See all 3 routes on Pecatonica River
Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Pecatonica RiverHighway 78 Landing to Gratiot Conservation Club Landing
Short lower-Pecatonica connector from the obscure public Highway 78 landing to Gratiot Conservation Club Landing, using the same Darlington gauge ladder as the existing lower-Pecatonica card.
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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 Highway 78 Landing and take out at Gratiot Conservation Club Landing for a quiet lower-Pecatonica connector. The Darlington USGS gauge is upstream of this reach, so use it as a same-river proxy and inspect the landings before committing.
Access map
Put-in
Highway 78 LandingUse the signed or mapped landings rather than private farm lanes or bridge shoulders.
Take-out
Gratiot Conservation Club LandingThe Darlington gauge is upstream of this segment. Local rain, tributary inflow, and slow backwater conditions can change the lower river response.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between the Highway 78 Landing and the Gratiot Conservation Club Landing. The Cheese Country Trail can shorten a bike shuttle, but it is an ATV/multi-use corridor and may require a trail pass.
Additional access notes
- Banks are mostly private agricultural frontage; avoid improvised stops and do not block field or club access at the take-out.
- Mud is normal at lower-Pecatonica landings, especially after rain or at higher stages.
More route and safety guidance
- Wear cold-water protection in shoulder season; WRT specifically framed its November trip as a cold-water paddle.
- Stay with the named public landings and treat farm banks as private.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Pecatonica River at Darlington, 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 reportHighway 78 Landing to Gratiot Conservation Club Landing, 5.8 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact route, date paddled, endpoints, mileage, expected 2-3 hour time, and Darlington gauge value.
- Public landingsHighway 78 and Gratiot Conservation Club
WRT describes Highway 78 as a great public landing and Gratiot Conservation Club Landing as an overlooked but good public landing.
- Gauge bands101-250 cfs target; 501+ cfs too high
WRT uses the Darlington gauge and gives the lower-Pecatonica ladder: 101-210 cfs very ideal, 211-250 cfs average/fine, 291-350 cfs high, 351-500 cfs experienced-only, and 501+ cfs too high and muddy.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-16218 cfs / 3.21 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.
- Hazard supportSlow current, cold water, scattered downed trees
WRT found no rapids, fences, or logjams, but noted a few downed trees, very slow current, cold-water exposure, and deer-season visibility concerns.
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 Pecatonica River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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