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Iowa | Northwest Iowa
North Raccoon River
Vogel Access to Riverview 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
Consolidated upper Sac County North Raccoon route from Vogel to Riverview, with McDonald Greenbelt retained as an intermediate campground, public access, and shorter take-out.
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
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Put-in
Vogel AccessVogel Access is a county-managed wildlife/access area, but the DNR guide says the Vogel landing can be steep and paddlers may choose a sandbar 10 to 15 yards upstream.
Take-out
Riverview / Lions Park AccessMcDonald Greenbelt is a county-managed park along the North Raccoon; Sac County also lists 230th Street Canoe Access at the bridge across from the McDonald parking area.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Vogel Access is a county-managed wildlife/access area, but the DNR guide says the Vogel landing can be steep and paddlers may choose a sandbar 10 to 15 yards upstream.
- McDonald Greenbelt is a county-managed park along the North Raccoon; Sac County also lists 230th Street Canoe Access at the bridge across from the McDonald parking area.
- Endpoint coordinates are practical public-access anchors from named county sites and road/address context, not surveyed ramp points. Confirm the exact launch and landing from land.
- Sac City calls this an easy-in/easy-out recommended route, but obstruction removal is ongoing and the access should still be walked before launch.
- Riverview / Lions Park access is anchored from city park and North 5th Street context rather than a surveyed ramp coordinate.
- Do not continue downstream into the Sac City and Hagge rock-dam reach unless that separate route and portage plan are staged.
Watch for
- Riffles, shallow boulders, low-water scraping, and isolated rock-dam-style features.
- Logjams, strainers, eroding banks, and faster current after upstream storms.
- Private banks and long rural stretches with few practical bailouts.
- Fresh wood or partial logjams even in the improved corridor.
- Low Sac City flow, scraping, and shallow gravel.
- Private banks outside the public access corridor.
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 Sac/Calhoun/Carroll 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 familyVogel to Sac City, 17.8 mi
Iowa DNR documents Vogel Access to Sac City Park Access as the first 17.8-mile upper North Raccoon water-trail section and describes McDonald Greenbelt within the lower two-thirds.
- Access chainVogel, McDonald, Sac City
Sac County lists Vogel Access and McDonald Greenbelt as managed North Raccoon River water-trail access points, and Sac City says the 41-mile trail starts at Vogel and includes new access at McDonald Greenbelt.
- Official gauge guidanceLanesboro 11 ft or below; Jefferson around 1,000 cfs
Iowa DNR says most paddlers will find the upper North Raccoon more pleasurable at or below 11 ft on the Lanesboro gauge and around 1,000 cfs at Jefferson.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05482430 7.65 ft; USGS 05482300 55.4 cfs / 6.86 ft; USGS 05482500 218 cfs / 5.12 ft
USGS Water Services returned current North Raccoon values during this 2026-07-24 run; the Sac City flow is very low, so the route requires same-day local depth checks despite the Lanesboro stage being below the DNR ceiling.
- Recommended routeMcDonald Greenbelt to Riverview Park, 5 mi / about 3 hr
Sac City publishes this as a recommended North Raccoon water-trail route and says it is easy to get in and easy to get out.
- Obstruction workMcDonald to Chautauqua improvements
Sac City says many obstructions were cleared from McDonald Greenbelt to Chautauqua Park, while also noting that obstruction removal will continue.
- Access legitimacy230th Street Canoe Access and McDonald Greenbelt
Sac County lists 230th Street Canoe Access at the bridge near McDonald Greenbelt, and lists McDonald Greenbelt as a managed county park along the North Raccoon.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05482430 7.65 ft; USGS 05482300 55.4 cfs / 6.86 ft
USGS Water Services returned current Lanesboro and Sac City readings during this 2026-07-24 run; the local Sac City flow is low and should be checked before launching.
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 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 Vogel Access and ends at Riverview / Lions Park Access, about About 16 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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