See all 9 routes on North Raccoon River
Iowa | Central Iowa
North Raccoon RiverSquirrel Hollow Park to Adkins Bridge Access
Short Greene County North Raccoon water-trail run from Squirrel Hollow to Adkins Bridge, with public county access, bluff-country scenery, and the direct 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 at Squirrel Hollow Park and take out at Adkins Bridge for a short North Raccoon bluff-country split. The route is accessible, but DNR non-meandered-stream rules, wood, and rock-dam-style riffles keep it from being a casual no-check float.
Access map
Put-in
Squirrel Hollow Park boat rampUse the Squirrel Hollow public boat ramp / park access, not informal wildlife-area banks.
Take-out
Adkins Bridge AccessAdkins Bridge is the planned take-out 3.8 miles downstream; verify it before launching because missing it turns a short trip into a longer private-bank problem.
Road shuttle
Short Greene County shuttle. Stage Adkins Bridge first, then launch from Squirrel Hollow Park. Confirm the take-out before launching because the route is short but private banks limit improvising.
Additional access notes
- The North Raccoon is non-meandered in this corridor. Stay with public accesses and marked public areas.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay alert for rock dams and fishing riffles in the broader water-trail corridor; portage if a feature is not clearly runnable.
- The North Raccoon is non-meandered. Use public accesses and marked public areas only; the banks and bed outside those areas may be private.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22243 cfs / 5.17 ft at 2026-07-22 22:15 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.
- Threshold range150-2,000 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Jefferson-to-Cooper North Raccoon corridor to USGS 05482500 and estimates a 150 to 2,000 cfs runnable window.
- Public endpointsSquirrel Hollow Park to Adkins Bridge Access
Greene County / MyCountyParks says Squirrel Hollow offers canoeing and kayaking and that the Adkins Bridge boat ramp is 3.8 miles downstream.
- Official corridorGreene County North Raccoon bluff-country water trail
Iowa DNR water-trail material identifies the Squirrel Hollow to Adkins Bridge area inside the Greene County North Raccoon water-trail corridor.
- Safety contextWood, private banks, rock dams
Iowa DNR warns about downed trees and log piles, especially on sharp bends, and explains that land adjacent to and under this non-meandered river is private except at access sites and marked public areas.
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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