See all 3 routes on Yahara River
Wisconsin | South Central Wisconsin
Yahara RiverHighway N / Dunkirk to Highway 59
Lower Yahara free-flowing day route from the better Highway N bridge access below Dunkirk Dam through the Stebbinsville recovery reach to the Highway 59 bridge/gauge access.
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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 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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 59 first, then return to Highway N below Dunkirk. A vehicle shuttle is cleaner than relying on narrow rural shoulders, and Highway 59 also gives a same-day look at the selected gauge corridor.
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Access planner
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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Highway N bridge access below Dunkirk Dam to Highway 59 / Yahara River near Fulton gauge access is about 6.9 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- WRT marks Highway 59 as a decent public access and the Fulton gauge sits at that bridge, but same-day bank footing and parking checks still matter.
- The Fulton gauge is downstream from the Badfish Creek confluence and MMSD-influenced flow changes, so pair the number with visual checks at Highway N, Stebbinsville, and Highway 59.
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.
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Conditions
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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
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
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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
Yahara River near Fulton, 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.
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 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05430175 103 cfs / 3.83 ft at 2026-07-23 14:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
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 Yahara River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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