Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Fox RiverSwan Lake Boat Landing to Highway 33 / Portage
Short Upper Fox marsh-and-lake route from the Swan Lake public launch to Portage Fox River Landing at Highway 33. The trip crosses Swan Lake, then follows slow Fox River marsh current through the Swan Lake Wildlife Area corridor with a WRT Princeton-gauge ladder and official public-access support.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route map.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Swan Lake, cross the lake, and follow the Upper Fox River marsh channel west to the Highway 33 Fox River Landing in Portage. The route is short and easy in current, but wind and slow water can dominate the day.
Access map
Put-in
Swan Lake boat landing off South Shore DriveWRT describes Swan Lake as a public boat landing with parking, outhouses, and no launch fee, but it is still a lake launch shared with motorized users.
Take-out
Fox River Landing / Highway 33 PortagePortage Fox River Landing is the planned take-out. Confirm current hours and parking, especially if arriving early or finishing late.
Road shuttle
Stage the Highway 33 / Fox River Landing take-out in Portage, then drive to the Swan Lake boat landing off South Shore Drive. A short bike shuttle is possible, but a vehicle shuttle is simpler when wind or heat is part of the forecast.
Additional access notes
- The Princeton gauge is a downstream proxy chosen by WRT; if Swan Lake is wind-bound or the launch channel looks too weedy or shallow, skip the route even when the gauge looks acceptable.
More route and safety guidance
- The Princeton gauge is downstream of Portage and is used because WRT says nearby Pardeeville data is disabled or not representative; make a visual launch check before committing.
- The route has little current. Avoid heat, storms, high wind, and assuming private marsh banks are legal rest stops.
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 the forecast and local water levels before launching.
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
Fox River at Princeton, 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.
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-specific guideSwan Lake to Portage, about 5.8 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the Swan Lake-to-Portage Fox River route with public access descriptions, shuttle coordinates, wind caveats, and logjam status.
- Proxy gauge ladder0-1500 cfs good; 3001+ cfs likely too high
WRT uses the Fox River at Princeton gauge for this route and says 0-600 cfs is typical summer depth and good, 601-1000 cfs has plenty of water, 1001-1500 cfs is high but good, 2001-3000 cfs is very high, and 3001+ cfs may be too high and dirty.
- Official wildlife-area contextSwan Lake Wildlife Area
Wisconsin DNR says the Fox River flows through Swan Lake Wildlife Area from Swan Lake and lists canoeing, kayaking, and boating among allowed recreation; it also notes there is no campground.
- Public take-out supportPortage Fox River Landing
Portage Parks identifies Fox River Landing at 1825 State Highway 33 with Fox River frontage, parking, and a public kayak-launch facility.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22516 cfs / 3.87 ft at 2026-07-22 15:00 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 Fox River
All 5Nearby 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.