Iowa | Northwest Iowa
Little Sioux River
Linn Grove Dam Area to Riverside Little Sioux Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Little Sioux 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
Paddle the Little Sioux River from Linn Grove to Peterson using the direct Linn Grove gauge. The route starts beside a documented low-head dam area, so below-dam launch discipline is mandatory.
Put-in
Linn Grove Dam Area below-dam launchOpen mapThe Linn Grove Dam Area includes a low-head dam. Never approach the dam from upstream and do not launch where current feeds toward the dam.
Take-out
Riverside Little Sioux AccessOpen mapThe Peterson take-out coordinate is an address/park-area anchor for Riverside Little Sioux Access, not a surveyed ramp point.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The Linn Grove Dam Area includes a low-head dam. Never approach the dam from upstream and do not launch where current feeds toward the dam.
- The Peterson take-out coordinate is an address/park-area anchor for Riverside Little Sioux Access, not a surveyed ramp point.
- Respect private banks and use public access areas only.
Watch for
- Low-head dam hydraulics at Linn Grove, especially during higher water.
- Fast rises after rain, floating wood, cutbank strainers, shallow riffles near the low end of the range, and cold spring water.
- Remote-feeling bends where road access and rescue options are limited.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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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 | Little Sioux River at Linn Grove, 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 | 100 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,500 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Linn Grove to Peterson 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 check264 cfs / 5.65 ft at 2026-07-22 21:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Linn Grove discharge and stage during this run.
- Threshold range100-1,500 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Linn Grove-to-Peterson section to USGS 06605850 and estimates a 100 to 1,500 cfs runnable window.
- Public endpointsLinn Grove Dam Area to Riverside Little Sioux Access
Buena Vista County documents the Linn Grove Dam Area boat ramp and camping; Clay County documents Riverside Little Sioux Access with canoe/kayak access and parking.
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.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Little Sioux River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Little Sioux River?
Paddle Today watches Little Sioux River at Linn Grove, IA and treats 100 cfs to 1,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Little Sioux River route start and end?
This route starts at Linn Grove Dam Area below-dam launch and ends at Riverside Little Sioux Access, about About 9 mi on the water.
Is this Little Sioux 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.