See all 25 routes on Cedar River
Iowa | North Iowa
Cedar River
Charles City Dock to Nashua Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Cedar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
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 from the downtown Charles City riverfront and take out at Nashua Access above the dam. The route continues the Cedar flatwater corridor downstream of the whitewater park, then slows into the Nashua impoundment.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
Charles City Dock / Riverside ParkOpen mapThe whitewater course and upstream dam corridor sit immediately above the put-in area; use the normal flatwater launch below that corridor unless your group is intentionally paddling whitewater.
Take-out
Nashua Access / Cedar Lake ParkOpen mapTake out at Nashua Access / Cedar Lake Park on river left above the Nashua dam. Do not drift into the dam or treat the below-dam access as part of this route.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The whitewater course and upstream dam corridor sit immediately above the put-in area; use the normal flatwater launch below that corridor unless your group is intentionally paddling whitewater.
- Take out at Nashua Access / Cedar Lake Park on river left above the Nashua dam. Do not drift into the dam or treat the below-dam access as part of this route.
- Howard Woods is a useful late-route access / primitive-camping context point, but this route is scored to the Nashua above-dam take-out.
Watch for
- Mandatory Nashua dam take-out discipline.
- Wind and slower current on the Cedar Lake / Nashua impoundment approach.
- Fresh wood, bridge current, private banks, low-water gravel, and fast rises after storms.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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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 | Cedar River at Charles 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 | 200 cfs to 2,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,500 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Charles City to Nashua estimated range |
| 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.
- Current gauge check1,680 cfs / 4.37 ft at 2026-07-22 22:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Charles City discharge and stage during this run.
- Threshold range200-2,500 cfs
CanWePaddle ties Charles City-to-Nashua to USGS 05457700 and estimates a 200 to 2,500 cfs runnable window.
- Route shapeAbout 12 miles / about 6 hours
The Cedar River Paddling Trips materials map Charles City to Howard Woods as 10 miles and Howard Woods to Nashua Access as 2.5 miles; City of Nashua describes Memorial Park to Veterans Memorial Park as about a 6-hour kayak/canoe trip.
- Take-out supportNashua Access / Cedar Lake Park
The paddling guide names Nashua Access at Cedar Lake Park, publishes coordinates, and warns to portage the dam on river left.
- Local access supportCharles City to Nashua public float
City of Nashua says user-friendly Charles City access points lead to Cedar Lake, where paddlers can exit at Cedar View, Lakeshore, or Veterans Memorial Park.
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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Cedar River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Cedar River?
Paddle Today watches Cedar River at Charles City, IA and treats 200 cfs to 2,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Cedar River route start and end?
This route starts at Charles City Dock / Riverside Park and ends at Nashua Access / Cedar Lake Park, about About 12 mi on the water.
Is this Cedar River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.