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Iowa | Cedar Valley
Cedar River
Three Rivers Park to Kohlmann Park portage take-out
Check current paddling conditions for this Cedar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
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Today
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Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
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Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
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Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
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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
Use this as the upstream approach from Three Rivers Park to the Kohlmann Park portage take-out above the Waverly dam. It is short, but the take-out is mandatory and should be scouted from land.
Put-in
Three Rivers Park boat rampOpen mapKohlmann Park is described by the guide as the common dam-portage take-out, not an official access. Confirm the landing, current, and carry path before launching.
Take-out
Kohlmann Park portage take-outOpen mapDo not pass the Kohlmann take-out or paddle toward the dam. Stand down if high water, debris, or crowding makes the landing uncertain.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Kohlmann Park is described by the guide as the common dam-portage take-out, not an official access. Confirm the landing, current, and carry path before launching.
- Do not pass the Kohlmann take-out or paddle toward the dam. Stand down if high water, debris, or crowding makes the landing uncertain.
- Three Rivers has a double ramp and dock, but the downstream endpoint is a portage landing rather than a routine ramp take-out.
Watch for
- Mandatory take-out above the Waverly dam on river right.
- Short decision window, urban debris, slippery banks, and fast current at higher stages.
- Pedestrian and park traffic around downtown Waverly.
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 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 shape1.3 miles
The Cedar River Paddling Trips guide lists Three Rivers Park as 1.3 miles upstream of Kohlmann Park.
- Mandatory portage contextKohlmann Park take-out, portage dam on right
The guide says Kohlmann Park is the most commonly used take-out to portage the dam, while also noting that it does not have an official access.
- Current gauge check2,400 cfs / 5.08 ft at 2026-07-23 12:15 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
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Reports
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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 Three Rivers Park boat ramp and ends at Kohlmann Park portage take-out, 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.