See all 4 routes on Bark River
Wisconsin | Lake Country
Bark River
Highway 164 to Merton Millpond
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
Put in at the Highway 164 culvert crossing north of Lisbon and take out at the Merton Millpond launch. This is a low-water-floor decision first and a route-quality decision second.
Put-in
Highway 164 culvert crossingOpen mapHighway 164 is a limited roadside access. Verify a safe, legal pull-off before committing to the shuttle.
Take-out
Merton Millpond boat launchOpen mapThe culvert put-in is functional rather than polished. Expect a less forgiving launch than the millpond take-out.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Highway 164 is a limited roadside access. Verify a safe, legal pull-off before committing to the shuttle.
- The culvert put-in is functional rather than polished. Expect a less forgiving launch than the millpond take-out.
Watch for
- Very low water and grass-choked channels below the minimum floor.
- Downed trees, tight bends, and overgrown banks.
- Cold spring water and quick rain response on the upper Bark.
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 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 55 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Bark River IV minimum-flow note |
| 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.
- Published minimum55 cfs
MilesPaddled treats anything below roughly 55 cfs at Delafield as too shallow for most boats.
- Access frictionHighway 164 is limited
The put-in is functional but awkward. Safe, legal roadside access is part of the go/no-go decision.
- HazardsGrass, wood, and tight bends
Expect downed trees and overgrown banks even on workable-flow days.
- Decision styleMinimum-only
Today this score mainly answers whether the river is clearly above its low-water floor.
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 Delafield, WI and uses 55 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Bark River route start and end?
This route starts at Highway 164 culvert crossing and ends at Merton Millpond boat launch, about 4 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.