Wisconsin | Southeast Wisconsin
Mukwonago River
Rainbow Springs Golf Resort Road to Beulah Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Mukwonago River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The 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.
- Beulah 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.
- The Mukwonago gauge is same-river but downstream of the route. Pair the 29 cfs floor with a visual check at Rainbow Springs.
Watch for
- Low limbs, low bridge clearance, possible portages at higher water, and fresh strainers.
- Low-water scraping below the 29 cfs floor and cold shoulder-season water.
- Wild rice and lost-channel risk downstream of Beulah Road if the planned take-out is missed.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 29 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| 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 |
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 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.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05544200 22.9 cfs / 2.05 ft at 2026-07-23 11:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Mukwonago River at Mukwonago data during this run, below the selected route floor.
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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Mukwonago River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mukwonago River?
Paddle Today watches Mukwonago River at Mukwonago, WI and uses 29 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Mukwonago River route start and end?
This route starts at Mukwonago River Rainbow Springs Golf Resort Road walk-in and ends at Mukwonago River Beulah Road bridge access, about About 2.4 mi on the water.
Is this Mukwonago River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.