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Illinois | Metro-East Illinois
Mississippi River
Piasa Harbor to Alton Riverfront
Check current paddling conditions for this Mississippi 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
This guarded Pool 26 water-trail reach follows the documented Piasa Harbor-to-Alton Riverfront itinerary. It is a broad commercial navigation pool, not a small-river float: use the direct Alton Pool 26 gauge, respect tows and structures, and launch only when the low-water reference and same-day conditions are acceptable.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Piasa Harbor public accessPiasa Harbor and Alton Riverfront are named public access areas, but verify current parking, ramp condition, water level, and any temporary closures before departure.
Take-out
Alton Riverfront public boat launchUse the 14.0-ft USACE low-water reference as a conservative planning floor; it is not a guarantee of safe passage. Below that level, ramps and harbor access may be compromised.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Piasa Harbor and Alton Riverfront are named public access areas, but verify current parking, ramp condition, water level, and any temporary closures before departure.
- Use the 14.0-ft USACE low-water reference as a conservative planning floor; it is not a guarantee of safe passage. Below that level, ramps and harbor access may be compromised.
- Commercial tows have right-of-way and may need up to a long distance to stop. Stay out of the navigation channel and tow blind spots; avoid wing dikes, bridges, lock structures, floating debris, and strong cross-channel currents.
- Wear a properly fitted PFD, carry communication/rescue equipment, and do not launch in severe weather, flood warnings, or when same-day wind/current conditions exceed the group's skill.
- No informal camping or private-bank landing is assumed; use designated access and nearby camping/lodging only.
Watch for
- Low-water drawdown, ramp/harbor closure notices, and exposed obstructions below the 14.0-ft planning floor.
- Tows, wakes, wing dikes, bridge currents, floating debris, and lock/dam traffic.
- Wind, thunderstorms, rapidly rising water, cold-water immersion, and changing access conditions.
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 | Mississippi River Pool Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, IL |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 14.00 ft |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | USACE Alton Pool 26 low-water reference |
| 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.
- Exact route and distancePiasa Harbor to Alton Riverfront; about 7 miles
The Mississippi River Water Trail's Great Rivers itinerary documents the 7-mile Piasa Harbor launch and Alton Boat Launch finish with shuttle logistics.
- Public endpointsPiasa Harbor Area to Alton Riverfront Recreation Area
USACE recreation and Pool 26 access inventories identify Piasa Harbor/Piasa Creek access and the Alton Riverfront boat ramp as public facilities.
- Direct gauge and thresholdUSGS 05587498; 14.0 ft conservative minimum planning floor
USGS supplies current Pool 26 gage-height telemetry; USACE's Alton Pool data publish a 14.0-ft low-water reference, and launch closures at approximately 413 ft elevation document the practical low-water risk.
- Safety and river characterBroad commercial navigation pool with tows, wing dikes, bridges, debris, and lock/dam hazards
The Mississippi River Water Trail gives explicit commercial-traffic, wake, obstruction, and PFD rules for paddlers.
- Camping and logisticsDay route; nearby Pere Marquette and regional camping/lodging; shuttle recommended
The Water Trail lists nearby camping/lodging and a shuttle-based itinerary; no informal on-route camping is assumed.
- Endpoint coordinatesPiasa Harbor 38.93709,-90.28671; Alton Riverfront 38.88550,-90.17592
Coordinates are derived from the USACE Pool 26 access-inventory UTM locations and should be confirmed against current launch signage.
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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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Quick answers
Mississippi River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Mississippi River?
Paddle Today watches Mississippi River Pool Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, IL and uses 14.00 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Mississippi River route start and end?
This route starts at Piasa Harbor public access and ends at Alton Riverfront public boat launch, about About 7 mi on the water.
Is this Mississippi River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.