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Iowa | Eastern Iowa
Maquoketa River
Eby's Mill Access to Supples 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
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 rebuilt Eby's Mill ramp and take out at Supples Bridge / Temple Hill Road for a quiet lower-Maquoketa connector with good wildlife, broad sand-lined water, and fewer bluffs than the Pictured Rocks section.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Eby's Mill AccessEby's Mill was rebuilt after earlier construction closures, but access status can still change after high water, grading, or road work.
Take-out
Supples Bridge Access / Temple Hill RoadSupples Bridge access sits downstream of the bridge on river right and is mostly sandy rather than a full-service ramp; confirm exit visibility from the road before launching.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Eby's Mill was rebuilt after earlier construction closures, but access status can still change after high water, grading, or road work.
- Supples Bridge access sits downstream of the bridge on river right and is mostly sandy rather than a full-service ramp; confirm exit visibility from the road before launching.
- This route starts well below Mon-Maq Dam and does not include any dam approach or portage.
Watch for
- Wide shallow channel, sandbars, and gravel grounding near the 150 cfs floor.
- Wind on open bends, outside-bend wood, tree-debris obstacle courses, and stronger bridge current after storms.
- Private banks outside public wildlife areas and limited bailout options between the two rural access points.
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 at Manchester, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 150 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Maquoketa River IV Eby's-Mill-to-Supples 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 check399 cfs / 5.10 ft at 2026-07-23 03:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Manchester discharge and stage during this run.
- Exact route reportEby's Mill Road to Supples Bridge Access, 8.25 mi
Miles Paddled documents the exact put-in and take-out, GPS coordinates, three-hour trip time, route character, and access notes.
- Threshold floor150 cfs / 4.2 ft minimum-only
Miles Paddled says the 78 cfs / 3.9 ft trip was too low for comfortable paddling and recommends at least 4.2 ft / 150 cfs to avoid scraping.
- Official corridorLower Maquoketa water trail between Eby's Mill, Highway 136, and Supples/Temple Hill
The Iowa DNR/Jones County paddlers guide maps the lower-Maquoketa access chain below Pictured Rocks and documents dams, public access symbols, private-bank limits, and safety rules for the corridor.
- Public endpoint supportEby's Mill ramp and Supples Bridge / Temple Hill Road access
Miles Paddled describes the rebuilt Eby's Mill landing as excellent and the Supples Bridge access as legitimate, mostly flat, and sandy; Jones County documents Eby's Mill Wildlife Area public land.
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.
Share your trip
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
Maquoketa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Maquoketa River?
Paddle Today watches Maquoketa River at Manchester, IA and uses 150 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Maquoketa River route start and end?
This route starts at Eby's Mill Access and ends at Supples Bridge Access / Temple Hill Road, about About 8.25 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.