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Wisconsin | Milwaukee metro
Milwaukee RiverThiensville Village Park to Badger Meter River Park
Short lower-Milwaukee urban water-trail day from the public Thiensville launch below the dam to Badger Meter River Park, with easy current, a direct Cedarburg gauge proxy, and official public launches at both ends.
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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 below the Mequon-Thiensville dam at Village Park and take out at Badger Meter River Park in Brown Deer for an easy lower-Milwaukee water-trail run. The Cedarburg USGS station is upstream, so pair the gauge band with same-day visual checks at the launch.
Access map
Put-in
Thiensville Village Park LaunchUse the Village Park launch below the dam for this route. The Thiensville park page and boating guidance identify Village Park as the launch and dam portage area; do not run the dam.
Take-out
Badger Meter River Park canoe/kayak launchBadger Meter River Park has a public canoe/kayak launch, but Wisconsin River Trips notes the exit includes a grassy uphill carry of roughly 300 feet.
Road shuttle
Run a short two-car shuttle from Badger Meter River Park back to Thiensville Village Park. A bike shuttle can use Brown Deer and Ozaukee Interurban corridors, but expect urban crossings and local-street navigation.
Additional access notes
- The Cedarburg gauge is upstream of the whole reach. Local storms, dam operations, and downstream tributary input can make the water different than the gauge suggests.
- Most banks are private or urban park frontage. Use only the named public launches and legal shoreline stops.
More route and safety guidance
- High or rising water increases low-bridge, snag, strainer, and urban runoff risk; the Cedarburg gauge is upstream, so make a same-day visual check at Thiensville.
- Use public launches and parks only. The route passes private shoreline and a heavily posted island split.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Milwaukee River near Cedarburg, 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.
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 route reportThiensville Village Park to Badger Meter River Park, 4.7 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents this exact lower-Milwaukee route, access pair, distance, expected two-hour paddle time, and Cedarburg gauge reading.
- Gauge bands101-200 / 201-300 / 801+ cfs
WRT treats 101-200 cfs as low but navigable, 201-300 cfs as average, 601-800 cfs as high, and 801+ cfs as maybe too high for enjoyable paddling.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16170 cfs / 5.64 ft at 2026-07-16 21:00 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.
- Official accessVillage Park and Badger Meter River Park
Thiensville says Village Park has a boat launch and trailer parking and serves as a portage around the Mequon-Thiensville dam; Brown Deer says Badger Meter River Park has parking and canoe/kayak launch access.
- Route corroborationTreasures of Oz Route M-13
Treasures of Oz describes the same Thiensville-to-Brown-Deer route with launch below the dam, parking/toilets at Thiensville, and a canoe landing south of the Brown Deer Road bridge.
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 Milwaukee River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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