See all 25 routes on Cedar River
Iowa | North Iowa
Cedar RiverPearl Rock to North Cedar Park
Cedar River day run from the small Pearl Rock access to North Cedar Park near Plainfield, with endpoint camping support and a downstream Waverly 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 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.
Access map
Put-in
Pearl Rock accessPearl Rock parking is limited; do not block roads or private drives.
Take-out
North Cedar Park boat ramp / canoe accessNorth Cedar Park is the normal downstream access and campground anchor; use the park boat ramp/canoe access and follow posted camping rules.
Road shuttle
Stage at North Cedar Park east of Plainfield, then return to Pearl Rock. Keep the Pearl Rock vehicle count low and use only the public access footprint.
Additional access notes
- The selected gauge is downstream at Waverly, so visual checks at Pearl Rock still control the launch decision.
More route and safety guidance
- Use the North Cedar Park boat ramp / canoe access for the take-out or overnight staging; do not assume private banks or oxbows are legal exits.
- The Waverly gauge is downstream of this split. Treat high, rising, cold, or debris-laden water as a no-go even though the scoring model is minimum-only.
Plan this paddle
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No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Short-route forecast
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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 Waverly, 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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 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 |
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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 Waverly/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 shape6.5 miles
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Pearl Rock as 6.5 miles upstream of North Cedar Park.
- Endpoint coordinates42.9107066, -92.5408445 to 42.849516, -92.522648
The paddling guide's Pearl Rock GPS (42.910715, -92.543001) falls about 600 feet west of the named canoe launch. The endpoint now uses the mapped launch-site marker beside the Cedar River, checked against the public county access listing and aerial imagery; it is not a surveyed agency coordinate.
- 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-232,450 cfs / 5.10 ft at 2026-07-23 08:15 CDT
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.
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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