Kayaking & Canoeing the Iowa River

Iowa paddling guide

324 mi
River mapped
120
Boat launches
43
Campgrounds
9
Counties

The Iowa River is one of Iowa's designated water trails, tracing roughly 324 mi, winding through Franklin, Hancock, Hardin and Iowa and other Counties. This guide maps 120 public boat launches and access points and 43 nearby campgrounds on the Iowa River, plus the live USGS gauge readings you need to plan a safe day kayaking, canoeing or tubing in Iowa.

A popular way to paddle the Iowa River is to put in at Cappy Russell Access and take out at east twin lake — check the live gauge first and always leave a shuttle vehicle at your take-out.

🗺️ Open the live paddling map

Boat launches & access points on the Iowa River

120 public access points for putting in and taking out.

  • ▸Alden Boat Club/ City ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Alden Canoe AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Alden City AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Amana Colonies Water Diversion DamIowa Co.
  • ▸Arney Bend Wildlife AreaMarshall Co.
  • ▸Assembly Ground ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Belle Plane AccessIowa Co.
  • ▸Bessman-Kemp ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Big Bend AreIowa Co.
  • ▸Biglow ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Bingham ParkWright Co.
  • ▸Burlington Street DamJohnson Co.
  • ▸Burlington Street DamJohnson Co.
  • ▸Cambier River BendWright Co.
  • ▸Canoe LaunchingHardin Co.
  • ▸Cappy Russell AccessLouisa Co.
  • ▸Center Street DamMarshall Co.
  • ▸Chelsea Boat RampTama Co.
  • ▸Cherry LakeTama Co.
  • ▸City ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Coralville Dam Boat AccessJohnson Co.
  • ▸Cottonwood BanksIowa Co.
  • ▸Crandic ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Cross' FordHardin Co.
  • ▸Curtis BridgeJohnson Co.
  • ▸Daisy Long Memorial ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸David Bates Memorial ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Dougans LandingHardin Co.
  • ▸Dovetail PondJohnson Co.
  • ▸Dows ParkWright Co.
  • ▸Duffus LandingTama Co.
  • ▸Eagle City AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸east twin lakeHancock Co.
  • ▸east twin lakeHancock Co.
  • ▸East Twin lakeHancock Co.
  • ▸Edgewater Park PondJohnson Co.
  • ▸Edgewood ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Eldora Dam AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Fallen RockHardin Co.
  • ▸Falling Rock AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Ferry Landing Public Use Area (Mississippi)Louisa Co.
  • ▸Fishing Jetty
  • ▸Fitz river Bend ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Foster ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Fred T. Schwob AccessLouisa Co.
  • ▸Furrow AccessMarshall Co.
  • ▸Gateway Park and PreserveIowa Co.
  • ▸Gateway Park North LakeIowa Co.
  • ▸Gateway Park South LakeIowa Co.
  • ▸George Elder WoodsWright Co.
  • ▸Grammer Grove Wildlife AreaMarshall Co.
  • ▸Groom Wildlife AreaWright Co.
  • ▸GS MarinaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hardin City AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife areaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Hawkeye Wildlife AreaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Headquarters SegmentHardin Co.
  • ▸Hills AccessJohnson Co.
  • ▸Holland AccessMarshall Co.
  • ▸Horse GroveWright Co.
  • ▸Hwy 61 AccessLouisa Co.
  • ▸Ilco Park DamHardin Co.
  • ▸Iowa River AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Iowa River Boat Ramp
  • ▸Iowa River Natural Resource AreaTama Co.
  • ▸Iowa River Power RestaurantJohnson Co.
  • ▸Jolly RogersJohnson Co.
  • ▸Koszta AccessIowa Co.
  • ▸Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson Co.
  • ▸Leverton WildernessHardin Co.
  • ▸Long Point LandingTama Co.
  • ▸lower morse lake wildlife areaWright Co.
  • ▸Lower Pine Lake Boat RampHardin Co.
  • ▸Manatts LandingTama Co.
  • ▸Mann WildernessHardin Co.
  • ▸McCoy AccessTama Co.
  • ▸Mehaffey BridgeJohnson Co.
  • ▸Mid RiverJohnson Co.
  • ▸Nicholson Ford AccessMarshall Co.
  • ▸Oakland-Iowa River Conservation AreaFranklin Co.
  • ▸Old UI BoathouseJohnson Co.
  • ▸Otter Creek MarshTama Co.
  • ▸Oxbow SegmentHardin Co.
  • ▸Pikes TimberWright Co.
  • ▸Pine Lake State ParkHardin Co.
  • ▸Pineridge Recreation AreaHardin Co.
  • ▸Popejoy Conservation ParkFranklin Co.
  • ▸Power DamHardin Co.
  • ▸Randolph AreaIowa Co.
  • ▸River Junction AccessJohnson Co.
  • ▸River Junction Boat RampJohnson Co.
  • ▸River ParkWright Co.
  • ▸Riverview ParkMarshall Co.
  • ▸Sand LakeMarshall Co.
  • ▸Sandy BeachJohnson Co.
  • ▸Snarl Street Wildlife AreaWright Co.
  • ▸Speers River AccessHardin Co.
  • ▸Steamboat Rock - Tower RockHardin Co.
  • ▸Steamboat Rock LaunchHardin Co.
  • ▸Sturgis FerryJohnson Co.
  • ▸Sugar BottomJohnson Co.
  • ▸Sylvan HillHardin Co.
  • ▸Tailwater WestJohnson Co.
  • ▸Terry Trueblood Rec AreaJohnson Co.
  • ▸Three Bridges ParkMarshall Co.
  • ▸Timmons Grove ParkMarshall Co.
  • ▸Toft Wildlife AReaFranklin Co.
  • ▸Trailwater EastJohnson Co.
  • ▸Vanderlip AccessWright Co.
  • ▸Water PlantJohnson Co.
  • ▸Weaver's CoveHardin Co.
  • ▸West OverlookJohnson Co.
  • ▸Whitetail FlatsWright Co.

