See all 6 routes on South Skunk River
Iowa | Central Iowa
South Skunk River
Ames 13th Street Play Feature
Check current paddling conditions for this South Skunk River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Use the 13th Street mitigated low-head-dam feature in North River Valley Park for a compact South Skunk whitewater skills session. American Whitewater ties the feature to the South Skunk near Ames gauge and describes 400+ cfs as the level where surfing and spins appear.
Put-in
River Valley Park / 13th Street play featureOpen mapThis is a play feature inside River Valley Park rather than a downstream shuttle route; use the same public park area for launch, take-out, scouting, and walking back.
Take-out
River Valley Park / walk-back accessOpen mapThe saved coordinate is an access-area coordinate from the existing River Valley Park / Story County #227 route context, not a surveyed eddy or ramp point.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- This is a play feature inside River Valley Park rather than a downstream shuttle route; use the same public park area for launch, take-out, scouting, and walking back.
- The saved coordinate is an access-area coordinate from the existing River Valley Park / Story County #227 route context, not a surveyed eddy or ramp point.
- City of Ames lists boat access at River Valley Park, and Story County lists River Valley Park #227 as a South Skunk River Water Trail access, but paddlers should still follow posted signs and avoid informal private-bank exits.
Watch for
- Shallow rock features that can punish missed rolls or upside-down impacts, even when the gauge is high enough for play.
- Fast rises, muddy water, and debris after rain on the South Skunk watershed.
- Tubers, casual swimmers, anglers, and park users near the 13th Street feature; American Whitewater reports specifically caution against tubing this feature.
- Low-water scraping below the 400 cfs play threshold and pushier, less forgiving hydraulics during high or rising water.
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.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | South Skunk River near Ames, 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 | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater South Skunk 13th Street play-feature 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.
- Public park accessRiver Valley Park / 725 E 13th Street
The City of Ames lists River Valley Park at 725 E 13th Street with off-street parking, restrooms, and boat access.
- Water-trail accessRiver Valley Park #227
Story County lists River Valley Park as South Skunk River Water Trail Access #227 and notes rock-riffle construction at River Valley Park.
- Feature description13th Street mitigated low-head dam
American Whitewater says the 2021 Iowa DNR mitigation converted the former dam into fish and paddler passage channels in North River Valley Park off 13th Street.
- Play threshold400+ cfs
American Whitewater says high-water events above 400 cfs on the South Skunk gauge, or river-right wall-gauge levels over 4 ft, produce surf, spin, and cartwheel opportunities.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05470000
USGS operates South Skunk River near Ames on the same river at W Riverside Road, upstream of the 13th Street feature in the Ames corridor.
- Hazard caveatShallow rock feature
American Whitewater cautions that the features are shallow and care should be taken when rolling; a user report specifically warns tubing is not advised at any level.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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
South Skunk River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling South Skunk River?
Paddle Today watches South Skunk River near Ames, IA and uses 400 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this South Skunk River route start and end?
This route starts at River Valley Park / 13th Street play feature and ends at River Valley Park / walk-back access, about 0.074 mi / play-park laps on the water.
Is this South Skunk 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.