See all 8 routes on Wapsipinicon River
Iowa | Eastern Iowa
Wapsipinicon RiverAllen's Grove Access to Gambril Access
Lower Wapsipinicon continuation from Allen's Grove Public Use Area to Gambril Access, finishing the DNR Sherman-to-Gambril Bends-to-Beaches access chain.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Allen's Grove and paddle the lower half of the DNR Sherman-to-Gambril family, stopping before the separate Gambril-to-McCausland reach.
Access map
Put-in
Allen's Grove AccessAllen's Grove is a public boat-ramp access with no camping. Keep staging compact and use posted public areas only.
Take-out
Gambril AccessGambril is DNR-documented with a cement ramp and eddy but no bathrooms; the coordinate is a practical ramp anchor from mapped route references and must be confirmed from land.
Road shuttle
Stage Gambril Access and confirm the downriver-pointing cement ramp and eddy before launching from Allen's Grove.
Additional access notes
- The lower route carries more water on the south fork than the north fork, so use the De Witt reading and an on-site check before relying on upstream Anamosa thresholds.
More route and safety guidance
- Allen's Grove has a public ramp and eddy, but the route starts on the south fork where DNR says this section carries substantially more water than the north fork.
- Gambril has a cement downriver-pointing ramp and eddy but no bathrooms. Confirm the landing from land before launching.
- Do not continue to McCausland or the Mississippi-side lower route unless that separate advanced trip is staged.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Wapsipinicon River near Anamosa, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route familySherman Park to Allen's Grove to Gambril, 21 mi
Iowa DNR lists Sherman Park to Allen's Grove Accesses to Gambril Access as a 21-mile lower-Wapsipinicon section.
- Access qualityAllen's Grove and Gambril ramps
Iowa DNR says Allen's Grove has a cement ramp and eddy, and Gambril Access has a cement ramp pointed downriver with a nice eddy.
- Lower-river gauge contextScott County links Wapsipinicon water levels to USGS 05422000
Scott County's Wapsi recreation page links Wapsipinicon River water levels to the De Witt USGS gauge for this lower Bends-to-Beaches corridor.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-24Anamosa 1,920 cfs / 7.13 ft; De Witt 2,270 cfs / 8.02 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Threshold model200 to 2,800 cfs
CanWePaddle supplies the accepted lower-Wapsi Anamosa-to-Oxford model; this downstream split uses it conservatively with mandatory local checks and De Witt corroboration rather than a new invented range.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
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Other routes nearby
More on Wapsipinicon River
All 8Nearby routes within 75 miles
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