Camping near the Iowa River

  • ⛺Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca Campground
  • ⛺CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (IA)
  • ⛺East Overlook Day Use Area
  • ⛺Fox CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Iowa River RV Park
  • ⛺Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Lake Macbride State ParkJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Lake Macbride State Park Campground
  • ⛺Linder Point CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺LINDER POINT CAMPGROUND
  • ⛺Pine Lake Camps
  • ⛺SANDY BEACH CAMP
  • ⛺Sandy Beach CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Sandy Beach Campground
  • ⛺Sugar Bottom CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺SUGAR BOTTOM CAMPGROUND
  • ⛺Sugar Bottom Campgrounds
  • ⛺Sugar Bottom Day Use Area
  • ⛺Sugar Bottom Tent CampingJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Tailwater East
  • ⛺Tailwater East CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Tailwater West
  • ⛺Tailwater West CampgoundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Tailwater West Day Use Area
  • ⛺Tent CampingJohnson Co.
  • ⛺Turkey Creek Day Use Area
  • ⛺West Overlook
  • ⛺West Overlook CampgroundJohnson Co.
  • ⛺West Overlook Campground

Live Iowa River conditions

runnable

Iowa River: 2,080 cfs, 11.6 ft — runnable.

Yes — right now the Iowa River is runnable at 2,080 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026, 7:00 AM CT), within its normal paddling range. Iowa rivers rise fast after heavy rain, so always check the live USGS gauge and skip the river when it reads high or is flagged for flooding.

Typically runnable between about 250 and 9,000 cfs. Treat readings above 9,000 cfs as dangerous high water and below 250 cfs as too low to float. Provisional paddling band — always scout on site.

Source: USGS Iowa River at Iowa City, IA, updated Jul 25, 2026, 7:00 AM CT. Live readings are provisional — always confirm on the map before launching.

River levels change fast. Check the live USGS gauges, weather radar and flood-safety status for the Iowa River on the interactive Iowa Paddle map. It flags dangerous high water and dams so you can paddle safely.

Iowa River paddling FAQ

Is the Iowa River safe to paddle right now?
Yes — right now the Iowa River is runnable at 2,080 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026, 7:00 AM CT), within its normal paddling range. Iowa rivers rise fast after heavy rain, so always check the live USGS gauge and skip the river when it reads high or is flagged for flooding.
Where can I put in and take out on the Iowa River?
A popular run is from Cappy Russell Access to east twin lake. In all, the Iowa River has 120 mapped public boat launches — leave a shuttle vehicle at your take-out and confirm access before you go.
How long is the Iowa River?
About 324 mi of the Iowa River is mapped for paddling across 9 Iowa counties, with 120 access points to build shorter day trips.
Do I need a permit to kayak or canoe the Iowa River?
No permit is required to paddle Iowa's rivers. Non-motorized kayaks and canoes don't need registration; just wear a life vest, check the live USGS gauge, and avoid the river during or after heavy rain.

Rivers to paddle near the Iowa River

Close by if you're planning a kayaking or canoeing trip in this part of Iowa:

Paddle more of Iowa

The Iowa River is just one of dozens of paddleable rivers in the state. Browse the full guide to kayaking & canoeing every river in Iowa.