Rock River Water Trail (East Branch to Horicon)

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.

The East Branch of the Rock River flows west from Theresa State Marsh in Washington County to the Village of Theresa in Dodge County. The water trail begins at Rivers Edge Park in Theresa. Paddlers may choose to first travel upstream through rural and wilderness landscape for 1.6 miles to the Theresa Marsh Dam. A boat ramp is part of the dam infrastructure, allowing paddlers to experience the Theresa Marsh before heading back downstream to begin their journey on the water trail.

The Yellowstone Trail alignment, one of America’s first transcontinental highways begun in 1912, crosses the river at the Milwaukee Street Bridge in Theresa. The river flows through rural landscapes and the communities of Mayville and Kekoskee and then into the wilderness area of the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area where it joins the main river stem.

The southern trailhead of the Niagara Escarpment Great Arc Bike Route is near the river between Mayville and Kekoskee. Four dams must be portaged in this section: a low-head dam in Theresa, two larger dams in Mayville, and one in Kekoskee that is part of a small hydropower generating facility.

The segment from Theresa Village Park to Mayville Park is 11 miles in length through rural landscape and river meanders with no public access site along the route. Rest stops and emergency landings can be made at road crossings. Stream depth between Mayville and Kekoskee is shallow at times and must be checked.

Paddlers can take out at Mayville Park and find food, restrooms and other amenities within an easy walk. Near the Lower Dam is a state historical marker commemorating Wisconsin’s first iron smelter.

The 7-mile segment through the Horicon Marsh is wetland wilderness, an internationally recognized bird sanctuary with undisturbed natural beauty. The river leaves the Horicon Marsh at the City of Horicon. Several access sites are available in Horicon with portage of the Horicon Dam at Legion Park. Camping is available at Dodge County Ledge Park east of the city.