See all 9 routes on North Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
North Raccoon RiverHenderson Park Access to Squirrel Hollow Park
Wild Greene County North Raccoon connector from Henderson Park to Squirrel Hollow, filling the access gap before the existing Squirrel-to-Adkins card with DNR portage and wood caveats.
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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 Henderson Park and paddle the missing Greene County North Raccoon connector to Squirrel Hollow Park.
Access map
Put-in
Henderson Park AccessDNR says no access signs are visible from the river; confirm Squirrel Hollow from land before launch.
Take-out
Squirrel Hollow ParkA rock dam sits above Squirrel Hollow with a signed river-left portage trail.
Road shuttle
Stage at Squirrel Hollow Park and identify the river-left portage/take-out corridor before launching from Henderson Park.
Additional access notes
- Do not continue toward Adkins Bridge unless that downstream shuttle is also staged.
More route and safety guidance
- A rock dam above Squirrel Hollow has a signed river-left portage.
- Use public accesses only on this non-meandered river.
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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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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | 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 |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 contextHenderson to Squirrel Hollow to Adkins, 12 mi
Iowa DNR names Henderson Park Access to Squirrel Hollow Park Access to Adkins Bridge Access as a 12-mile section.
- Selected split mileageAbout 8.2 mi to Squirrel Hollow
DNR gives the through section as 12 miles and Greene County documents Squirrel Hollow to Adkins as 3.8 miles.
- Threshold range150-2,000 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Jefferson-to-Cooper corridor to USGS 05482500.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23228 cfs / 5.14 ft at 2026-07-23 15:15 CDT
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.
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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