See all 6 routes on Boone River
Iowa | North Central Iowa
Boone River
Albright's Canoe Access to Tunnel Mill Canoe Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Boone River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
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Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
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Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Albright's Canoe Access and take out at Tunnel Mill for the remote, faster-gradient lower-Boone continuation. Use the Webster City gauge conservatively, avoid private Bevers Bridge access, and be ready for Class I-II rapids, boulders, wood, and the Tunnel Mill Dam remains.
Put-in
Albright's Canoe AccessOpen mapAlbright's Canoe Access is an Iowa DNR-owned / Hamilton County-managed canoe access. Inspect the landing before launch because this route begins immediately in a faster-gradient section.
Take-out
Tunnel Mill Canoe AccessOpen mapTunnel Mill provides river access and parking for vehicles and canoe trailers, but it is a rural wildlife-management access rather than a staffed park.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Albright's Canoe Access is an Iowa DNR-owned / Hamilton County-managed canoe access. Inspect the landing before launch because this route begins immediately in a faster-gradient section.
- Tunnel Mill provides river access and parking for vehicles and canoe trailers, but it is a rural wildlife-management access rather than a staffed park.
- Bevers Bridge is not a routine access for this route. Hamilton County specifically notes that its canoe access is private property.
- The selected gauge is direct and same-river but upstream of this lower segment. Make a visual call for depth and wood before leaving Albright.
Watch for
- Class I-II rapids, boulder gardens, outside-bend strainers, and fast current during the first two miles below Albright.
- The abrupt shallow drop and old Tunnel Mill Dam remains near the lower part of the route. Scout or carry if the line is not obvious.
- Low water below about 120 cfs at Webster City, when bony riffles and the Tunnel Mill drop become more likely.
- High water around or above 1,500 cfs at Webster City, when Hamilton County recommends the river only for advanced canoeists.
- Private banks, limited exits, cold water, and delayed rescue in the remote valley.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Boone River near Webster City, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 120 cfs to 1,100 cfs |
| Low threshold | 120 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,500 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Boone River Webster-City-to-Stratford range and Hamilton County cfs guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route segmentAlbright to Tunnel Mill, 7.5 mi
Hamilton County touring information lists Albright Canoe Access to Tunnel Mill Canoe Access as a 7.5-mile section with average float time around 3.5 hours in normal conditions.
- Published range120 to 1,500 cfs
CanWePaddle publishes an estimated runnable range of 120 to 1,500 cfs for the broader Webster City to Stratford Boone River route using USGS 05481000.
- County cfs guidance<=1,100 cfs novice, 1,500+ cfs advanced
Hamilton County says 1,100 cfs or below is good for inexperienced canoeists and 1,500 cfs and above is recommended for advanced canoeists only.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05481000 at 147 cfs / 2.12 ft
USGS Water Services returned Boone River near Webster City values of 147 cfs and 2.12 ft at 2026-07-22 18:00 CDT.
- HazardsClass I-II, Bevers private access, Tunnel Mill Dam remains
Hamilton County describes Class I-II rapids, the private-property status of Bevers Bridge access, and an abrupt shallow drop from Tunnel Mill Dam remains about 4.5 miles below Bevers Bridge.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Reports
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Quick answers
Boone River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Boone River?
Paddle Today watches Boone River near Webster City, IA and treats 120 cfs to 1,100 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Boone River route start and end?
This route starts at Albright's Canoe Access and ends at Tunnel Mill Canoe Access, about About 7.5 mi on the water.
Is this Boone River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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