See all 6 routes on Upper Iowa River
Iowa | Northeast Iowa
Upper Iowa River
Iverson Bridge Access to Kumpf Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Upper Iowa River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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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
Launch at Iverson Bridge and paddle the lower Upper Iowa toward Kumpf Access. This is the downstream continuation from the existing Lower-Dam-to-Iverson card and uses the direct Dorchester gauge.
Put-in
Iverson Bridge AccessOpen mapIverson Bridge is the start of this card and the take-out for the upstream existing route; avoid leaving vehicles where they block bridge or access traffic.
Take-out
Kumpf AccessOpen mapKumpf Access is the planned take-out. Do not continue into the final lower Upper Iowa corridor without staging a separate downstream shuttle.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Iverson Bridge is the start of this card and the take-out for the upstream existing route; avoid leaving vehicles where they block bridge or access traffic.
- Kumpf Access is the planned take-out. Do not continue into the final lower Upper Iowa corridor without staging a separate downstream shuttle.
- The Dorchester gauge is downstream and direct for the lower corridor, but make a visual check for wood, depth, and landing condition before launching.
Watch for
- Scraping in riffles below the 300 cfs selected floor and smoother water around the 300-350 cfs target.
- Fresh wood, strainers, bridge current, fast rises after rain, and private banks.
- Cold spring-fed water, long rural response times, and limited alternate exits.
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.
No approved route photos yet
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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 | Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, 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 | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Miles Paddled Upper Iowa River VIII Dorchester-gauge recommendation |
| 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 coordinatesIverson Bridge to Kumpf Access
Miles Paddled Upper Iowa VIII identifies Iverson Bridge Road Access as the put-in and Kumpf Access as the take-out, with GPS coordinates.
- Threshold guidance300-350 cfs for a smooth ride
Miles Paddled says roughly 300 to 350 cfs at the Dorchester gauge is the preferred smooth-water target for this reach.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05388250 1,140 cfs / 8.25 ft
USGS Water Services returned current Upper Iowa River near Dorchester data at 2026-07-23 19:00 CDT during this run.
- Official access-chain contextIverson Bridge and Kumpf named in Upper Iowa guide
The Upper Iowa River Paddler's Guide lists Iverson Bridge Access and Kumpf Access in the lower-river landmark/access chain.
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.
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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
Upper Iowa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Upper Iowa River?
Paddle Today watches Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, IA and uses 300 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Upper Iowa River route start and end?
This route starts at Iverson Bridge Access and ends at Kumpf Access, about About 8.5 mi on the water.
Is this Upper Iowa 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.