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Indiana | North Central Indiana

Wildcat CreekKnop Lake Public Fishing Site access to Mis-So-Lah access site

North Fork Wildcat day from the DNR-managed Knop Lake access to the Mis-So-Lah take-out. Current Wildcat Creek and NICHES pages confirm the named public endpoints, the Owasco USGS gauge gives a direct same-creek condition check, and current community trip guidance preserves a conservative route-specific low-water floor.

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 9.3 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 5 hr in ordinary conditions
ShuttleCar shuttle
Paddlers on an Indiana river corridor.
River contextIndiana river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by City of Indianapolis Mayor's Office via Wikimedia Commons

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 9.3 miKnop Lake Public Fishing Site access to Mis-So-Lah access site
DifficultyeasyMostly a gentle scenic canoe route with short riffles and better-than-average depth for the corridor, but the old Pyrmont Dam bypass, 9-plus-mile length, simple carry-down accesses, and private-bank limits still require prepared same-day judgment.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the Mis-So-Lah take-out first, then drive back upstream to Knop Lake Public Fishing Site. The Knop entrance can be easy to miss, and the Wildcat Creek access page says to take the second road to the right by the Knop Lake Access sign rather than the straight private road. Inspect both endpoints before launching because Mis-So-Lah is a small grass-parking carry-down instead of a formal ramp complex.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific private paddling permit is known. Follow Indiana boating and PFD rules, use only the named public access sites, and obey any current DNR, NICHES, or Wildcat Foundation signs, closures, or seasonal site notices.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a daylight day trip. The Knop Lake Public Fishing Site says there is no camping, Mis-So-Lah is a small public access point rather than a campground, and banks away from the named accesses may be private.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall is the practical window. Wildcat Creek calls this one of the better canoeing sections in the valley with reliable water, but low water, fresh wood, and higher or rising flow can still change the feel of the riffles and Pyrmont bypass quickly.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access and take out at Mis-So-Lah for the 9.3-mile lower North Fork Wildcat run. Use USGS 03334000 at Owasco and a conservative 180 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on wood, the Pyrmont bypass channel, and take-out footing.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Indiana DNR's current access layer names Knop Lake Wildcat Creek Access as a carry-down Wildcat Creek launch with parking-lot access and Division of Fish & Wildlife management.

Finish

Take-out

Mis-So-Lah access site
Open mapDirections to take-out

The current Knop Lake access page says to stay left at the first split, then take the second road right by the Knop Lake Access sign; the straight road is private property.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Indiana DNR's current access layer names Knop Lake Wildcat Creek Access as a carry-down Wildcat Creek launch with parking-lot access and Division of Fish & Wildlife management.
  • The current Knop Lake access page says to stay left at the first split, then take the second road right by the Knop Lake Access sign; the straight road is private property.
  • NICHES says Mis-So-Lah is a public put-in/take-out, while the current Wildcat Creek access page says it is just downstream of the CR 725 E bridge on the left bank with room for 5 to 10 vehicles and a 35-yard easy dirt path.
  • The downstream coordinate is a current NICHES embed-centered public-access anchor, not a surveyed government ramp point. Follow current bridge-side signs and the obvious public landing path on arrival.
  • This route uses a conservative community minimum-only threshold. The best published low-water support is a 180 to 200 cfs comfortable minimum, not a full preferred-range ladder.

Watch for

  • Flows near or below about 180 cfs at Owasco, when short riffles get shallower and low-water channel hunting or dragging become more likely.
  • The old Pyrmont Dam about one-half mile below Knop Lake. Wildcat Creek says to take the right-hand bypass channel, which is narrow, has a few sharp turns, and tends to funnel water.
  • Fresh wood, sharp bends, muddy footing, cold shoulder-season water, and faster current than expected through the Pyrmont bypass or at the small Mis-So-Lah landing.
  • Private banks between the named accesses and the risk of missing the Mis-So-Lah finish just downstream of the CR 725 E bridge on the left bank.
  • Thunderstorms, rising water, and any same-day closure or maintenance note at Knop Lake or Mis-So-Lah.

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Photos

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Paddlers on an Indiana river corridor.
Indiana river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by City of Indianapolis Mayor's Office via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC0; regional context only

Score & sources

Why this score

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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteWildcat Creek at Owasco, IN
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor180 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
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Main source behind this scoreHoosier Canoe and Kayak Club Knop Lake Wildcat trip notice
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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.

  • Gauge check during route review · June 21, 2026USGS 03334000 at 458 cfs / 2.89 ft

    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.

    Source

  • Conservative low-water floor180 to 200 cfs comfortable minimum

    Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club's current preserved Wildcat trip notice says 180 to 200 cfs at Owasco is the comfortable minimum flow for the Knop Lake run, with Mis-So-La as the 9-mile short-timer take-out. Paddle Today uses a conservative 180 cfs minimum-only floor and does not infer an upper band.

    Source

  • Official route shape9.3 mi, about 3 to 5 hr

    Wildcat Creek says Knop Lake to Mis-So-La is a 9.3-mile section that takes about 3 to 5 hours, has reliable water, and includes short riffle stretches.

    Source

  • Public put-inKnop Lake Wildcat Creek Access

    Indiana DNR's current Fish Access layer names Knop Lake Wildcat Creek Access on Wildcat Creek with carry-down launch type, parking-lot access, and Division of Fish & Wildlife public-access management. The current Wildcat Creek access page also says the site is at Knop Lake Public Fishing Site and is operated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

    Source

  • Public take-outMis-So-Lah access site

    NICHES says Mis-So-Lah serves as an access point where paddlers can put in or take out after a float, and the current Wildcat Creek access page says the site sits just downstream of the CR 725 E bridge on the left bank with parking and a short dirt path.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates40.4595504, -86.66416152 to 40.44428906, -86.76371068

    The upstream coordinate comes from Indiana DNR's current Knop Lake Wildcat Creek Access record. The downstream coordinate comes from the current NICHES Mis-So-Lah Google Maps embed centered on the public access site, paired with Wildcat Creek's bridge-side left-bank access description.

    Source

  • Dam bypass hazardTake the right channel around Pyrmont Dam

    Wildcat Creek says paddlers encounter the old Pyrmont Dam about one-half mile below Knop Lake and should take the channel to the right because it diverts around the dam; it also warns that the bypass is narrow, has a few sharp turns, and tends to funnel water.

    Source

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Quick answers

Wildcat Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access to Mis-So-Lah access site route on the Wildcat Creek?

Paddle Today watches Wildcat Creek at Owasco, IN and uses 180 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does the Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access to Mis-So-Lah access site route on the Wildcat Creek start and end?

This route starts at Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access and ends at Mis-So-Lah access site, about 9.3 mi on the water.

Is the Knop Lake Public Fishing Site access to Mis-So-Lah access site route on the Wildcat Creek suitable 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.

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