, -89.51428 to 42.94921, -89.54436
Miles Paddled publishes GPS coordinates for the Old County PB put-in and Highway 69 take-out.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05435943 Badger Mill Creek at Verona
USGS lists the direct Badger Mill Creek gauge at Verona with discharge, stage, and long-term period-of-record metadata.
- Current gauge check4.47 ft and 4.95 cfs at 2026-07-16 16:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current stage and discharge below the selected route-specific minimum during this run.
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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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
Badger Mill Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Badger Mill Creek?
Paddle Today watches Badger Mill Creek at Verona, WI and treats 4.75 ft to 4.95 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Badger Mill Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Old County Road PB / Military Ridge Park and Ride access and ends at Highway 69 take-out on the Sugar River, about About 5.75 mi on the water.
Is this Badger Mill Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.