Wisconsin | Southeastern Wisconsin
Fox River
Village Hall Park, Waterford to Riverside Park, Burlington
Check current paddling conditions for this Fox River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Paddle the public Fox River water-trail corridor from Waterford to Burlington. The reach is flatwater and scenic but requires two formal dam portages, a minimum-only 4-ft gauge check, and a conservative wind/current call.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Village Hall Park canoe/kayak launchVillage Hall Park is the public put-in above Waterford Dam; do not approach the dam face or use the outflow.
Take-out
Riverside Park, BurlingtonPortage Waterford and Rochester dams at the public facilities identified by Waterford; inspect carries and keep boats clear of active boat traffic.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Village Hall Park is the public put-in above Waterford Dam; do not approach the dam face or use the outflow.
- Portage Waterford and Rochester dams at the public facilities identified by Waterford; inspect carries and keep boats clear of active boat traffic.
- Riverside Park is the planned take-out in Burlington. Confirm parking/launch conditions and do not continue beyond the planned endpoint without separate route research.
Watch for
- Gauge below 4 ft, shallow scraping, wind against the long flatwater reach, rising water after rain, and cold-water conditions.
- Dam hydraulics, bridge/boat traffic, private banks, and limited legal bailout options.
- Water-quality or debris changes after heavy rain; same-day visual checks override the community threshold reference.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Fox River at Rochester, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 4.00 ft |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Fox River II trip report |
| 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.
- Exact route and level referenceWaterford to Burlington; 4.1 ft observed, below 4 ft shallow
Miles Paddled documents the exact reach, public endpoints, and the conservative minimum-only gauge reference.
- Dam portage accessWaterford and Rochester public canoe/kayak launches
Waterford's official access page identifies launches above and below both dams and describes the completed public portage facilities.
- Water-trail corridorWaterford/Rochester/Burlington map and itineraries
Fabulous Fox Water Trail publishes the corridor map, access sites, and portage context for this reach.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 05544475 Fox River at Rochester
USGS operates the direct gage-height telemetry station 0.4 miles downstream of Rochester Dam.
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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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
Fox River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Fox River?
Paddle Today watches Fox River at Rochester, WI and uses 4.00 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Fox River route start and end?
This route starts at Village Hall Park canoe/kayak launch and ends at Riverside Park, Burlington, about About 12.5 mi on the water.
Is this Fox 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.