See all 3 routes on Crawfish River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Crawfish RiverUdey Street Dam / Columbus to Astico Park
Upper Crawfish day from Columbus to Dodge County Astico Park, with a fast below-dam start, boulder gardens, light riffles at lower levels, deadfall checks, and endpoint campground support.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch below Udey Dam in Columbus and paddle the livelier upper Crawfish split to Astico Park. Low to moderate water shows riffles and boulders best, but wood and the downstream gauge lag require visual checks.
Access map
Put-in
Udey Street Dam / Campbell Street accessUdey Dam is not the place to improvise. Launch below dam influence only when the outflow and banks are manageable.
Take-out
Astico Park canoe/kayak launchWisconsin River Trips says most paddlers in Columbus use the wastewater plant landing; use that lower start if the dam-adjacent start is too pushy or woody.
Road shuttle
Stage Astico Park first, then drive back to the Columbus access. Check Udey Dam outflow, the wastewater-plant alternate landing, and the Astico take-out before unloading.
Additional access notes
- Astico Park has a launch, rentals, and campground context, but confirm seasonal access, fees, and park rules before relying on it for overnight support.
More route and safety guidance
- Wisconsin River Trips reports several logjams on the Columbus-to-Astico corridor, including one below the wastewater plant that may need a portage at lower water.
- The Milford gauge is downstream and can lag the Columbus reach. Confirm actual depth, wood, and water clarity at the put-in before committing.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Weather
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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
Crawfish River at Milford, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Crawfish River at Milford, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 0 cfs to 200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 0 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,401 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Crawfish River Columbus depth guide |
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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 shapeColumbus to Astico Park, 8.5 mi
Miles Paddled documents Udey Street Dam off Campbell Street to Astico Park bridge as an 8.5-mile Crawfish River trip with endpoint GPS.
- Level guidance0-200 cfs best character; 1401+ cfs maybe too high
Wisconsin River Trips ties the Columbus route to the Milford gauge and says 0-100 cfs is an excellent target, 101-200 cfs is good, 201-400 cfs is average spring flow, and 1401+ cfs may be too high.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23111 cfs / 1.94 ft at 2026-07-23 09:00 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.
- Endpoint camping and accessAstico Park canoe/kayak launch and 60 campsites
Dodge County says Astico Park has canoe/kayak rentals with a close launch area plus campsites, showers, restrooms, potable water, and a dump station.
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
More on Crawfish River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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