See all 11 routes on North Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
North Raccoon River
Rainbow Bend Access to Richey Access
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
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 Rainbow Bend and paddle the long upper North Raccoon stretch through Hobbs, North Raccoon River, and Merritt access context to Richey. This is a scenic but committed water-trail day with wood, riffles, unsigned accesses, and private-bank limits.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Rainbow Bend AccessRainbow Bend no longer has the older ramp; DNR says paddlers should carry a short distance to the sand/silt beach.
Take-out
Richey AccessHobbs and Merritt are heavily riprapped with cement waste and are difficult for entry or exit; do not plan them as easy bailout points.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rainbow Bend no longer has the older ramp; DNR says paddlers should carry a short distance to the sand/silt beach.
- Hobbs and Merritt are heavily riprapped with cement waste and are difficult for entry or exit; do not plan them as easy bailout points.
- North Raccoon River Access has the best ramp/eddy in the middle of the route, but Richey is hard to spot from the water and its mowed path ends in a vertical drop.
Watch for
- Numerous downed trees, especially when the current is high and swift.
- Riffles, rock-dam context, unsigned accesses, and private banks outside public areas.
- Long mileage, rural rescue exposure, and no easy alternate take-out if you miss Richey.
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 Lanesboro, IA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 0.00 ft to 11.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 0.00 ft |
| High threshold | 11.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Iowa DNR North Raccoon SCC guide Lanesboro/Jefferson guidance |
| 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 and mileageRainbow Bend to Richey, 18.1 mi
Iowa DNR names Rainbow Bend Access to Richey Access, including Hobbs, North Raccoon, and Merritt accesses, as an 18.1-mile North Raccoon water-trail section.
- Official gauge guidanceLanesboro 11 ft or below; Jefferson around 1,000 cfs
The same DNR section says most paddlers will find the stretch more pleasurable at or below 11 ft on the Lanesboro gauge and around 1,000 cfs at Jefferson.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05482430 7.69 ft; USGS 05482500 238 cfs / 5.16 ft
USGS Water Services returned current North Raccoon values at 2026-07-23 04:15 CDT for Lanesboro and Jefferson during this run.
- Access and campingRainbow Bend and Richey have camping/toilets
DNR says Rainbow Bend is a carry to a sand/silt beach, North Raccoon River Access is excellent, Richey is hard to see from the river, and camping/toilets are available at both endpoint accesses.
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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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
North Raccoon River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Raccoon River?
Paddle Today watches North Raccoon River near Lanesboro, IA and treats 0.00 ft to 11.00 ft 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 Rainbow Bend Access and ends at Richey Access, about About 18.1 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.