Wisconsin | Driftless Wisconsin
Pecatonica River - Mineral Point BranchLudden Lake Boat Ramp to North Oak Park Road
Short Driftless Mineral Point Branch run below Ludden Lake with sandstone outcrops, fast riffles, one dam portage, and a downstream Darlington gauge ladder from Wisconsin River Trips.
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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 the Ludden Lake public boat ramp, portage Ludden Lake dam, and take out at North Oak Park Road for a short scenic Mineral Point Branch run. The Darlington gauge is a downstream proxy, so same-day visual and access checks are mandatory.
Access map
Put-in
Ludden Lake Boat RampLudden Lake has a DNR-listed public boat landing, but the route immediately requires a dam portage below the lake.
Take-out
North Oak Park Road bridge / VPA-area take-outNorth Oak Park Road is not a polished launch. WRT used it with fence and DNR voluntary-access context; verify current signs and do not cross private land beyond the lawful access corridor.
Road shuttle
Stage North Oak Park Road first and scout the fence/signage before launching from Ludden Lake. The bike shuttle is hilly and awkward; a two-car shuttle is cleaner.
Additional access notes
- If the take-out looks questionable, S. Oak Park Road is a possible downstream bridge option, but that is a separate extension and should be scouted before launch.
More route and safety guidance
- Portage the very low bridge near the end because it acts like a small dam, and expect at least one logjam portage.
- North Oak Park Road is a rough take-out with fence/VPA/DOT context near private land; scout it before launching and stay within lawful access.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
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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.
- Route guide4.8 miles; about 2.5 hr typical
Wisconsin River Trips documents Ludden Lake Boat Ramp to North Oak Park Road as a short Mineral Point Branch route with pasture, rolling hills, outcrops, and light rapids.
- Put-in accessLudden Lake public boat landing
Wisconsin DNR says Ludden Lake visitors have access from a public boat landing, and WRT describes good public access off Ludden Lake.
- Take-out access caveatNorth Oak Park Road VPA/DOT context
Wisconsin River Trips says the North Oak Park Road take-out requires crossing a fence but that surrounding property was posted under a DNR voluntary access program; scout current signage before launch.
- Proxy gauge ladder351-650 cfs target; 801+ high
WRT uses the downstream Darlington gauge, notes it is not super accurate for this tributary, and gives a route-specific ladder from too shallow to maybe too high.
- HazardsDam, low bridge, logjam, fences
The route report says to portage Ludden Lake dam, portage a low bridge that acts like a dam, expect one logjam portage, and treat the faster riffles as Class I.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-17217 cfs / 3.21 ft on 2026-07-17 00:00 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.
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