See all 3 routes on Lizard Creek
Iowa | North-Central Iowa
Lizard CreekCunningham Access to Rasch Access
Middle Lizard Creek water-trail run from Cunningham to Rasch, with swift riffles, private pasture banks, electric-fence hazards, and the direct Fort Dodge stage gauge.
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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 Cunningham Access and take out at Rasch Access for the middle Lizard Creek split. This reach has swift riffles, electric-fence hazards, a debris-prone railroad bridge, cattle-pasture water-quality caveats, and private-bank constraints.
Access map
Put-in
Cunningham AccessCunningham and Rasch are both documented public accesses with parking, signage, and graveled paths, but same-day access condition still controls.
Take-out
Rasch AccessThe DNR brochure says there are marked and unmarked electric fences downstream of Cunningham. Be prepared to stop safely where legal and portage or duck only when conditions are clearly safe.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Rasch Access on Johnson Avenue, then drive back to Cunningham Access on Hayes Avenue. Identify the take-out before launching because the creek is twisty and private banks limit informal exits.
Additional access notes
- The selected USGS gauge is at the downstream Johnson Avenue / Rasch corridor, so it is direct for the take-out area but cannot show fence clearance, logs, or cattle in the creek.
More route and safety guidance
- Avoid this reach after heavy rain or when the stage is rising quickly; bridge debris and cattle-pasture fence hazards become harder to manage.
- Stay in the boat between public accesses unless there is an emergency. Lizard Creek is non-meandered and adjacent land and streambed are private outside public areas.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly 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
Lizard Creek near Fort Dodge, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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 | Lizard Creek near Fort Dodge, IA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 5.00 ft to 8.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 5.00 ft |
| High threshold | 8.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Lizard Creek optimum stage 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-234.56 ft at 2026-07-23 02:15 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.
- Threshold range5-8 ft optimum
American Whitewater ties the Lentsch-to-Phinney reach to the USGS Lizard Creek near Fort Dodge gauge and lists 5 to 8 ft as optimum paddling levels.
- Route shapeAbout 5.2 to 5.5 miles
American Whitewater lists Cunningham-to-Rasch as about 5.2 miles; the Iowa DNR / Webster County brochure lists the stream reach as 5.5 miles.
- Primary hazardsElectric fences, riffles, railroad bridge logs
The Iowa DNR / Webster County brochure warns of marked and unmarked electric fences, rocky riffles, and brush/logs piled against a railroad bridge in the Cunningham-to-Rasch reach.
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 Lizard Creek
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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