See all 3 routes on Yahara River
Wisconsin | South Central Wisconsin
Yahara River
Babcock County Park to Fish Camp County Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Yahara 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
A short, accessible Yahara water-trail day from Babcock to Fish Camp. It is flat and slow but lake-influenced, with the Babcock lock/portage, wind, wakes, cold water, and same-day launch conditions more important than a narrow flow window.
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
Babcock County Park boat launchUse the marked public boat/canoe launch at Babcock and the dedicated accessible canoe/kayak launch at Fish Camp; do not launch from residential or private shoreline.
Take-out
Fish Camp County Park canoe/kayak launchCheck Babcock lock status and portage conditions before launch. Never approach the dam or spillway.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use the marked public boat/canoe launch at Babcock and the dedicated accessible canoe/kayak launch at Fish Camp; do not launch from residential or private shoreline.
- Check Babcock lock status and portage conditions before launch. Never approach the dam or spillway.
- Fish Camp's canoe launch and park maps can change; confirm current parking, restrooms, fees, and launch availability before staging vehicles.
Watch for
- Flow below the 350 cfs conservative observed reference, wind, wakes, algae, floating debris, and cold water.
- Babcock lock/dam, shallow or obstructed channel edges, private residential banks, and rapid weather changes.
- No-wake boating rules, park hours, camping rules, and any seasonal closure or water-quality advisory.
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 | Yahara River at Exchange Street Bridge at McFarland, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 350 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Quiet Paddling Wisconsin McFarland-to-Fish Camp observed flow |
| 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.
- Route-specific public programBabcock County Park to Fish Camp County Park, about 4.25 mi
Dane County Parks documents the exact route, named boat/canoe launches, beginner difficulty, shuttle, and PFD requirement.
- Public endpoint and camping evidenceBabcock launch/campground to Fish Camp accessible canoe launch
Official Dane County maps document Babcock's boat launch, campground, canoe portage, and Fish Camp's separate canoe/kayak launch; Babcock camping is an option before or after the day route, not on-route camping.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 05429510 at Exchange Street bridge, McFarland
Dane County hydrology documentation identifies 05429510 as the Exchange Street discharge/stage station in the route reach; use the live station for current context and trend.
- Conservative minimum-only reference350 cfs observed McFarland paddle level
Quiet Paddling Wisconsin reports a successful Jaeger Park-to-Fish Camp paddle at about 350 cfs. This is an observed community reference, not a hard safety guarantee or a full station-specific ladder.
- Distinctness checkUpper Babcock-to-Fish Camp water trail is separate from existing lower Yahara routes
Existing scored Yahara routes use the Fulton 05430175 gauge from Highway N/Highway 59 downstream; this route ends at Fish Camp before that corridor and uses direct 05429510.
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
Yahara River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Yahara River?
Paddle Today watches Yahara River at Exchange Street Bridge at McFarland, WI and uses 350 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Yahara River route start and end?
This route starts at Babcock County Park boat launch and ends at Fish Camp County Park canoe/kayak launch, about About 4.25 mi on the water.
Is this Yahara 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.