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Iowa | Iowa County
Iowa River
Marengo to Amana
Check current paddling conditions for this Iowa River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch from the Marengo Iowa River access corridor and take out in the Amana area for a long rural Iowa River day. The Marengo gauge is direct, but the route needs conservative take-out planning around private banks and Amana dam/canal context.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Marengo / Gateway Park Iowa River access corridorGateway Park and Big Bend support public Iowa River access near Marengo, but flooding can affect roads and access quality.
Take-out
Amana-area Iowa River accessThe Amana take-out is modeled as a named public-access corridor rather than a ramp-survey point; verify the landing before putting on.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Gateway Park and Big Bend support public Iowa River access near Marengo, but flooding can affect roads and access quality.
- The Amana take-out is modeled as a named public-access corridor rather than a ramp-survey point; verify the landing before putting on.
- Older Iowa River guide material notes the Amana society dam and canal system downstream of Marengo. Do not extend casually into dam, diversion, or private canal infrastructure.
Watch for
- Shallow bars and scraping when the Marengo gauge drops toward the 300 cfs floor.
- Pushy current, covered bars, floating debris, and fewer stops above the selected 5,000 cfs ceiling.
- Private banks, soft mud, sweepers, strainers, and the need to identify the Amana take-out early.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Iowa River at Marengo, 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 |
| Target band | 300 cfs to 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Marengo to Amana estimated range |
| 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.
- Current gauge check2,120 cfs / 8.88 ft at 2026-07-22 20:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Marengo discharge and stage during this run, inside the selected CanWePaddle range.
- Threshold range300-5,000 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Marengo-to-Amana section to USGS 05453100 and estimates a 300 to 5,000 cfs runnable window.
- Route shape18 miles / about 7 hours
CanWePaddle identifies Marengo to Amana as an 18-mile Iowa River flatwater route with a typical seven-hour float time.
- Marengo access supportGateway and Big Bend river-access corridor
Iowa County Conservation documents Iowa River access at Gateway Park and limited Iowa River access and parking at Big Bend near Marengo, with flooding caveats.
- Dam and diversion caveatAmana society dam and canal system
Iowa River guide material notes a dam roughly five miles below Marengo that diverts water toward the Amana canal system, so this route requires take-out discipline and no casual downstream extension.
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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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.
Quick answers
Iowa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Iowa River?
Paddle Today watches Iowa River at Marengo, IA and treats 300 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Iowa River route start and end?
This route starts at Marengo / Gateway Park Iowa River access corridor and ends at Amana-area Iowa River access, about About 18 mi on the water.
Is this Iowa River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.