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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 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.
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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
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
River Valley Park / 13th Street play featureThis 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 accessThe 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.
Plan this segment
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.
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 | 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 |
| Evidence strength 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
Paddler reports
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More routes to check next
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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.
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