See all 12 routes on Wisconsin River
Wisconsin | Lower Wisconsin Riverway
Wisconsin River
Gotham / Buena Vista Landing to Muscoda Landing West
Check current paddling conditions for this Wisconsin River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 Gotham / Buena Vista Boat Landing near the Pine River mouth and finish at Muscoda Landing West just downstream of the Highway 80 bridge. This is a short Lower Wisconsin day with big sandbars, bluff views, side-channel exploration, and a direct Muscoda gauge.
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
Gotham / Buena Vista Boat LandingWisconsin DNR lists Buena Vista Boat Landing and Muscoda west-side access as major public access points on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
Take-out
Muscoda Landing WestWisconsin River Trips notes that Gotham is a good public access but has no outhouse, prohibits overnight parking, and has poison ivy around the landing.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Wisconsin DNR lists Buena Vista Boat Landing and Muscoda west-side access as major public access points on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
- Wisconsin River Trips notes that Gotham is a good public access but has no outhouse, prohibits overnight parking, and has poison ivy around the landing.
- Muscoda has multiple landings. This route uses Muscoda Landing West / Old Muscoda Landing on West River Road, not the newer Victoria Riverside Park motorboat ramp upstream.
Watch for
- Fast main-channel current at Gotham and around sandbars.
- Strainers along eroding banks and in narrow side channels, especially when higher water opens smaller cuts.
- Undercurrents, fewer sandbars, and poor camping options above the normal range, especially around 17,000 cfs and higher.
- Wind, powerboats near Muscoda, poison ivy at access points, and steep sandbar drop-offs.
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 | Wisconsin River at Muscoda, 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 | 4,000 cfs to 10,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 2,500 cfs |
| High threshold | 20,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin Trail Guide Lower Wisconsin Riverway LWSR2 suggested river levels |
| 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.
- Published level bands4,000 to 10,000 cfs normal
Wisconsin Trail Guide treats 4,000 to 10,000 cfs at Muscoda as normal summer conditions with many medium to large sandbars, 14,000 to 17,000 cfs as high flow with sandbar camping not recommended, and above 20,000 cfs as paddling not recommended.
- Exact route report7.9 miles
Wisconsin River Trips documents Gotham / Buena Vista Boat Landing to Old Muscoda Landing as a 7.9-mile route with sandbars, bluff scenery, side-channel exploration, fast current, and a 3 to 4 hour expected paddle time.
- Access supportDNR-listed public access points
Wisconsin DNR lists Buena Vista Boat Landing (Gotham) and Muscoda west side of Highway 80 among major Lower Wisconsin State Riverway public access points.
- Endpoint coordinatesWTG LWSR2 WGS84 points
Wisconsin Trail Guide publishes Buena Vista Landing at 43.20903, -90.30424 and Muscoda Landing West at 43.19800, -90.44576 in its LWSR2 guide.
- Primary hazardsHidden current and narrow-channel strainers
Wisconsin Trail Guide warns of undercurrents at higher flows, especially around sandbars and islands; Wisconsin River Trips also notes fast current, dangerous shoreline strainers, and poison ivy at Gotham.
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
Wisconsin River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Wisconsin River?
Paddle Today watches Wisconsin River at Muscoda, WI and treats 4,000 cfs to 10,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Wisconsin River route start and end?
This route starts at Gotham / Buena Vista Boat Landing and ends at Muscoda Landing West, about 7.9 mi on the water.
Is this Wisconsin 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.