See all 3 routes on East Branch Pecatonica River
Wisconsin | Southwest Wisconsin
East Branch Pecatonica RiverGordon Creek Boat Ramp to River Road Landing
Driftless East Branch Pecatonica day from the public Blanchardville / Gordon Creek ramp to Thunder Bridge at River Road, with a direct Blanchardville gauge and sandstone-outcrop scenery downstream of Highway 78.
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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 Blanchardville at Gordon Creek Boat Ramp and paddle the lower East Branch Pecatonica through the Highway 78 gauge corridor to River Road. The best scenery is below Highway 78; the main practical calls are level, wood, mud, and staying off private banks.
Access map
Put-in
Gordon Creek Boat RampGordon Creek is the public/default start below the Blanchardville dam area. Do not launch above the dam for this route.
Take-out
River Road / Thunder Bridge LandingHighway 78 is retained as a direct gauge and visual checkpoint, but it is not the default launch because access and parking are weaker than Gordon Creek.
Road shuttle
Stage at the River Road / Thunder Bridge landing north of Argyle, then launch from Gordon Creek Boat Ramp below Blanchardville. Use Highway 78 only as a gauge/visual checkpoint unless your group has independently confirmed parking and access.
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Access planner
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Gordon Creek Boat Ramp to River Road / Thunder Bridge Landing is about 9.5 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- River Road / Thunder Bridge has a muddy landing. Scout it from land before launching so the exit is obvious from the river.
More route and safety guidance
- The Highway 78-to-River Road split has documented deadfall and at least one historical portage. Fresh comments reported no portage in mid-2023, but same-day wood checks still matter.
- Use the named public/customary landings only. Treat pasture banks, stairways, and farm-field edges as private unless clearly posted otherwise.
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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
East Branch Pecatonica River near Blanchardville, 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 | East Branch Pecatonica River near Blanchardville, WI |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 90 cfs to 360 cfs |
| Low threshold | 90 cfs |
| High threshold | 360 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled East Branch Pecatonica Highway 78 / River Road gauge notes |
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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.
- Public put-inGordon Creek Boat Ramp below Blanchardville
Wisconsin River Trips calls Gordon Creek Boat Ramp a very good public access just downstream from Blanchardville and says most paddlers will prefer it over the dam-side start.
- Route split and mileageGordon Creek to Highway 78 to River Road, about 9 to 10 mi
Wisconsin River Trips lists Gordon Creek Landing-to-Highway 78 and Highway 78-to-River Road as adjacent lower East Branch splits; Miles Paddled describes Highway 78-to-River Road as about 5.75 miles.
- Threshold evidence90 cfs workable; 360 cfs highest recommended for Highway 78-to-River Road
Miles Paddled recorded 90 cfs on the Highway 78-to-Argyle trip and later described 360 cfs / 7.2 ft as the highest recommended level for the Highway 78-to-River Road split.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23140 cfs / 4.62 ft at 2026-07-23 04:00 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.
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 East Branch Pecatonica River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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