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Wisconsin | Central Wisconsin

Wisconsin River

Pine Island Boat Ramp to Highway 33 Landing / Portage

Check current paddling conditions for this Wisconsin River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Distance6.0 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Wisconsin River flows north of Boscobel with the U.S. 61 bridge crossing the channel.
River contextWisconsin River north of Boscobel river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikideas1 via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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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

On-water distance6.0 miPine Island Boat Ramp to Highway 33 Landing / Portage
DifficultyeasyThe route is only about 6 miles and usually flatwater, but braided side channels, sandbars, current around islands, wind, and motorboat traffic near Portage require active route choice.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the Highway 33 / Portage take-out first, or use Sunset Park as an easier alternate if the carry-in landing is awkward. Then drive back to Pine Island Boat Ramp on Levee Road and verify the DNR wildlife-area rules before launch.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Wisconsin boating and PFD rules, use legal public accesses, and obey all Pine Island Wildlife Area camping, parking, and public-use restrictions.
CampingDay tripWisconsin DNR prohibits camping and overnight parking in Pine Island Wildlife Area, including Wisconsin River islands and sandbars. Treat this card as a day trip.
SeasonMay-OctDam-controlled lower Wisconsin flows can change quickly. Use the Dells gauge with local wind, weather, and landing checks; low water exposes sandbars and high water covers islands and accelerates side channels.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Paddle the Wisconsin River from Pine Island Boat Ramp to the Highway 33 / Portage access for a short sandbar, island, and side-slough day route. Use the Wisconsin Dells gauge and avoid assuming any island camping is legal.

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Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

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Start

Put-in

Pine Island Boat Ramp off Levee Road
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Pine Island Boat Ramp is the DNR-supported Levee Road launch for the wildlife area; confirm current access, road condition, and parking rules before unloading.

Finish

Take-out

Highway 33 Landing / Portage access
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The Highway 33 access is a carry-in style Portage landing in the WRT/Miles Paddled route context; Sunset Park may be easier depending on water level and group needs.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Pine Island Boat Ramp is the DNR-supported Levee Road launch for the wildlife area; confirm current access, road condition, and parking rules before unloading.
  • The Highway 33 access is a carry-in style Portage landing in the WRT/Miles Paddled route context; Sunset Park may be easier depending on water level and group needs.
  • Do not camp on Pine Island Wildlife Area lands, Wisconsin River islands, or sandbars within the property boundary.

Watch for

  • Braided side sloughs, shallow sandbars, island strainers, and dead-end channels.
  • High water covering bars and speeding island currents; low water forcing long drags.
  • Wind, motorboat traffic near Portage, private banks, cold water, and storms on the open lower Wisconsin corridor.

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.

The Wisconsin River flows north of Boscobel with the U.S. 61 bridge crossing the channel.
Wisconsin River north of Boscobel river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Wikideas1 via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC0

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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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.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteWisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells, WI
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band4,000 cfs to 8,000 cfs
Low threshold2,500 cfs
High threshold13,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreWisconsin River Trips / Miles Paddled Wisconsin Dells gauge context
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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-specific guide6.0 miles

    Wisconsin River Trips documents Pine Island Boat Ramp to Hwy 33 Access as a 6.0-mile Wisconsin River route with sandbars, islands, side sloughs, and relative solitude.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates43.54304, -89.58245 to 43.53563, -89.47351

    Miles Paddled lists GPS points for Pine Island boat landing off Levee Road and Highway 33 Landing at Portage.

    Source

  • Access and camping ruleLaunch supported; camping prohibited

    Wisconsin DNR lists Pine Island Wildlife Area canoeing/boating and a boat launch on Levee Road, while prohibiting camping and overnight parking on the property including Wisconsin River islands and sandbars.

    Source

  • Current gauge check2720 cfs / 2.01 ft at 2026-07-22 13:00 CDT

    USGS Water Services returned current Wisconsin Dells data above the low floor but below the selected target shoulder during this run.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

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Nearby routes by distance

Baraboo RiverGlenville Landing to Luebke Landing · about 9 mi awayEasy · 5.1 miBaraboo RiverHaskins Park to Glenville Landing · about 10 mi awayModerate · 4.5 miFox RiverSwan Lake Boat Landing to Highway 33 / Portage · about 11 mi awayEasy · About 5.8 miBaraboo RiverGiese Park to Haskins Park · about 13 mi awayEasy · About 3.5 mi

Quick answers

Wisconsin River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Wisconsin River?

Paddle Today watches Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells, WI and treats 4,000 cfs to 8,000 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 Pine Island Boat Ramp off Levee Road and ends at Highway 33 Landing / Portage access, about 6.0 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.

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