See all 6 routes on North Fork Maquoketa River
Iowa | Northeast Iowa
North Fork Maquoketa River
Cascade Historic Limestone Silo to D61 Access
Check current paddling conditions for this North Fork Maquoketa 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 the concrete ramp by the Cascade Historic Limestone Silo and paddle to the D61 bridge access on Whitewater Creek. This is a scenic North Fork drift with bluffs, boulders, riffles, and a short final move up Whitewater Creek to the take-out.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Cascade Historic Limestone Silo / Cascade landingUse the public ramp below the Cascade dam, not an improvised launch in the dam zone or above the structure.
Take-out
D61 Access / Whitewater Creek bridge accessThe D61 take-out is on Whitewater Creek rather than the main river. Watch for the creek mouth and save enough energy to paddle or wade the short final distance upstream to the bridge access.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use the public ramp below the Cascade dam, not an improvised launch in the dam zone or above the structure.
- The D61 take-out is on Whitewater Creek rather than the main river. Watch for the creek mouth and save enough energy to paddle or wade the short final distance upstream to the bridge access.
- The bridge access can be muddy and the bank is not a polished ramp, so scout the landing before committing to the route with heavier boats.
Watch for
- Light rapids and stronger eddy lines near Cascade, especially if you launch above the preferred concrete-ramp entry point.
- Outside-bend boulders, wood, and faster current as levels climb above the broad 231-400 cfs target range.
- Private campground access points that are not public exits unless you have separate permission.
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 | North Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton, 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 | 231 cfs to 400 cfs |
| Low threshold | 150 cfs |
| High threshold | 701 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips North Fork Maquoketa Cascade-to-D61 gauge ladder |
| 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.
- Public launch supportCascade Historic Limestone Silo / Cascade landing
The City of Cascade says a landing and parking area within walking distance of Riverview Park gives canoers and kayakers the opportunity to float the North Fork to points south of Cascade, and WRT describes a long concrete ramp by the historic limestone silo below the dam.
- Published route reportCascade Historic Limestone Silo to Hwy D61, 7.8 mi
Wisconsin River Trips documents the exact 7.8-mile Cascade-to-D61 route and Miles Paddled documents the same corridor with GPS points and route notes.
- Public take-outD61 Access on Whitewater Creek
Dubuque County lists D61 Access as a true public canoe/kayak access on Whitewater Creek, and WRT says the route exits there by paddling a short distance up Whitewater Creek to the bridge access.
- Gauge ladder231 to 400 cfs broad target
Wisconsin River Trips publishes the route-specific Fulton-gauge ladder used by this corridor, with less than 150 cfs flagged as too shallow and 701+ cfs pushed into the advanced-only range.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05418400 at 943 cfs / 5.04 ft
USGS Water Services returned current North Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton values of 943 cfs and 5.04 ft at 2026-07-06 11:00 CDT.
- Endpoint coordinates42.29902, -91.01244 to 42.27778, -90.9371
Miles Paddled publishes GPS points for the Cascade Riverfront Park / Pierce Street launch and the Highway D61 take-out on Whitewater Creek; the city and county pages corroborate the access names and public-use context.
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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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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Quick answers
North Fork Maquoketa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Fork Maquoketa River?
Paddle Today watches North Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton, IA and treats 231 cfs to 400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this North Fork Maquoketa River route start and end?
This route starts at Cascade Historic Limestone Silo / Cascade landing and ends at D61 Access / Whitewater Creek bridge access, about 7.8 mi on the water.
Is this North Fork Maquoketa 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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