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Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Kickapoo RiverPlum Creek Landing to Highway 60 Landing
Lower Kickapoo day from Plum Creek Landing to the Highway 60 public landing, with fast current, wooded bluffs, deep water, and a route-specific Steuben stage ladder.
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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 Plum Creek Landing and finish at Highway 60 Landing for a lower Kickapoo day with fast current, wooded bluffs, and fewer crowds than the upper reserve corridor. The Steuben stage is directly tied by WRT to this route, but same-day visual checks still matter around strainers.
Access map
Put-in
Plum Creek LandingPlum Creek Landing is the default public put-in and has better route support than informal bridge banks.
Take-out
Highway 60 LandingHighway 60 Landing is also called Wauzeka Boat Landing on some maps, but WRT warns that this name can be confusing because Wauzeka has another downstream landing.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between Highway 60 Landing and Plum Creek Landing. WRT describes the bike shuttle as 4.7 miles with a significant hill north of Wauzeka.
Additional access notes
- Do not unintentionally continue toward Lowell Geitz Memorial Boat Landing, the Wisconsin River, Adiantum Woods, or Woodman Landing without a separate downstream plan.
More route and safety guidance
- WRT found no fences, no portage logjams, and no rapids on its trip, but fresh storms can change wood and bank conditions.
- Do not continue past Highway 60 toward Wauzeka, the Wisconsin River, or alternate landings unless that downstream plan and shuttle are deliberate.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
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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
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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 | Kickapoo River at Steuben, WI |
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| 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 Plum Creek Steuben-stage ladder |
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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.
- Route reportPlum Creek Landing to Highway 60 Landing, 6.6 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact route, mileage, public landings, shuttle, current, strainers, and route-specific Steuben gauge ladder.
- Public access pairPlum Creek Landing and Highway 60 Landing
WRT calls Plum Creek Landing very good and Highway 60 Landing a terrific public canoe/kayak access with a massive parking lot; Paddle Guide resolves the Highway 60 access at 43.1010, -90.8586 and identifies Wisconsin DNR management.
- Stage ladder6.6-7.0 ft average to above average; 7.5+ very 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 very high/dangerous because fast current combines with strainers.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05410490
WRT links Kickapoo River at Steuben as the closest gauge for this exact route, and USGS provides current stage and discharge for that station.
- Upstream access corroborationPlum Creek Landing GPS
Miles Paddled's Plum-Creek-to-Wauzeka report publishes the Plum Creek put-in at 43.11429, -90.91274 and the distinct Wauzeka Boat Landing take-out at 43.08471, -90.87906; this prevents the downstream Wauzeka point from being mislabeled as Plum Creek.
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
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