Iowa | Cedar Valley

Cedar RiverCedar Bend Park to Three Rivers Park

Short Bremer County Cedar River connector from Cedar Bend Park to Three Rivers Park at Waverly, ending before the Waverly dam portage corridor.

Route location

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Open access map
Distance4.2 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 1.5 hr to 2.5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Cedar River curves past wooded banks beneath a dramatic sky in George Wyth Memorial State Park, Iowa.
River contextCedar River at George Wyth Memorial State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by TheCatalyst31
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Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Bremer County and City of Waverly park rules, Iowa DNR rules, and Iowa boating/PFD requirements.
CampingOptions nearbyCedar Bend Park has campground support near the put-in, but this route is a short day connector. Use campground reservations or county rules rather than assuming on-river overnight use.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall is the practical season. The guide says 400 to 600 cfs is a better range, but this card stays minimum-only because no source gives a defended high-water cutoff for the Waverly urban split.

Access and shuttle

Paddle the short Cedar Bend-to-Three Rivers connector into Waverly and take out before the dam-portage corridor. This fills the official guide gap between the North Cedar/Cedar Bend cards and the Waverly/Brookwood downstream card.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Cedar Bend Park access
DirectionsOpen map

Cedar Bend and Three Rivers coordinates come from the Cedar River Paddling Trips guide; use posted park/ramp signs for final boat handling.

Finish

Take-out

Three Rivers Park boat ramp
DirectionsOpen map

Three Rivers Park has a double boat ramp and dock according to the guide, and is the required take-out for this card.

Road shuttle

Stage at Three Rivers Park on the north edge of Waverly, then launch from Cedar Bend Park. Confirm Cedar Bend gate and vehicle access before unloading, especially outside the May-through-October park season.

Additional access notes
  • Do not continue into the Waverly dam sequence unless your group separately plans the Kohlmann portage and below-dam relaunch.
More route and safety guidance
  • Cedar Bend Park vehicle access can be seasonal. Confirm the county park gate, campground, and ramp approach before staging a shuttle.
  • The Waverly gauge is at the take-out corridor, but it does not show wood, debris, or dam-portage conditions. Make a visual check at Cedar Bend before launching.
Terms and safety
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Conditions

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Station details and river cameras

Sources and methodology

Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.

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Data status
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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.

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Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteCedar River at Waverly, IA
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor200 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
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Main source behind this scoreCedar River Paddling Trips Waverly gauge guidance
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Published evidence and verification notes

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route shape4.2 miles

    The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Cedar Bend Park as 4.2 miles upstream of Three Rivers Park and marks the Waverly dam portage context downstream.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates42.760425, -92.493585 to 42.73722, -92.469794

    The guide publishes GPS coordinates for Cedar Bend Park and Three Rivers Park.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-232,400 cfs / 5.08 ft at 2026-07-23 12:15 CDT

    This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.

    Source

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