Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Skunk River
Cottonwood Loop to Sycamore Loop, Welter Recreation Area
Check current paddling conditions for this Skunk 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
A short, public-access Skunk River float inside Welter Recreation Area with a gravel upstream ramp and a developed downstream campground finish.
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
Cottonwood Loop gravel boat ramp, Welter Recreation AreaCottonwood is a day-use access with a gravel ramp; its posted rules prohibit camping, fires, loitering, and obstructing the ramp.
Take-out
Sycamore Loop campground landing, Welter Recreation AreaSycamore is the developed downstream loop, but the county describes the riverbank landing as steep and rocky; inspect the landing before committing to the finish.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Cottonwood is a day-use access with a gravel ramp; its posted rules prohibit camping, fires, loitering, and obstructing the ramp.
- Sycamore is the developed downstream loop, but the county describes the riverbank landing as steep and rocky; inspect the landing before committing to the finish.
- The app stores the county-linked Google Maps coordinates as defensible access-area anchors; they are not survey-grade water-edge points.
- The county notes that a historic rock dam remnant can be visible at low water. Portage or turn back from any obstruction that is not clearly safe at the day's flow.
- The direct USGS station is at Augusta, immediately downstream of the Welter corridor; local rain, debris, and shallow conditions can differ from the reported value.
Watch for
- Shallow gravel and dragging risk below the 287 cfs protected-flow reference; the reference is not a recreational guarantee.
- Fast-rising or debris-laden water after storms, especially around outside bends and bridge/landing approaches.
- Historic rock-dam/ledge remnants and strainers; do not run an unscouted obstruction.
- Steep, rocky Sycamore landing and private-bank boundaries outside the named Welter access areas.
- Cold water and limited bailout options on a short but changing floodplain reach.
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 | Skunk River at Augusta, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 287 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Iowa Administrative Code protected flow at Skunk River Augusta (minimum-only floor; not a paddling guarantee) |
| 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.
- Route and accessCottonwood Loop to Sycamore Loop
Des Moines County Conservation identifies Cottonwood as the upstream day-use boat ramp and Sycamore as the downstream developed loop; the county's float guidance specifically describes putting in at Cottonwood and finishing at the campground area.
- Public put-inCottonwood Loop gravel boat ramp, 18671 Skunk River Road
The county lists Cottonwood as a day-use river access with a gravel boat ramp and gives the public address and ramp rules.
- Public take-out and campingSycamore Loop, 16839 Skunk River Road
The county identifies Sycamore as the farthest-downstream loop with 18 campsites, restrooms, and a developed landing area; campsites are first-come, first-served and campground dates must be checked.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05474000 Skunk River at Augusta
USGS publishes continuous discharge and gage-height conditions for the Augusta station; use the live value and trend before launching.
- Minimum-only flow reference287 cfs protected flow
Iowa Administrative Code lists 287 cfs at the Augusta USGS station. This is a regulatory protected-flow floor, not a recreational threshold or guarantee; visual scouting remains mandatory.
- Local paddling contextNormal low-water summer float; about 2.5 river miles between Welter loops
Des Moines County describes the Skunk as a shallow, slow summer float and identifies Cottonwood-to-Sycamore as the upstream/downstream Welter corridor; its event material also documents longer Cottonwood floats.
- Image decisionNo third-party image bundled
The route uses linked county, USGS, Iowa Code, and safety evidence without copying an unlicensed promotional image.
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
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Quick answers
Skunk River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Skunk River?
Paddle Today watches Skunk River at Augusta, IA and uses 287 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Skunk River route start and end?
This route starts at Cottonwood Loop gravel boat ramp, Welter Recreation Area and ends at Sycamore Loop campground landing, Welter Recreation Area, about About 2.5 river miles between the Welter Recreation Area loops on the water.
Is this Skunk River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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