See all 9 routes on North Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
North Raccoon RiverEureka Bridge Access to Henderson Park Access
Short Greene County North Raccoon split between two county ramps west and south of Jefferson, with glacial bluffs, bank-swallow habitat, wood, and a direct same-corridor Jefferson gauge.
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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 from the public concrete ramp at Eureka Bridge Access and take out at Henderson Park for the shorter half of the official McMahon-to-Henderson North Raccoon water-trail section. The saved Eureka point is the county access-area anchor, not a surveyed water-edge pin. Use the Jefferson gauge conservatively and scout wood and the Henderson rock-dam area.
Access map
Put-in
Eureka Bridge concrete boat-ramp access areaGreene County says Eureka Bridge is 4.5 miles upstream of Henderson Park, matching the short split from the DNR guide.
Take-out
Henderson Park AccessThe DNR guide warns about a rock dam above Henderson Park Access. Identify the take-out and any required carry before relaxing near the finish.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Henderson Park south of Jefferson, then drive back to Eureka Bridge Access west of Jefferson. Make a visual gauge check at Eureka because the numeric range is for the broader Jefferson corridor rather than this exact short split.
Additional access notes
- The threshold range is route-adjacent rather than exact. Make a same-day visual call for wood, depth, and current at Eureka.
- Most banks are private outside public accesses; do not use farm banks as routine stops.
More route and safety guidance
- This short split is easier to manage than the full McMahon-to-Henderson route, but high or rising water can still turn bends and wood into serious hazards.
- Use the county ramps only. Most banks outside public areas should be treated as private.
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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 Raccoon River near Jefferson, 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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 Raccoon River near Jefferson, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 150 cfs to 2,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 150 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle North Raccoon Jefferson-to-Cooper estimated range |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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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.
- Official route splitEureka Bridge is the halfway split on McMahon-to-Henderson
The Iowa DNR Greene County North Raccoon guide says McMahon to Eureka to Henderson is 8.6 miles and can be broken into two shorter paddles at Eureka Bridge Access.
- County endpoint supportEureka Bridge 4.5 miles upstream of Henderson
Greene County identifies a public concrete boat ramp for canoes, kayaks, and motorboats at Eureka and places it 4.5 miles upstream from Henderson Park. The saved decimal point is retained as an access-area anchor; the reviewed county page does not publish a separate surveyed wet-edge coordinate.
- Published corridor range150 to 2,000 cfs
CanWePaddle publishes an estimated range for the broader North Raccoon Jefferson-to-Cooper corridor using the same Jefferson gauge.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22USGS 05482500 at 248 cfs / 5.18 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.
- HazardsDowned trees, log piles, and Henderson rock dam
The Iowa DNR guide warns paddlers to use care around downed trees and log piles and when getting out at the rock dam above Henderson Park Access.
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 Raccoon River
All 9Nearby routes within 75 miles
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