See all 25 routes on Cedar River
Iowa | North Central Iowa
Cedar RiverIdlewild Park Access to Rotary Park Access
Scenic Floyd County Cedar River run from Idlewild Park toward Charles City, with the guide calling out picturesque fishing water, limestone-country scenery, wildlife, and a direct downstream Charles City gauge floor.
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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
Launch at Idlewild Park and take out at Rotary Park for a compact Floyd County Cedar River day with limestone-country scenery above Charles City. The app uses the downstream Charles City gauge as a conservative minimum-only signal.
Access map
Put-in
Idlewild Park AccessBoth endpoints are named in the Cedar River Paddling Trips guide with coordinates, but same-day access conditions and parking remain local/posted decisions.
Take-out
Rotary Park AccessThe Charles City gauge is downstream of the route, so use the score as a corridor check and inspect depth/current at Idlewild before launching.
Road shuttle
Use a short rural two-car shuttle between Idlewild Park north of Floyd and Rotary Park east/south of Floyd. Check both landings before unloading because access roads and parking can be muddy after rain.
Additional access notes
- Private banks dominate outside public accesses. Keep stops to legal public areas unless landowner permission is explicit.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay with named public accesses. Mitchell County Conservation warns adjacent land is private and sandbar camping or trespassing is not permitted.
- High or rising water makes wood, bridge approaches, and landings more consequential even though no full high-water cutoff is published for these flatwater segments.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Cedar River at Charles City, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Cedar River Paddling Trips Charles City gauge guidance |
| 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.
- Route shape5.6 miles
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Idlewild Park Access as 5.6 miles upstream of Rotary Park Access.
- Route characterPicturesque Floyd reach
The guide says the next 3.5 miles downstream to the Highway 218 bridge at Floyd have good fishing water and picturesque scenery before the river enters wider flood plain.
- Endpoint coordinates43.1633388, -92.7540921 to 43.1164289, -92.7065420
The guide publishes GPS coordinates and address context for Idlewild Park Access and Rotary Park Access.
- Gauge floor200 cfs minimum; 400-600 cfs better
The guide names the Charles City USGS station and gives 200 cfs as preferable for adequate levels, with 400 to 600 cfs a better range.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-221,820 cfs / 4.56 ft
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.
- Public water-trail contextDesignated Iowa water trail
Iowa DNR lists the Cedar River as a designated Iowa water trail, and Mitchell County describes designated access points on the upper Cedar water trail.
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 Cedar River
All 25Nearby routes within 75 miles
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