Wisconsin | Southeastern Wisconsin
Cedar CreekCovered Bridge Park to Grafton Lions Park
Short Ozaukee County Cedar Creek run from the historic Covered Bridge Park launch to Grafton Lions Park, with clear-water riffles, a direct Cedarburg gauge, and public park endpoints.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Covered Bridge Park and take out at Grafton Lions Park for the short Cedar Creek route above the more urban Cedarburg/dam corridor. The Cedarburg gauge is direct, but local rock, wood, and rain response still decide marginal days.
Access map
Put-in
Covered Bridge Park Cedar Creek accessCovered Bridge Park is the clean start with county-listed kayak/canoe launch context; still verify current park hours and posted rules.
Take-out
Grafton Lions Park Cedar Creek accessGrafton Lions Park is the planned finish. Do not drift into the downstream Cedarburg/urban/dam-affected sections unless you have a separate route plan.
Road shuttle
Stage Grafton Lions Park first, then drive back to Covered Bridge Park. Robin Court can split the route, but treat it as a neighborhood access that needs same-day parking and sign checks.
Additional access notes
- Robin Court is useful only as a split or bailout if parking, signage, neighborhood access, and bank footing are clearly acceptable.
More route and safety guidance
- Use Covered Bridge Park and Grafton Lions Park for this route. Do not continue into the more urban Cedarburg dam and PCB-remediation corridor without a separate plan.
- Watch for strainers, slick limestone, road crossings, storm runoff, private banks, and cold water outside summer.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Cedar Creek near Cedarburg, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Cedar Creek near Cedarburg, 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 |
| Preferred range | 5.50 ft to 6.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 5.24 ft |
| High threshold | 6.80 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips / Treasures of Oz Cedar Creek gauge guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route reportCovered Bridge Park to Grafton Lions Park, 3.6 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact route, optional Robin Court split, public endpoints, and direct Cedarburg gauge context.
- Local stage guidance5.5 ft low scrape line; 6.5 ft fast-water caution
Treasures of Oz route guidance warns that Cedar Creek scrapes below 5.5 ft and is a fast experienced-paddler run above 6.5 ft; WRT documented 5.24 ft / 30 cfs as a tad low on this same route.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2311.8 cfs / 5.23 ft at 2026-07-23 08:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Public endpointsCovered Bridge Park launch and Grafton Lions Park kayak access
Ozaukee County lists a kayak/canoe launch at Covered Bridge Park, and the Village of Grafton lists kayak access at Lions Park.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.