Wisconsin | Southeastern Wisconsin
Root River
5 Mile Road / Linwood Park to Horlick Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Root 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
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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 5 Mile Road / Linwood Park and take out at Horlick Park for the AW-listed Root River reach. The W. Eight Mile Road gauge currently runs below the selected minimum, so low-water scraping and a same-day visual check matter.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
5 Mile Road / Linwood Park Root River accessThe 5 Mile Road access is source-backed by Miles Paddled and the AW reach name, but parking, bank footing, and park rules should be checked before unloading.
Take-out
Horlick Park / Rapids Court canoe and kayak launchHorlick Park is the take-out boundary. Do not continue into the Horlick dam-removal / downstream rapid corridor without a separate safety and access plan.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The 5 Mile Road access is source-backed by Miles Paddled and the AW reach name, but parking, bank footing, and park rules should be checked before unloading.
- Horlick Park is the take-out boundary. Do not continue into the Horlick dam-removal / downstream rapid corridor without a separate safety and access plan.
- Middle accesses around Highway 31 or Armstrong Park should be treated as bailouts only after confirming legal parking, bank footing, and any local construction restrictions.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles, shoals, and dragging below the AW minimum flow.
- Fresh strainers, bridge debris, and pushier bends after Racine-area rain.
- Urban water-quality concerns, private/golf-course banks, cold shoulder-season water, and dam/no-continuation hazards near Horlick.
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 | Root River at W. Eight Mile Rd near Caledonia, 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 | 100 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 | American Whitewater Root River Five Mile Road flow page |
| 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 gaugeFive Mile Road to Horlick Dam Pond / USGS 040872342
American Whitewater lists the reach, Class I difficulty, 7.5-mile length, the W. Eight Mile Road gauge, and a 100-3,000 cfs range on the flow page.
- Current gauge check21.5 cfs / 4.52 ft at 2026-07-23 07:30 CDT
USGS legacy instantaneous data returned current W. Eight Mile Road values during this run, below the selected minimum-only floor.
- Endpoint coordinates5 Mile Road 42.79984, -87.87081; Horlick 42.7538, -87.82322
Miles Paddled publishes the endpoint coordinates, 7.75-mile distance, riffle character, and a too-low 14 cfs trip with guidance to use more water.
- Horlick safety contextHand-launch take-out above a dam-removal corridor
Racine County documents Horlick Park small-boat/canoe/kayak launch context, while American Whitewater warns dam removal could change downstream recommendations.
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
Root River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Root River?
Paddle Today watches Root River at W. Eight Mile Rd near Caledonia, WI and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Root River route start and end?
This route starts at 5 Mile Road / Linwood Park Root River access and ends at Horlick Park / Rapids Court canoe and kayak launch, about About 7.7 mi on the water.
Is this Root River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.