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Iowa | Eastern Iowa
Maquoketa River
Millertown / Monmouth corridor to Bridgeport 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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 Monmouth-area Millertown access chain and take out at Bridgeport near Maquoketa for a lower Maquoketa flatwater day. The direct Maquoketa gauge is fresh and route-specific enough for scoring.
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
Millertown Bridge Access / Monmouth corridorEndpoint coordinates are practical access-corridor anchors from the named Jackson County access chain, not surveyed ramp points.
Take-out
Bridgeport AccessBridgeport is the intended take-out for this card. Do not drift downstream into Maquoketa town or flood-control structures without a separate route plan.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Endpoint coordinates are practical access-corridor anchors from the named Jackson County access chain, not surveyed ramp points.
- Bridgeport is the intended take-out for this card. Do not drift downstream into Maquoketa town or flood-control structures without a separate route plan.
- Use only named public accesses such as Millertown, Joinerville, or Bridgeport; the lower river is bordered by private land in places.
Watch for
- Wood and strainers on outside bends, bridge current, muddy banks, and fast rises after upstream rain.
- Low water below about 200 cfs at Maquoketa, when shallow gravel and slow water become likely.
- High water above about 2,500 cfs at Maquoketa, when the lower river becomes pushy for casual groups.
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 | 200 cfs to 2,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Monmouth to Maquoketa 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 check1,890 cfs / 12.63 ft at 2026-07-23 00:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Maquoketa discharge and stage during this run.
- Threshold range200-2,500 cfs
CanWePaddle ties Monmouth-to-Maquoketa to USGS 05418500 and estimates a 200 to 2,500 cfs runnable window.
- Access chainMillertown, Joinerville, Bridgeport, and downstream Jackson County accesses
Jackson County Conservation lists the lower Maquoketa water-trail accesses and says the river is open to the public year round.
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 near Maquoketa, IA and treats 200 cfs to 2,500 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 Millertown Bridge Access / Monmouth corridor and ends at Bridgeport Access, about About 12 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.