See all 6 routes on North Fork Maquoketa River
Iowa | Northeast Iowa
North Fork Maquoketa RiverCascade Historic Limestone Silo to D61 Access
Scenic Driftless North Fork float from Cascade’s concrete launch below the old falls to the Whitewater Creek D61 access, with bluffs, boulders, riffles, and a direct Fulton gauge ladder.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Use a paved but hilly two-car shuttle between the Cascade silo launch and D61 east of Cascade. The shuttle is short enough for a strong bike option, but the county roads have limited shoulders.
Additional access notes
- 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.
More route and safety guidance
- The D61 take-out requires identifying Whitewater Creek and paddling or wading a short distance upstream to the public bridge access. Scout that exit before committing with heavy boats.
- Rising water makes the riffles, outside-bend boulders, wood, and muddy Whitewater Creek landing more consequential than the easy mileage suggests.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
North Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | North Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton, IA |
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| Preferred range | 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 |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-06USGS 05418400 at 943 cfs / 5.04 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- 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.
Other routes nearby
More on North Fork Maquoketa River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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