See all 3 routes on Lizard Creek
Iowa | North-Central Iowa
Lizard Creek
Rasch Access to Phinney Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Lizard Creek 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
Launch at Rasch Access and take out at Phinney Park for the hardest Lizard Creek split. Iowa DNR rates this reach advanced, with at least 25 rocky riffles or rapids and a final approach just above the Des Moines River.
Put-in
Rasch AccessOpen mapRasch is the preferred put-in for the lower challenge reach and sits near the selected direct USGS gauge. Confirm the gauge trend and the creek visually before launching.
Take-out
Phinney ParkOpen mapPhinney Park is on river right a few hundred yards above the Des Moines River confluence. Identify the landing and do not drift past it unless intentionally continuing on a separate Des Moines River plan.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rasch is the preferred put-in for the lower challenge reach and sits near the selected direct USGS gauge. Confirm the gauge trend and the creek visually before launching.
- Phinney Park is on river right a few hundred yards above the Des Moines River confluence. Identify the landing and do not drift past it unless intentionally continuing on a separate Des Moines River plan.
- The lower corridor passes highway bridges and an industrial Fort Dodge zone. Expect more debris and water-quality uncertainty than the upper wooded reaches.
Watch for
- At least 25 rocky riffles or rapids, including Class 2-style features in the final mile noted by American Whitewater.
- Fallen trees, sweepers, bridge abutments, rock gardens, hidden boulders, and fast post-rain rises.
- Low stages below 5 ft, when carries and pinning risk increase, and stages above 8 ft, when AW guidance no longer supports a normal app recommendation.
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 | Lizard Creek near Fort Dodge, IA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 5.00 ft to 8.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 5.00 ft |
| High threshold | 8.00 ft |
| Data confidence 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 |
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 check4.56 ft at 2026-07-23 02:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Lizard Creek stage during this run. The request did not return current discharge, so this card scores stage only.
- 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 5.6 to 6 miles
American Whitewater lists Rasch-to-Phinney as about 5.6 miles; the Iowa DNR / Webster County brochure lists the stream reach as 6 miles.
- Advanced reachAt least 25 rocky riffles or rapids
The Iowa DNR / Webster County brochure says the Rasch-to-Phinney section is the most challenging Lizard Creek segment and rates it advanced.
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.
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Quick answers
Lizard Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Lizard Creek?
Paddle Today watches Lizard Creek near Fort Dodge, IA and treats 5.00 ft to 8.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Lizard Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Rasch Access and ends at Phinney Park, about About 5.6 to 6 mi on the water.
Is this Lizard Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.