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Iowa | Northeast Iowa
Maquoketa RiverQuaker Mill Dam to Bailey's Ford Access
Manchester-area Maquoketa day from Quaker Mill Dam through the whitewater-park corridor to Bailey's Ford, with exact-route Miles Paddled guidance and the direct Manchester gauge.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Quaker Mill Dam and take out at Bailey's Ford for a Manchester-area Maquoketa day that includes the whitewater park, Schram/Pine Oak corridor, and the final river-focused take-out before Lake Delhi influence.
Access map
Put-in
Quaker Mill Dam / 195th StreetQuaker Mill and Manchester whitewater features require a deliberate line or portage decision. This route is whitewater-filtered because the normal source route includes those features.
Take-out
Bailey's Ford AccessSchram Park and Pin Oak Park are official downstream access/bailout points, but use them only when current signs, parking, and bank conditions are clear.
Road shuttle
Stage Bailey's Ford first, then drive back to the Quaker Mill / Manchester corridor. Decide before launching whether the group will run, portage, or bypass the Manchester whitewater features.
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Access planner
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Quaker Mill Dam / 195th Street to Bailey's Ford Access is about 7.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Bailey's Ford is the planned finish. Delaware County warns the river below Bailey's Ford begins to become impounded by Delhi Dam and recommends ending or restarting trips around that dam boundary.
More route and safety guidance
- Delaware County notes the whitewater park requires advanced skills, while Miles Paddled says the rest of the route is quieter with occasional riffles after the Manchester features.
- Bailey's Ford is the planned finish before Lake Delhi influence. Do not extend toward Delhi Dam without a separate no-portage dam plan and current local guidance.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Maquoketa River at Manchester, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Maquoketa River at Manchester, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 195 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Maquoketa River I Quaker-Mill-to-Bailey's-Ford guidance |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23399 cfs / 5.10 ft at 2026-07-23 03:15 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Exact route reportQuaker Mill Dam to Bailey's Ford Park, 7.75 mi
Miles Paddled documents the exact put-in and take-out, GPS coordinates, trip time, distance, and route character.
- Threshold floor195 cfs workable; 250 cfs closer to ideal
Miles Paddled recorded 195 cfs / 4.3 ft at Manchester, recommended that level with scraping caveats, and said ideal levels would be nearer 250 cfs.
- Whitewater and skillClass I-II / Class II features
Miles Paddled describes Class I-II rapids at the put-in and Class II at Manchester Whitewater Park; Delaware County says the whitewater park requires no less than advanced skills.
- Downstream dam boundaryLake Delhi and Delhi Dam below Bailey's Ford
Delaware County says the river below Bailey's Ford becomes impounded by Delhi Dam and recommends taking out at Bailey's Ford for river-focused paddling.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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