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See all 9 routes on Maquoketa River

Iowa | Northeast Iowa

Maquoketa River

Pictured Rocks Park to Eby's Mill Access

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 6 to 6.5 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Maquoketa River runs below the rocky wooded bluffs of Backbone State Park.
River contextMaquoketa River at Backbone State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by USGS

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

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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

On-water distanceAbout 6 to 6.5 miPictured Rocks Park to Eby's Mill Access
DifficultyeasyQuietwater with scarce riffles, but the route still has moving-water hazards, wind-prone broad sections, strainers, and a take-out that must be identified before continuing downstream.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage Eby's Mill first, then drive back to Pictured Rocks Park. This shortens the official Pictured-Rocks-to-Highway-136 section to the strongest public take-out and avoids relying on Supples Bridge.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use Jones County public accesses, follow Iowa boating/PFD rules, and obey Pictured Rocks and Eby’s Mill posted rules.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a day trip. Pictured Rocks and nearby Jones County facilities can support separate base-camp planning, but no on-route overnight site is selected for this short section.
SeasonApr-OctSpring and fall usually provide better water and more visible bluffs. Summer weekends can be busier around Pictured Rocks, and low water can make the broad Maquoketa scrape on gravel.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch from Pictured Rocks and take out at the rebuilt Eby's Mill ramp for a compact scenic Maquoketa day through the public-land bluff corridor. The Manchester gauge supports a low-water floor but not a high-water ceiling.

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Prepare this trip

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Start

Put-in

Pictured Rocks Park Access
Open map

This card starts below the Mon-Maq/Monticello dam corridor. Do not include any upstream dam approach as part of the route.

Finish

Take-out

Eby's Mill Access
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Eby's Mill is the planned take-out. The downstream Supples Bridge access is explicitly weaker in the Iowa DNR/Jones County guide and is not used as the default finish.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • This card starts below the Mon-Maq/Monticello dam corridor. Do not include any upstream dam approach as part of the route.
  • Eby's Mill is the planned take-out. The downstream Supples Bridge access is explicitly weaker in the Iowa DNR/Jones County guide and is not used as the default finish.
  • Use public park and access lands only. Pictured Rocks has public land along the river, but adjacent downstream banks can still be private.

Watch for

  • Scraping below the Manchester-gauge floor, wind across broad sandy reaches, and shallow gravel bars.
  • Overhanging trees, logjams, bridge abutments, big rocks, and strainers called out in the Iowa DNR/Jones County guide.
  • Cold water, fishing pressure, and faster current after upstream rain.

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.

The Maquoketa River runs below the rocky wooded bluffs of Backbone State Park.
Maquoketa River at Backbone State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by USGS
USGS asset: public domain

Score & sources

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

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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.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteMaquoketa River at Manchester, IA
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Ideal rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor155 cfs
High thresholdNot calibrated yet
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMiles Paddled Maquoketa River III Manchester-gauge note
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 check414 cfs / 5.16 ft at 2026-07-23 01:15 CDT

    USGS Water Services returned current Manchester discharge and stage during this run.

    Source

  • Minimum water guidance155 cfs minimum; 200-250 cfs better

    Miles Paddled recorded 155 cfs / 4.4 ft at Manchester as a minimal recommended level for the Monticello-to-Eby’s route and says 200 to 250 cfs is better to avoid scraping.

    Source

  • Official route shapePictured Rocks to Eby’s Mill inside the 11.7-mile Pictured Rocks-to-Highway-136 section

    The Iowa DNR/Jones County guide describes six-plus miles between Pictured Rocks Park Access and Eby’s Mill Road along public land with limestone bluffs, then continues to Highway 136.

    Source

  • Take-out supportEby's Mill rebuilt hard-surface ramp

    Jones County says Eby's Mill River Access was redone with a hard-surface ramp, stabilized shoreline, parking, sidewalk, and kiosk support for kayaks, canoes, and tubers.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

Paddler reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Iowa

All 133 routes
Iowa route guideBrowse every tracked Iowa route.Northeast IowaJump to routes in this region.

More on Maquoketa River

All 9
Backbone Lake Dam Landing to Dundee AccessNortheast IowaModerate · About 1.8 to 2.1 miCanton Bridge Access to Royertown Bridge AccessNortheast IowaEasy · 8.9 miDundee Access to Manchester Whitewater ParkNortheast IowaModerate · About 11.8 miEby's Mill Access to Supples Bridge AccessEastern IowaEasy · About 8.25 mi

Nearby routes by distance

North Fork Maquoketa RiverCascade Historic Limestone Silo to D61 Access · about 8 mi awayModerate · 7.8 miNorth Fork Maquoketa RiverCascade Historic Limestone Silo to Ozark Bridge / 21st Ave · about 8 mi awayHard · About 18 to 20 miNorth Fork Maquoketa RiverCascade Historic Limestone Silo to Caven Bridge Access · about 8 mi awayHard · About 24.3 miNorth Fork Maquoketa RiverD61 Access / Whitewater Creek to Ozark Bridge / 21st Ave · about 10 mi awayHard · About 12.1 mi

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 155 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 Pictured Rocks Park Access and ends at Eby's Mill Access, about About 6 to 6.5 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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