Rock River Water Trail (Northern Water Trail)

The Rock River Water Trail is a 320-mile National Water Trail that travels through beautiful rural and wilderness landscapes from its headwaters near the Horicon Marsh to the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Learn more.

Northern Water Trail (7 miles, Fond du Lac and Dodge counties)

Begin your paddling adventure on the Rock River Water Trail at Waupun County Park, where overnight camping facilities are available. The South Branch of the Rock River flows through Waupun, an easy trip through the City of Statues during normal water levels. The river is narrow and can be shallow in places if weather conditions have been dry, especially below the dam. Enjoy the famous “End of the Trail statue” at Shaler Park near the Waupun Dam and Harris Mill Park.

The South Branch joins the West Branch to form the main river stem near State Highway 49 at the northern edge of the Horicon Marsh. The river then flows south through rural and wilderness landscapes to the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Take out at the Wild Goose State Trail Bridge near East Waupun Road or return to the State Highway 49 wayside. The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge lies just beyond the Wild Goose State Trail Bridge and is closed to the public.

After take-out at either the Wild Goose State Trail Bridge or at the State Highway 49 wayside, the water trail can be accessed downstream at two sites:

• Burnett Ditch boat landing on the west side of the Horicon Marsh near the community of Burnett
• Greenhead Landing on the East Branch of the river at the eastern edge of the Horicon Marsh 4 miles downstream of the Village of Kekoskee

Both access sites enter the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, the southern portion of the Horicon Marsh that is open to paddlers.