Wisconsin | Southern Wisconsin
Horicon Marsh Paddle TrailGreen Head Boat Landing to North Nebraska Street Boat Landing
Six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half mile marsh paddle from the Green Head Boat Landing through the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area to the public North Nebraska Street Boat Landing in Horicon.
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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
A marked 6.5-mile Horicon Marsh paddle through the state wildlife area, ending at North Nebraska Street in Horicon. The route is flat but exposed, navigation-sensitive, and dependent on water level, wind, floating vegetation, and current marsh restrictions.
Access map
Put-in
Green Head Boat LandingThe Horicon National Wildlife Refuge portion is closed to paddling; remain in the state wildlife area route.
Take-out
North Nebraska Street Boat LandingGreen Head and Nebraska Street access can change with marsh conditions, vegetation mats, or management decisions; verify current status.
Road shuttle
Use the documented shuttle from North Nebraska Street Boat Landing back to Green Head Boat Landing; confirm current event or outfitter arrangements before launch.
Additional access notes
- Do not approach the Horicon dam or electric fish barrier, and do not assume overnight parking or camping.
More route and safety guidance
- Floating cattail mats can block or alter the marked route. Confirm the route and launch status with current DNR or marsh information before departure.
- Wind exposure is substantial across open marsh and lake sections; motorboats use the marsh. The Horicon city dam has dangerous currents and a high-voltage electric fish barrier—stay away.
- The route ends at North Nebraska Street Boat Landing; use the documented shuttle plan and do not assume overnight parking or camping at either endpoint.
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.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Rock River at Horicon, 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.
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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 | Rock River at Horicon, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 40 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Horicon Marsh gauge observation |
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| Weather source | Checking |
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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.
- Exact routeGreen Head Boat Landing to North Nebraska Street Boat Landing, 6.5-7.5 mi
Wisconsin DNR and Friends of Horicon Marsh document the marked marsh paddle trail, public endpoints, approximate length, and shuttle arrangement.
- Minimum-only floor40 cfs documented trip level
Wisconsin River Trips records a direct Rock River at Horicon trip at 40 cfs and describes shallow conditions; the app uses this as a conservative minimum-only reference.
- Marsh restrictions and hazardsState wildlife area only; refuge closed; cattail mats and dam hazard
Wisconsin DNR documents the wildlife-area boundary, floating cattail mats, seasonal rookery closure, motorboat traffic, and the dangerous Horicon dam/electric fish barrier.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 05424057
USGS operates Rock River at Horicon with continuous discharge and gage-height data.
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
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