See all 4 routes on Middle River
Iowa | Central Iowa
Middle River
Schildberg Access to Roseman Covered Bridge Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Middle 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 from Schildberg Access #78 and take out at Roseman Covered Bridge Access #71. This official Middle River Water Trail section is short enough for a focused half-day, but the chutes, riffles, and shale ledge keep it more technical than a simple float.
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
Schildberg Access #78 / Highway 92Schildberg is a walk-down canoe/kayak access on river left near the northeast corner of the Highway 92 bridge.
Take-out
Roseman Covered Bridge Access #71Roseman is a paved carry-down access at the covered bridge area; use the signed water-trail access rather than informal bridge-bank paths.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Schildberg is a walk-down canoe/kayak access on river left near the northeast corner of the Highway 92 bridge.
- Roseman is a paved carry-down access at the covered bridge area; use the signed water-trail access rather than informal bridge-bank paths.
- The Indianola gauge is the official flow reference for Adair / Madison County but is downstream, so local rainfall and on-site scouting still matter.
Watch for
- Scattered chutes and riffles across timbered valleys and pasture bends.
- A moderately challenging shale ledge a few hundred yards upstream of the P53 bridge.
- Fallen trees, strainers, low-water dragging, and high-water push outside the 600-900 cfs optimum band.
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 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 |
| Evidence strength 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 routeAccess #78 to Access #71
Madison County says Roseman Covered Bridge Access is about 7 river miles downstream from Schildberg Access, through timbered valleys and open pasture.
- Endpoint supportSchildberg and Roseman accesses
The Middle River Water Trail map lists Schildberg Access #78 and Roseman Access #71 with carry-down canoe access, surface type, distance to next access, gradient, estimated time, and UTM coordinates.
- Optimum flow600 to 900 cfs
The official map says optimum flow for Adair / Madison County is 600 to 900 cfs at the Indianola station and points paddlers to USGS real-time Middle River data.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05486490
USGS operates Middle River near Indianola, IA, a downstream same-river station that the official water-trail map uses for the Adair / Madison County optimum-flow note.
- HazardsChutes, riffles, shale ledge
Madison County calls out a moderately challenging shale ledge a few hundred yards upstream of the P53 bridge, along with chutes and riffles across this reach.
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
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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 Schildberg Access #78 / Highway 92 and ends at Roseman Covered Bridge Access #71, about About 6.9 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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