See all 5 routes on Kickapoo River
Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Kickapoo RiverCounty Highway B Canoe Landing to County Highway S Canoe Landing
Lower Kickapoo route through the Gays Mills corridor from County Highway B to County Highway S, with fast current, muddy public landings, bluffs, and a mandatory low-head-dam portage.
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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 at the County Highway B public canoe landing, portage the Gays Mills low-head dam, and finish at County Highway S for a Lower Kickapoo day with fast current, bluffs, strainers, muddy banks, and a direct Steuben stage ladder.
Access map
Put-in
County Highway B Canoe LandingThe Highway B and Highway S landings are public but can be muddy. Inspect the exit at Highway S before launching.
Take-out
County Highway S Canoe LandingRobb Park below the Gays Mills dam can split the route, but this card includes the full Highway B-to-Highway S day and mandatory portage.
Road shuttle
Stage County Highway S first, then drive back to County Highway B. WRT notes the bike shuttle is pleasant; the two landing coordinates come from its route-shuttle map and named public accesses.
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Access planner
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County Highway B Canoe Landing to County Highway S Canoe Landing is about 8.6 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Do not continue below Highway S unless a separate lower-Kickapoo route, shuttle, and high-water decision are planned.
More route and safety guidance
- Fast current, submerged logs, and strainers are the main on-water hazards, especially upstream of Gays Mills and whenever the Steuben stage is rising.
- Stay off the Lower Kickapoo in high water or after heavy rain. The valley is flood-prone, banks are muddy, and private pasture edges should not be used as casual exits.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Kickapoo River at Steuben, 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 | Kickapoo River at Steuben, 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 |
| Preferred range | 6.60 ft to 7.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 0.00 ft |
| High threshold | 7.50 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Gays Mills Steuben-stage ladder |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 reportHwy B Canoe Landing to Hwy S Canoe Landing, 8.6 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact route, mileage, landings, bike shuttle, current, strainers, dam portage, and Steuben gauge level.
- Public access inventoryCounty Highway B, Robb Park, County Highway S
Crawford County lists the Lower Kickapoo public-access chain including County Highway B Canoe Landing, Gays Mills Robb Park, and County Highway S Canoe Landing.
- Official hazard and gauge contextSteuben gauge and Gays Mills low-head dam
Wisconsin DNR notes the Kickapoo has USGS gauges including Steuben and identifies the Gays Mills low-head dam as a navigational hazard that should be avoided.
- Stage ladder6.6-7.0 ft average to above average; 7.5+ possibly too high
WRT says below 6.5 ft remains plenty deep, 6.6-6.7 ft is average, 6.8-7.0 ft above average, 7.1-7.4 ft high, and 7.5+ ft may be too high.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23578 cfs / 6.88 ft at 2026-07-23 03:45 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 Kickapoo River
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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