See all 12 routes on Wisconsin River
Wisconsin | South-Central Wisconsin
Wisconsin RiverHighway 33 Portage to Dekorra Park
Overlooked sandbar-and-side-channel Wisconsin River day between Portage and Dekorra. Wisconsin River Trips gives exact endpoints and a Dells-gauge level ladder, so this can be added as a conservative recreational route.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch near the Highway 33 bridge at Portage and finish at Dekorra Park. Expect big-river current, large islands, sandbars at moderate flows, and side-channel choices rather than technical rapids.
Access map
Put-in
Highway 33 bridge carry-in (Portage)The Highway 33 put-in is backed by a Recreation.gov/BLM page describing a Wisconsin DNR carry-in boat launch just before the Highway 33 river crossing, but parking and bank conditions still deserve a same-day check.
Take-out
Dekorra Park landingThe route passes near levee and power-plant infrastructure; keep the trip to the documented reach and avoid trespass or restricted areas.
Road shuttle
Use a two-car shuttle between the Highway 33 bridge area and Dekorra Park. Confirm legal parking and carry routes at both ends because this route is sourced from a trip report rather than a formal DNR water-trail landing list.
More route and safety guidance
- Motorboat wakes, sandstone rebound, hidden drop-offs, and changing islands require active boat control.
- Use the named Dekorra and Portage-area accesses and treat this as a day trip unless a legal campsite is separately confirmed.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells, WI. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells, 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 |
| Preferred range | 4,000 cfs to 8,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 2,500 cfs |
| High threshold | 13,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Portage segment Dells-gauge depth guide |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 shape7.8 miles, 3 to 4 hours
Wisconsin River Trips documents Highway 33 to Dekorra Park as a 7.8-mile route with an expected 3- to 4-hour paddle time.
- Published level bands4,001 to 8,000 cfs best window
Wisconsin River Trips treats 4,001 to 6,000 cfs as average summer depth, 6,001 to 8,000 cfs as average spring depth, 10,001 to 13,000 cfs as high and not inviting, and 13,001+ cfs as unsuitable unless experienced.
- Access supportCarry-in to park landing
Wisconsin River Trips identifies a Highway 33 bridge carry-in and Dekorra Park as the endpoint pair. Recreation.gov describes the Portage put-in as a Wisconsin DNR carry-in boat launch just before the Highway 33 river crossing and publishes matching GPS coordinates.
- Take-out supportDekorra Park / Main Street access
Town of Dekorra materials list Dekorra Park beside Main Street Access with Wisconsin River frontage, adjacent paved boat launch, parking, hand pump, portable toilet, and water access.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Wisconsin River
All 12Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.