See all 4 routes on Bark River
Wisconsin | Lake Country
Bark River
Bark River Park to Delafield Post Office / Mill Street launch
Check current paddling conditions for this Bark River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
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
Paddle from Bark River Park through Hartland, the Highway 83 corridor, and Lake Nagawicka to the Mill Street launch by the Delafield Post Office. This route has the best Bark River gauge ladder in the app, but it also has rapids, wood, bridge clearance, and lake wind exposure.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
Bark River Park / Church StreetOpen mapIdentify the Delafield Mill Street launch before paddling across Lake Nagawicka; wind, motorboats, and shoreline development can make the final approach feel different from the creek miles.
Take-out
Delafield Post Office / Mill Street kayak launchOpen mapLow bridges may require ducking or easy portages depending on water level and boat height.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Identify the Delafield Mill Street launch before paddling across Lake Nagawicka; wind, motorboats, and shoreline development can make the final approach feel different from the creek miles.
- Low bridges may require ducking or easy portages depending on water level and boat height.
- Much of the route has private shoreline, especially below Hartland and along the lake. Do not count on casual bankside exits.
Watch for
- Class I-II current and a stronger rapid in the Hartland section.
- Fresh tree blockages, low branches, and bridge-clearance issues after storms.
- Wind, cold water, and motorboat traffic on Lake Nagawicka before the Delafield take-out.
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 | 36 cfs to 60 cfs |
| Low threshold | 21 cfs |
| High threshold | 81 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Hartland route gauge 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.
- Exact route reportBark River Park to Delafield Post Office, 6.2 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the route, mileage, put-in/take-out, Hartland rapids, low bridges, wood, Highway 83 section, and Lake Nagawicka finish.
- Published gauge ladder21 / 36-60 / 61-80 / 81+ cfs
WRT ties the route to the Bark River at Delafield gauge and gives low-but-viable, good, high-but-likely-viable, and too-pushy/dirty bands.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05426067
USGS operates the Bark River at Nagawicka Road at Delafield monitoring location on the selected route corridor.
- Current gauge check22.3 cfs and 12.50 ft at 2026-07-16 19:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned a low-but-viable shoulder value during this run, below the preferred 36 cfs floor.
- Access supportHartland Bark River Park and Delafield Mill Street launch
Village of Hartland describes Bark River Park as a public riverfront park; WRT identifies the Delafield Post Office / Mill Street canoe-kayak launch as the route take-out.
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.
Share your trip
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
Bark River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Bark River?
Paddle Today watches Bark River at Nagawicka Road at Delafield, WI and treats 36 cfs to 60 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Bark River route start and end?
This route starts at Bark River Park / Church Street and ends at Delafield Post Office / Mill Street kayak launch, about About 6.2 mi on the water.
Is this Bark 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.