See all 4 routes on Middle River
Iowa | Central Iowa
Middle River
Pammel Park Ford Access to Holliwell Covered Bridge Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Middle River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Consolidated Middle River route from Pammel Park to Holliwell Covered Bridge, with Middle River County Park retained as a public intermediate access, campground, and shorter take-out.
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.
Put-in
Pammel Park Ford Access #63Open mapDo not run the Pammel Park ford. This segment begins after the official portage and safe re-entry.
Take-out
Holliwell Covered Bridge Access #50Open mapThe official map lists Middle River County Park as Access #54 with gravel carry-down canoe access; confirm the renovated walk-down ramp and parking from land.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Do not run the Pammel Park ford. This segment begins after the official portage and safe re-entry.
- The official map lists Middle River County Park as Access #54 with gravel carry-down canoe access; confirm the renovated walk-down ramp and parking from land.
- Do not assume legal bank or bar stops between accesses because the guide identifies Middle River as non-meandered.
- Holliwell is the last developed Middle River Water Trail access. The guide warns that downstream bridge crossings can have steep banks and dense vegetation.
- The Indianola gauge is downstream and official for the water trail, but local snags and shallow spots still decide this short reach.
- Middle River is non-meandered; stay with public accesses and permissioned land only.
Watch for
- Rock riffles and chutes around the Pammel oxbow and limestone backbone ridge.
- Numerous fallen trees and snags between the Highway 169 bridge and Middle River County Park.
- Fast rises, fences, private banks, and low-water dragging below the official optimum band.
- High meander density, shaded timber edges, downed trees, and snags.
- Low-water scraping and high-water current around wooded bends.
- Missing the Holliwell take-out and being forced toward difficult downstream bridge exits.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Middle River near Indianola, 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 | 600 cfs to 900 cfs |
| Low threshold | 600 cfs |
| High threshold | 900 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Iowa DNR / Middle River Water Trail map optimum-flow 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 and distanceAccess #63 to Access #54, about 9 mi
The Middle River Water Trail access table lists Pammel to Middle River County Park as the next official segment; the narrative says the next access is downstream at Middle River County Park.
- Route characterBackbone ridge, Harmon Tunnel, riffles and snags
The guide describes an extended oxbow around the limestone backbone ridge, a brief return to Pammel Park near Harmon Tunnel, rock riffles/chutes, and numerous fallen trees/snags.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05486490 140 cfs / 7.76 ft
USGS Water Services returned current Middle River near Indianola data at 2026-07-23 23:15 CDT during this run.
- Access and campingPammel modern camping; Middle River County Park city-park camping context
The water-trail map lists modern camping at Pammel and city-park camping context for Middle River County Park / nearby Winterset City Park.
- Official route and distanceAccess #54 to Access #50, about 4 mi
The guide lists Middle River County Park to Holliwell Covered Bridge as the final developed access-pair segment on the Middle River Water Trail.
- Final developed accessHolliwell Covered Bridge Access #50
The guide says Holliwell is the last developed access and that downstream bridge crossings can be difficult because of steep banks and dense vegetation.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05486490 140 cfs / 7.76 ft
USGS Water Services returned current Middle River near Indianola data at 2026-07-23 23:15 CDT during this run.
- HazardsMeanders, downed trees, snags
The guide says this shaded final section remains challenging because of a high degree of meandering and more downed trees and snags.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Middle River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Middle River?
Paddle Today watches Middle River near Indianola, IA and treats 600 cfs to 900 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Middle River route start and end?
This route starts at Pammel Park Ford Access #63 and ends at Holliwell Covered Bridge Access #50, about About 13 mi on the water.
Is this Middle 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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