Wisconsin | Southeast Wisconsin
Mukwonago RiverRainbow Springs Golf Resort Road to Beulah Road
Short clearwater upper Mukwonago run through the Rainbow Springs / Kettle Moraine State Forest context, ending at Beulah Road before the downstream wild-rice navigation problem.
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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 from the Rainbow Springs / Highway LO walk-in context and take out at Beulah Road for the short upper Mukwonago split. This keeps the route above the downstream wild-rice navigation problem while preserving the clearwater creek character documented by Wisconsin River Trips.
Access map
Put-in
Mukwonago River Rainbow Springs Golf Resort Road walk-inThe put-in is a carry from public parking to the old bridge area, not a drive-up ramp. Follow current Mukwonago River Unit signs and avoid private or closed property.
Take-out
Mukwonago River Beulah Road bridge accessBeulah Road is the planned take-out for this card. Missing it changes the trip into the downstream wild-rice section that WRT warns can hide the channel.
Road shuttle
Stage Beulah Road first, then return to the Highway LO / Rainbow Springs parking context. Expect a walk-in carry from the public parking area to the old bridge put-in and confirm current DNR property signs before unloading.
Additional access notes
- The Mukwonago gauge is same-river but downstream of the route. Pair the 29 cfs floor with a visual check at Rainbow Springs.
More route and safety guidance
- Low limbs and a low bridge can require ducking or portaging, especially when water is higher than the low-clearwater level described by Wisconsin River Trips.
- Take out at Beulah Road for this card. Do not drift into the downstream Beulah-to-Highway-I wild-rice section unless you have a separate plan and current route visibility.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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
Mukwonago River at Mukwonago, 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 | Mukwonago River at Mukwonago, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 29 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 Mukwonago River route gauge note |
| 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 and mileageRainbow Springs Golf Resort Road to Beulah Road, about 2.4 mi
Wisconsin River Trips separates this short upper Mukwonago split from the downstream Beulah-to-Highway-I wild-rice section and describes it as clear and lightly developed.
- Public access contextMukwonago River Unit / former Rainbow Springs property
Wisconsin DNR describes the Mukwonago River Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest and public parking/walk-in context for the former Rainbow Springs property.
- Threshold floor29 cfs on Mukwonago River at Mukwonago
Wisconsin River Trips ran the route at 29 cfs, frames 19 cfs as a yearly low and 60 cfs as higher water, and ties the route family to the local Mukwonago gauge; the app uses a conservative 29 cfs floor only.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05544200 22.9 cfs / 2.05 ft at 2026-07-23 11:00 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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