See all 29 routes on Cedar River
Iowa | North Central Iowa
Cedar River
Interstate Park / Mitchell to Bennett Access
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch only below the Mitchell dam after the Interstate Park portage/relaunch decision and paddle the short connector to Bennett Access.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Interstate Park / MitchellDo not run the Mitchell power dam. This route begins after the left-bank portage/relaunch described by the guide.
Take-out
Bennett AccessThe route is short, so confirm Bennett from land before launching and avoid drifting into the next riffle-heavy section without that plan.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Do not run the Mitchell power dam. This route begins after the left-bank portage/relaunch described by the guide.
- The route is short, so confirm Bennett from land before launching and avoid drifting into the next riffle-heavy section without that plan.
- USGS 05457700 at Charles City is a downstream proxy; inspect local depth and current below Mitchell.
Watch for
- Mitchell dam/relaunch discipline, shoreline debris, fast rises, and private banks.
- Short mileage that can make the Bennett take-out arrive quickly.
- Low-water shallows below the dam and post-rain wood.
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.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| 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 Otranto-to-Janesville guide |
| 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.
- Official route and mileageInterstate Park to Bennett Access, 1 mi
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Interstate Park to Bennett Access as a one-mile Mitchell County Cedar River section and publishes coordinates for both endpoints.
- Put-in disciplineBelow Mitchell dam portage
The same guide places Interstate Park at the Mitchell dam and describes the left-bank portage around the powerhouse area; this route begins only after that dam boundary is handled from land.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05457700 at 1,260 cfs / 3.85 ft
USGS Water Services returned current Cedar River at Charles City data at 2026-07-23 17:30 CDT during this run.
- Water-trail contextMitchell County Cedar River Water Trail
Mitchell County describes this Cedar River water trail as about 30 miles with calm stretches and quicker current through the county.
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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
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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 uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Cedar River route start and end?
This route starts at Interstate Park / Mitchell and ends at Bennett Access, about About 1.3 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.