See all 3 routes on Yahara River
Wisconsin | South Central Wisconsin
Yahara River
Highway N / Dunkirk to Highway 59
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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.
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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 from Highway N below Dunkirk Dam and continue through the Stebbinsville recovery reach to Highway 59. This avoids using Stebbinsville as a default endpoint while preserving the best lower-Yahara riffles and boulder gardens.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Highway N bridge access below Dunkirk DamHighway N is the planned launch because WRT describes it as better than starting at Dunkirk Dam. Stay downstream of the dam/intake unless a separate scout and portage plan is intentional.
Take-out
Highway 59 / Yahara River near Fulton gauge accessStebbinsville Road is an intermediate reference only. Do not plan it as the routine take-out because recent sources document private-property conflict and signage there.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Highway N is the planned launch because WRT describes it as better than starting at Dunkirk Dam. Stay downstream of the dam/intake unless a separate scout and portage plan is intentional.
- Stebbinsville Road is an intermediate reference only. Do not plan it as the routine take-out because recent sources document private-property conflict and signage there.
- Highway 59 is the planned take-out and the live Fulton gauge location. Confirm bank footing, traffic, parking, and any posted access limits from land before launching.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles and boulder gardens below the WRT 201-400 cfs target range.
- Hidden rocks, faster current, and reduced recovery room when the Fulton gauge moves into WRT high or very-high ranges.
- Wood, strainers, storm debris, private banks, cold shoulder-season water, and water-quality concerns after rain or Badfish/MMSD flow changes.
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
Data and sources
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 near Fulton, 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 | 201 cfs to 400 cfs |
| Low threshold | 0 cfs |
| High threshold | 801 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Yahara River - Dunkirk gauge ladder |
| 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 and access sequenceHighway N to Stebbinsville 4.8 mi, then Stebbinsville to Highway 59 2.1 mi
WRT documents the Highway N launch below Dunkirk, the Stebbinsville split, and Highway 59 as a public access downstream.
- Access coordinatesHighway N 42.8788522, -89.210117; Highway 59 gauge 42.82638889, -89.1719444
WRT links a Dunkirk/Stebbinsville map with the Highway N route coordinate, and USGS site metadata resolves the Fulton gauge at the Highway 59 bridge.
- Threshold ladder201-400 cfs target; 0-200 shallow but usually navigable; 801+ very high
Wisconsin River Trips ties the Dunkirk reach to the Yahara near Fulton gauge and publishes a route-specific cfs ladder with a proxy caveat for Badfish/MMSD effects.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05430175 103 cfs / 3.83 ft at 2026-07-23 14:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Fulton discharge and stage during this run, below the WRT target range but above the near-drought navigability floor.
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 near Fulton, WI and treats 201 cfs to 400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Yahara River route start and end?
This route starts at Highway N bridge access below Dunkirk Dam and ends at Highway 59 / Yahara River near Fulton gauge access, about About 6.9 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.