See all 6 routes on Upper Iowa River
Iowa | Northeast Iowa
Upper Iowa River
Kendallville Park to Bluffton Fir Stand Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Upper Iowa 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
This is a long Driftless day with county-park staging at Kendallville and a Bluffton Palisades finish. Low water hurts trip quality well before it becomes unsafe.
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
Kendallville Park Canoe AccessKendallville is a strong staging access with county campground support, and the Upper Iowa River Paddler's Guide identifies Bluffton Fir Stand Access at the downstream end of this segment.
Take-out
Bluffton Fir Stand Access / Bluffton Road-W20 canoe rampThis is a long day for beginners, so consider splitting it if your group is new.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Kendallville is a strong staging access with county campground support, and the Upper Iowa River Paddler's Guide identifies Bluffton Fir Stand Access at the downstream end of this segment.
- This is a long day for beginners, so consider splitting it if your group is new.
Watch for
- Strainers or logjams after high water.
- Cold-water exposure in spring or fall.
- Faster current and fewer margins when levels rise.
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 | Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, 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 |
| Target band | 100 cfs to 1,200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,200 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Upper Iowa Kendallville-to-Bluffton estimated range |
| 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.
- Threshold range100-1,200 cfs
CanWePaddle ties Kendallville-to-Bluffton to USGS 05387440 at Bluffton and estimates 100 to 1,200 cfs as the runnable range.
- Route shapeKendallville to Bluffton, long Driftless day
CanWePaddle describes Kendallville-to-Bluffton as an 11-mile Class I run, while the local access details support treating it as a long day with possible mileage variation by exact launch point.
- Kendallville stagingCounty park access and campground
The Winneshiek County paddlers guide lists Kendallville Park Access and campground support, which strengthens the upstream endpoint as a real staging access rather than just a dropped pin.
- Bluffton take-out supportPaddler guide access shown
The Upper Iowa River Paddler's Guide identifies Bluffton Fir Stand Access as a public access at the downstream end of this segment.
- Current gauge check702 cfs / 4.42 ft at 2026-07-23 13:45 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Upper Iowa River at Bluffton discharge and stage during this run.
- Safety postureLong day, private banks, fast rises
CanWePaddle and the route sources support a Class I access-pair route, but the app keeps caution copy for long mileage, swift post-rain current, wood, and private or permission-only banks away from public accesses.
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.
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
Upper Iowa River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Upper Iowa River?
Paddle Today watches Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA and treats 100 cfs to 1,200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Upper Iowa River route start and end?
This route starts at Kendallville Park Canoe Access and ends at Bluffton Fir Stand Access / Bluffton Road-W20 canoe ramp, about 16.5 mi on the water.
Is this Upper Iowa 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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