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Iowa | Northeast Iowa
Maquoketa River
Canton Bridge Access to Royertown Bridge Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Maquoketa 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
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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 at Canton Bridge Access by Canton County Park and paddle the South Fork Maquoketa through the Buzzard Ridge bluff corridor, past the Millertown option, and down to Royertown Bridge Access on 50th Ave.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Canton Bridge Access / Canton County ParkCanton is the clean upstream public access for this route; Jackson County signs the water-trail accesses along the road and at the landings.
Take-out
Royertown Bridge Access / Water Trail Access #45Royertown is also called 50th Ave, Royertown Canoe Access, or Water Trail Access #45. The access drive can be steep and rutted, so scout vehicle clearance before committing.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Canton is the clean upstream public access for this route; Jackson County signs the water-trail accesses along the road and at the landings.
- Royertown is also called 50th Ave, Royertown Canoe Access, or Water Trail Access #45. The access drive can be steep and rutted, so scout vehicle clearance before committing.
- Millertown Access at 30th Ave is a public intermediate take-out about 2.9 miles upstream from Royertown if weather, flow, or time argues for a shorter day.
Watch for
- Shallow gravel riffles and grounding below about 500 cfs on the Maquoketa near Maquoketa gauge.
- Open reaches where a strong headwind can slow an otherwise straightforward current-assisted trip.
- Pushier, dirtier water above about 2,000 cfs, especially around outside bends, bridge landings, and strainers after storms.
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 | Maquoketa River near Maquoketa, 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 | 701 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 500 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,001 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Maquoketa River Canton-to-Royertown gauge ladder |
| 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.
- Official water-trail accessCanton Bridge and Royertown Bridge
Jackson County/MyCountyParks lists Canton Bridge Access at County Road E17 and Royertown Bridge Access at County Road Y34 as South Fork Maquoketa River Water Trail access points with wayfinding signage.
- DNR-backed route eventCanton to Royertown Access
Iowa DNR announced the Maquoketa and North Fork Maquoketa Water Trail dedication at Canton County Park and described an optional guided paddle from Canton to Royertown Access with Jackson County Conservation shuttle support.
- Published route reportCanton County Park to 50th Ave
Wisconsin River Trips documents the Canton County Park to 50th Ave route, identifying 50th Ave as Royertown Canoe Access / Water Trail Access #45 and describing both endpoints as public accesses.
- Target range701 to 1,000 cfs
Wisconsin River Trips describes 701 to 1,000 cfs on the Maquoketa near Maquoketa gauge as an average fall depth and good target range.
- Low-water floor500 cfs
The same WRT ladder treats less than 500 cfs as likely too low for enjoyable paddling and 501 to 700 cfs as mostly okay but with grounding risk.
- High-water ceiling2,001+ cfs
WRT treats 2,001+ cfs as very high, pushy, dirty water that may be beyond enjoyable paddling on this route.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05418500
USGS operates Maquoketa River near Maquoketa, IA downstream on the same river, and WRT uses this gauge for the Canton-to-Royertown route ladder.
- Endpoint coordinatesCanton County Park 42.1627901, -90.8918068; Royertown 42.1198989, -90.8283040
Canton coordinates come from the named Canton County Park topo feature. Royertown coordinates come from Iowa Volunteer Water Monitoring site IOWATER-949023, named AWARE 13 Royerton Bridge Access Maquoketa River, matching the county-listed Royertown Bridge Access.
- HazardsLow spots, wind, high-water push
WRT reports no major logjams, dams, or rapids on the route, but notes low-water grounding risk, open stretches exposed to wind, and stronger push at very high flows.
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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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Maquoketa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Maquoketa River?
Paddle Today watches Maquoketa River near Maquoketa, IA and treats 701 cfs to 1,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Maquoketa River route start and end?
This route starts at Canton Bridge Access / Canton County Park and ends at Royertown Bridge Access / Water Trail Access #45, about 8.9 mi on the water.
Is this Maquoketa 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.
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