See all 12 routes on Wisconsin River
Wisconsin | Lower Wisconsin Riverway
Wisconsin RiverPeck’s Landing / Spring Green to Muscoda
Long Lower Wisconsin day or easy overnight-capable corridor from Spring Green to Muscoda. It is not harder water, but the 22-mile length changes the planning burden enough that it should stay separate from the shorter upstream and downstream day routes.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Peck’s Landing near Spring Green and finish at Muscoda. The river remains flatwater, but the 22-mile length makes this a full-day or overnight planning route rather than a casual short float.
Access map
Put-in
Peck’s Landing / Spring Green Highway 23 landingUse this as a specific scored route even though many intermediate landings exist; combining it with shorter routes would hide the full-day commitment.
Take-out
Riverside Park / Muscoda west-side landingConfirm overnight rules, water levels, weather, and shuttle timing before launching late in the day.
Road shuttle
Longer Lower Wisconsin shuttle between Spring Green and Muscoda. Plan pickup timing carefully, especially if wind, sandbar stops, or an overnight plan could slow the group.
Additional access notes
- Use the named public landings and follow Lower Wisconsin State Riverway rules. A wearable, correctly sized PFD is required to be readily accessible, and DNR recommends wearing it when swimming because of drop-offs and swift current.
More route and safety guidance
- Below about 2,500 cfs the route becomes very shallow; 4,000-10,000 cfs is the published normal band. Above 14,000 cfs undercurrents strengthen, and above 20,000 cfs paddling is not recommended.
- The Lower Wisconsin has shifting channels, sudden drop-offs, layered currents, and strainers in narrow high-water channels. Wear a properly fitted PFD, never wade in the lee of sandbars or islands, and do not force a side channel that is not clearly open.
- Heavy upstream rain can raise the river unexpectedly even under local sunshine. Recheck the forecast, gauge trend, landing conditions, and overnight sandbar availability before committing.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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 at Muscoda, 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.
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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.
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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 site | Wisconsin River at Muscoda, WI |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 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 suggested river levels |
| 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.
- Official routeSpring Green to Muscoda, 22 miles
Wisconsin DNR lists Spring Green to Muscoda as a 22-mile Lower Wisconsin State Riverway canoe route with an estimated 6-hour paddling time.
- Published level bands4,000 to 10,000 cfs normal
Wisconsin Trail Guide applies the Muscoda gauge to the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway and separates normal sandbar-friendly water from high-water and no-go levels.
- Camping contextSandbar overnight possible at suitable levels
Wisconsin Trail Guide and Wisconsin DNR both describe sandbar/island camping as part of the Lower Wisconsin experience, but high water can erase safe camping options.
- River hazardsShifting channels, drop-offs, layered currents, and high-water strainers
Wisconsin Trail Guide warns that the Lower Wisconsin changes channel and speed, develops sudden drop-offs and layered currents, and can expose strainers in narrow channels at high flows; it also advises checking upstream rain-driven surges.
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
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