See all 2 routes on Black Hawk Creek
Iowa | Cedar Valley
Black Hawk CreekFranck Park to Ranchero Road
Tight, obstructed creek run from Hudson into Waterloo. Gauge range matters, but wood, portages, and technical maneuvering matter just as much.
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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
Use Franck Park (Access 15) as the put-in and Ranchero Road / Katoski Greenbelt (Access 8) as the take-out. Treat the official 100 to 500 cfs band as necessary, not sufficient.
Access map
Put-in
Franck Park (Access 15), HudsonAccess coordinates were geocoded from public map data, not an official access GIS record.
Take-out
Ranchero Road / Katoski Greenbelt (Access 8), WaterlooThis is a skilled-creek call. Fresh storm damage can make a known access pair unusable even when the gauge is in range.
Road shuttle
Car shuttle is recommended between Franck Park and Ranchero Road / Katoski Greenbelt.
More route and safety guidance
- Portages are not uncommon; skip the route if the group cannot scout, portage, and maneuver around fresh wood.
- Treat storm damage and fresh obstruction reports as more important than a good gauge reading.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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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.
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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
Black Hawk Creek at Hudson, IA. 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.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Black Hawk Creek at Hudson, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 100 cfs to 500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Iowa DNR Black Hawk Creek Water Trail brochure |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Published flow range100 to 500 cfs
Iowa DNR publishes this as the recommended range for safe and enjoyable paddling at the Hudson gauge.
- DifficultyHard
The brochure explicitly says this is not the best choice for novice paddlers.
- Primary hazardsWood, strainers, and portages
The official water-trail brochure calls out frequent deadfalls, strainers, and two fords that can behave like low-head dam hazards.
- Decision styleConservative
A good gauge reading does not erase fresh storm damage. If you cannot scout and portage confidently, skip it.
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 Black Hawk Creek
All 2Nearby routes within 75 miles
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