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Iowa | North Iowa

Cedar River

Nashua below-dam access to Pearl Rock

Check current paddling conditions for this Cedar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Distance6.1 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2 hr to 3 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

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

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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

On-water distance6.1 miNashua below-dam access to Pearl Rock
DifficultyeasyThis is a short flatwater/moving-water Cedar leg at normal levels, but the below-dam launch, limited Pearl Rock parking, private banks, and downstream proxy gauge keep it in caution.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the small Pearl Rock take-out first, then return to Nashua. Launch only from the public below-dam side of the Nashua portage corridor; do not start above the dam for this downstream route.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow Nashua, Chickasaw County, Iowa DNR, and Iowa boating/PFD rules at public accesses.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a short day route. Howard Woods and North Cedar Park can support nearby/base-camp planning on the broader corridor, but no on-route campsite was verified for the Nashua-to-Pearl split.
SeasonApr-OctSpring through fall is the practical season. The guide says 400 to 600 cfs is a better range, but the app keeps this minimum-only because no source gives a defended high-water cutoff for this exact split.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch below the Nashua dam and paddle the short downstream Cedar River leg to Pearl Rock. This fills the first gap below the existing Charles City-to-Nashua card while keeping dam exposure explicit.

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Prepare this trip

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Start

Put-in

Nashua below-dam access / Veterans Memorial Park portage
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Use the Veterans Memorial Park / Nashua Access portage system to get below the dam; do not drift over or launch upstream of the dam.

Finish

Take-out

Pearl Rock access
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Pearl Rock has a small parking lot that the guide says holds only a couple of vehicles. Confirm parking and the landing before launching.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Use the Veterans Memorial Park / Nashua Access portage system to get below the dam; do not drift over or launch upstream of the dam.
  • Pearl Rock has a small parking lot that the guide says holds only a couple of vehicles. Confirm parking and the landing before launching.
  • The Waverly gauge is downstream of the route and should be paired with same-day visual checks at Nashua.

Watch for

  • Dam-adjacent launch discipline at Nashua and swift water if the river is high or rising.
  • Fresh wood, low-water gravel, bridge current, private banks, and limited public exits.
  • Small take-out capacity at Pearl Rock and possible agricultural runoff 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.

The Cedar River curves past wooded banks beneath a dramatic sky in George Wyth Memorial State Park, Iowa.
Cedar River at George Wyth Memorial State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by TheCatalyst31
CC BY-SA 4.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Read quality
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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.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteCedar River at Waverly, IA
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor200 cfs
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreCedar River Paddling Trips Waverly/Charles City gauge guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 shape6.1 miles

    The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Nashua Access as 6.1 miles upstream of Pearl Rock.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates42.95638, -92.535427 to 42.910715, -92.543001

    The guide publishes GPS coordinates for Nashua Access / Cedar Lake Park and Pearl Rock.

    Source

  • Gauge floor200 cfs minimum; 400-600 cfs better

    The guide provides Cedar River gauge guidance for the trip family and points users to Charles City plus downstream gauges including Waverly.

    Source

  • Current gauge check2,450 cfs / 5.10 ft at 2026-07-23 08:15 CDT

    USGS Water Services returned current Cedar River at Waverly discharge and stage during this run.

    Source

  • Local route contextNashua to North Cedar is a public float corridor

    The City of Nashua describes the Veterans Memorial Park / dam portage and says the Nashua-to-North-Cedar corridor can be customized using public access points.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

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Quick answers

Cedar River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Cedar River?

Paddle Today watches Cedar River at Waverly, 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 Nashua below-dam access / Veterans Memorial Park portage and ends at Pearl Rock access, about 6.1 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.

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