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Iowa | Central Iowa
North Raccoon River
Henderson Park Access to Squirrel Hollow Park
Check current paddling conditions for this North Raccoon 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
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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 Henderson Park and paddle the missing Greene County North Raccoon connector to Squirrel Hollow Park.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- DNR says no access signs are visible from the river; confirm Squirrel Hollow from land before launch.
- A rock dam sits above Squirrel Hollow with a signed river-left portage trail.
- Do not continue toward Adkins Bridge unless that downstream shuttle is also staged.
Watch for
- The Squirrel Hollow rock dam and signed portage.
- Downed trees and log piles.
- Unsigned public accesses and private banks.
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 Raccoon River near Jefferson, 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 | 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 |
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.
- 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.
- Current gauge check228 cfs / 5.14 ft at 2026-07-23 15:15 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current North Raccoon near Jefferson data during this run.
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
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Quick answers
North Raccoon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Raccoon River?
Paddle Today watches North Raccoon River near Jefferson, IA and treats 150 cfs to 2,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this North Raccoon River route start and end?
This route starts at Henderson Park Access and ends at Squirrel Hollow Park, about About 8.2 mi on the water.
Is this North Raccoon 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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