See all 3 routes on Pecatonica River
Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Pecatonica River
Highway 78 Landing to Gratiot Conservation Club Landing
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
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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 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.
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
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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use the signed or mapped landings rather than private farm lanes or bridge shoulders.
- The Darlington gauge is upstream of this segment. Local rain, tributary inflow, and slow backwater conditions can change the lower river response.
- 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.
Watch for
- Slow current, muddy water, wind on open bends, and downed trees that may require careful maneuvering.
- Cold-water exposure outside summer and limited clean bailout points along private banks.
- High flows can make strainers and muddy eddies more consequential even though the reach has no normal rapids.
- Wear bright colors during deer seasons where the river borders hunting land.
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
Data and sources
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 | Pecatonica River at Darlington, 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 | 101 cfs to 250 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 501 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Pecatonica River - Highway 78 gauge guide |
| 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.
- 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.
- Current gauge check218 cfs / 3.21 ft at 2026-07-16 21:00 CDT
USGS Water Services placed the Darlington proxy in the WRT average/fine band during this run.
- 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.
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
Pecatonica River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Pecatonica River?
Paddle Today watches Pecatonica River at Darlington, WI and treats 101 cfs to 250 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Pecatonica River route start and end?
This route starts at Highway 78 Landing and ends at Gratiot Conservation Club Landing, about About 5.8 mi on the water.
Is this Pecatonica 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.