Bark River — Hebron to Fort Atkinson: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 19, 4:00 AM UTC
No runnable range yet
We don’t have a runnable range for this section yet — many of these are calm or dam-controlled reaches. Here’s the current gauge reading; check it (and, for tailwaters, the dam’s generation schedule) before you go.
Estimated range
73 cfs
2.0 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05426250
What this means today
There is no published runnable range for this reach, so we won't grade the reading against one. What we can show is what the gauge itself is doing.
Daily average flow — a different measurement from the gauge height this reach is graded on — has run between 62 cfs and 116 cfs, 46% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Hebron to Fort Atkinson
Bark River at Hebron to Fort Atkinson is a Class I run in Wisconsin — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Hebron landing and take out at Fort Atkinson.
We track USGS gauge 05426250 for this reach, but there isn't a published runnable range for it yet, so we won't invent a firm number. Use the live reading and 7-day trend above to see whether the Bark River is rising or falling, and check with a local outfitter or paddling club before you commit to a launch.
Flows here are usually most dependable May–October. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class I
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- May–October
- Put-in
- Hebron landing
- Take-out
- Fort Atkinson
Reading USGS gauge 05426250 — BARK RIVER NEAR ROME, WI ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Bark River — Hebron to Fort Atkinson?
- We don't yet have a published runnable range for this section, so we can't give a firm number. Check the live USGS gauge and ask a local outfitter before you go.
- How do I check Bark River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05426250 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Bark River — Hebron to Fort Atkinson good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Bark River here?
- Typically May–October, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.