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Iowa | North Iowa
Cedar River
Pearl Rock to North Cedar Park
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
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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 at Pearl Rock and take out at North Cedar Park for a compact Cedar River day ending at a county park with verified river access and camping.
Put-in
Pearl Rock accessOpen mapPearl Rock parking is limited; do not block roads or private drives.
Take-out
North Cedar Park boat ramp / canoe accessOpen mapNorth Cedar Park is the normal downstream access and campground anchor; use the park boat ramp/canoe access and follow posted camping rules.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Pearl Rock parking is limited; do not block roads or private drives.
- North Cedar Park is the normal downstream access and campground anchor; use the park boat ramp/canoe access and follow posted camping rules.
- The selected gauge is downstream at Waverly, so visual checks at Pearl Rock still control the launch decision.
Watch for
- Wood on outside bends, shallow gravel near the 200 cfs floor, and faster current after rain.
- Private banks and old river oxbows outside the public park and wildlife-area corridor.
- Cold shoulder-season water and limited public bailout options.
Route gallery
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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 Waverly, 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 |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Cedar River Paddling Trips Waverly/Charles City gauge guidance |
| 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.
- Route shape6.5 miles
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Pearl Rock as 6.5 miles upstream of North Cedar Park.
- Endpoint coordinates42.910715, -92.543001 to 42.849516, -92.522648
The guide publishes GPS coordinates for Pearl Rock and North Cedar Park.
- Camping and take-outNorth Cedar Park boat ramp, canoe access, and campground
Bremer County / MyCountyParks says North Cedar Park has a Cedar River boat ramp and canoe access, with first-come camping, water, modern restrooms, and showers.
- Gauge floor200 cfs minimum; 400-600 cfs better
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide gives a 200 cfs adequate-water floor and 400 to 600 cfs as a better range for the broader trip set.
- 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.
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.
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More routes to check next
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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 Pearl Rock access and ends at North Cedar Park boat ramp / canoe access, about 6.5 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.