See all 3 routes on Middle Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
Middle Raccoon RiverLenon Mill Park Access to P-28 Access
Short first split of the protected Middle Raccoon water trail below Panora, with a below-dam launch, clear water, riffles, sweepers, and endpoint camping at Lenon Mill.
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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 below Lenon Mill Dam and take out at P-28 for the short first Middle Raccoon Route A split. The distance is beginner-sized, but riffles, sweepers, a below-dam start, and today-low water require a cautious moving-water plan.
Access map
Put-in
Lenon Mill Park AccessUse the Lenon Mill public access below the dam only; the stored park pin is an access-area anchor, not a surveyed waterline point. Do not launch above the dam or linger in dam-influenced current.
Take-out
P-28 AccessP-28 is a named public access in the DNR/Guthrie County access chain. Confirm the ramp, eddy, and parking before leaving the shuttle vehicle.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at P-28 Access, then launch from Lenon Mill Park below the dam in Panora. Check the Panora gauge and walk the P-28 take-out before launching.
Additional access notes
- The Panora gauge is direct and just upstream, but it cannot show fresh wood, boulder exposure, or bank access condition at P-28.
More route and safety guidance
- Iowa DNR says this protected-water-area section has frequent riffles, sweepers, boulders, and rock wing dams that can be hazardous depending on level.
- The Middle Raccoon is non-meandered. Use public accesses and marked public areas only; banks and the streambed outside those areas may be private.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Middle Raccoon River at Panora, 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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 | Middle Raccoon River at Panora, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 400 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 | Iowa Parklands Middle Raccoon / Paddling Iowa 400 cfs note |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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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.
- Official access chainLenon Mill to P-28 inside the 9-mile DNR section
Iowa DNR names Lenon Mill Park Access, P-28 Access, Middle Raccoon River Access, and Cowles Access as the first 9-mile Middle Raccoon section. The park coordinate is an access-area anchor below the dam, not a surveyed waterline point.
- County access supportLenon Mill first access; P-28 second access
Guthrie County Tourism lists Lenon Mill as the first Middle Raccoon Route A access and P28 as the second access 2.1 miles downstream.
- Threshold floor400 cfs pleasant-ride note
Iowa Parklands quotes Nate Hoogeveen’s Paddling Iowa book as indicating 400 cfs as a pleasant ride on the Middle Raccoon.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2376.1 cfs / 4.24 ft at 2026-07-23 05:15 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.
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
More on Middle Raccoon River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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