See all 4 routes on Iowa River
Iowa | Iowa City Area
Iowa RiverHills Access to River Junction Access
Official Johnson County Iowa River Water Trail segment from Hills Access and Campground to River Junction Access and Campground, with sinuous bottomland forest, endpoint camping, and a direct Iowa City 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 Hills Access and paddle the official Johnson County Iowa River Water Trail segment to River Junction Access. This is a wooded, sinuous bottomland reach with campground endpoints, a direct upstream gauge, and closure-prone floodplain logistics.
Access map
Put-in
Hills Access & CampgroundHills Access is a Johnson County boat-ramp and campground access on the Iowa River; use the signed ramp and public parkland for staging.
Take-out
River Junction Access & CampgroundRiver Junction Access has a county-published coordinate, boat ramp, primitive campsites, and restrooms, but it can close to vehicle traffic when the Iowa and English Rivers rise.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at River Junction Access and Campground, then drive back to Hills Access. Check Johnson County closure notices before leaving a vehicle because River Junction can close during high water.
Additional access notes
- The Iowa River Water Trail continues downstream, but this card ends at River Junction. Do not drift into the remote Tri-County Bridge / River Forks gap without a separate long-route plan.
More route and safety guidance
- This segment is highly sinuous and runs through bottomland forest. Expect fresh wood, soft banks, and fewer simple exits after rain.
- Use Hills Access and River Junction Access as the public endpoints; do not assume private banks or farmland edges are legal stops.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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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
Iowa River at Iowa City, 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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Iowa River at Iowa City, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Partial source data |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Johnson County Iowa River Clean Up history for the Sturgis-to-Hills reach |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official routeHills Access to River Junction Access, 9.8 mi
Johnson County lists Hills Access to River Junction Access as the second Johnson County Iowa River Water Trail segment and describes a highly sinuous reach with bottomland forest and Pechman Creek Delta context.
- Endpoint access and campingBoat ramps and campgrounds at both ends
Johnson County park guides describe Hills as a popular launch/end point with ramp, latrine, playground, and electric/non-electric camping; River Junction has a ramp, parking, non-electric camping, and restrooms.
- River Junction coordinate41.4912969, -91.5017984
Johnson County camping information publishes River Junction map coordinates and notes boat-ramp access to the Iowa River.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-232,200 cfs / 11.77 ft at 2026-07-23 14:00 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.
- Closure caveatRiver Junction closed during June 2026 rising water
Johnson County announced a River Junction vehicle closure on June 17, 2026 because rising Iowa and English River levels were expected to put the area out of bank.
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 Iowa River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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