See all 5 routes on Kickapoo River
Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Kickapoo River
Rockton Landing to La Farge Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Kickapoo River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Landing 12 in Rockton and finish at Landing 20 in La Farge for the second classic upper-Kickapoo day. The route has fewer access points than Ontario-to-Rockton, but it keeps the sandstone scenery, riffles, and bridge-number navigation.
Put-in
Kickapoo River Landing 12 (Rockton)Open mapLanding 12 is a KVR managed carry-in access with permit requirements and limited space, so do not treat it like an unregulated roadside shoulder.
Take-out
Landing 20 / La Farge Canoe LandingOpen mapLanding 20 can be less obvious from the road than from the river; MilesPaddled describes it as tucked back through a field approach near Bridge 20.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Landing 12 is a KVR managed carry-in access with permit requirements and limited space, so do not treat it like an unregulated roadside shoulder.
- Landing 20 can be less obvious from the road than from the river; MilesPaddled describes it as tucked back through a field approach near Bridge 20.
- The route has one practical intermediate public landing at Landing 14 / County Highway P, so plan the shuttle and bailout options before launching.
Watch for
- Scraping and dragging if the La Farge gauge is well below the 60 cfs scrape-free guidance.
- Flash-flooding and pushy current after storms; KVR explicitly warns the Kickapoo can rise quickly.
- Strainers, snags, cold-water exposure, and a reported tree hazard in the riffles below Bridge 19.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Kickapoo River at La Farge, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 |
| Target band | 60 cfs to 120 cfs |
| Low threshold | 42 cfs |
| High threshold | 200 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Kickapoo River II and Wisconsin River Trips Rockton-to-La Farge level notes |
| 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.
- Route-specific level guidance60-100 cfs scrape-free; 116 cfs fine
MilesPaddled recorded 116 cfs at the La Farge gauge for this exact route, said it was below ideal but fine, recommends 60-100 cfs for a scrape-free journey, and notes Rockton-to-La Farge is more forgiving than the steeper Ontario-to-Rockton segment.
- Corroborating trip level112 cfs good depth
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact Rockton Landing to La Farge Landing route at 112 cfs on the La Farge gauge and describes that as good depth.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05408000 at La Farge
USGS places the Kickapoo River at La Farge gauge on the left bank just upstream from the State Highway 82 bridge in La Farge, immediately downstream of the route corridor.
- Official access corridorLanding 12 to Landing 20
Kickapoo Valley Reserve publishes the Ontario-to-La Farge upper-river guide, identifies access points from Landing 1 through Landing 20, and requires a KVR permit at Landing 12.
- Endpoint coordinates43.6371, -90.60292 to 43.57481, -90.6437
MilesPaddled links GPS points for Landing 12 at Rockton and Landing 20 at La Farge; Mapcarta/OpenStreetMap independently resolves Canoe Landing 20 at La Farge at essentially the same coordinate.
- HazardsFlash flooding, snags, riffles, cold water
The KVR guide warns the Kickapoo is susceptible to flash flooding and calls out current, snags, and cold water; MilesPaddled also reports riffles and a tree hazard after Bridge 19.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Kickapoo River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Kickapoo River?
Paddle Today watches Kickapoo River at La Farge, WI and treats 60 cfs to 120 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Kickapoo River route start and end?
This route starts at Kickapoo River Landing 12 (Rockton) and ends at Landing 20 / La Farge Canoe Landing, about 10 mi on the water.
Is this Kickapoo 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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