See all 3 routes on Middle Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
Middle Raccoon River
P-28 Access to Cowles River Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Middle Raccoon 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 at P-28 and take out at Cowles for a compact protected Middle Raccoon day through riffles, boulders, sandstone bluffs, public-land bends, and the 248th Street access corridor.
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
P-28 AccessP-28 and Cowles are named public ramps in the DNR/Guthrie County access chain, but the middle 248th Street access should be verified before being counted on as a bailout.
Take-out
Cowles River AccessThe selected P-28 and Cowles coordinates come from paddling/boat-ramp indexes matched against DNR/Guthrie County access names; use posted signs and ramps on arrival.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- P-28 and Cowles are named public ramps in the DNR/Guthrie County access chain, but the middle 248th Street access should be verified before being counted on as a bailout.
- The selected P-28 and Cowles coordinates come from paddling/boat-ramp indexes matched against DNR/Guthrie County access names; use posted signs and ramps on arrival.
- At low flow, the route may be slower and shallower than the mileage suggests. At high/rising flow, riffle sweepers and bridge debris become more consequential.
Watch for
- Tree sweepers in riffles, constructed rock wing dams below P-28, and boulders or sandstone blocks in the channel.
- Sharp bends with wood, exposed riffles below the 400 cfs floor, and cold-water exposure in shoulder seasons.
- Private-bank limits; stop only at public accesses or where clearly legal.
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 | Middle Raccoon River at Panora, 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 | 400 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 | Iowa Parklands Middle Raccoon / Paddling Iowa 400 cfs note |
| 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.
- Official route shapeP-28 to Cowles within the first 9 Middle Raccoon miles
Iowa DNR describes the P-28, 248th Street / Middle Raccoon River Access, and Cowles access sequence inside the first 9-mile protected-water-area section.
- Exact trip-day levelP-28 to Cowles at 600 cfs
Iowa Parklands describes launching at the P28 bridge boat ramp and taking out at Cowles after a 600 cfs morning gauge reading, with riffles covered enough to avoid scraping.
- Access coordinatesP-28 41.6675, -94.3569; Cowles 41.6196, -94.2869
Paddling Hub and BoatRampMap publish public boat-ramp coordinates for P-28 and Cowles, matching the DNR/Guthrie County named access chain.
- Current gauge check76.1 cfs / 4.24 ft at 2026-07-23 05:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Middle Raccoon at Panora data during this run, far below the selected floor.
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.
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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.
Quick answers
Middle Raccoon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Middle Raccoon River?
Paddle Today watches Middle Raccoon River at Panora, IA and uses 400 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Middle Raccoon River route start and end?
This route starts at P-28 Access and ends at Cowles River Access, about About 6.6 mi on the water.
Is this Middle Raccoon River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.