See all 8 routes on Wapsipinicon River
Iowa | Eastern Iowa
Wapsipinicon RiverSherman Park to Allen's Grove Access
Bends-to-Beaches lower Wapsipinicon half-day split from Sherman Park's public ramp to Allen's Grove Public Use Area, stopping at the documented mid-route access.
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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
Paddle the first half of the official Sherman-to-Gambril section, taking out at Allen's Grove rather than committing to the full 21-mile lower-river day.
Access map
Put-in
Sherman Park boat rampAllen's Grove is about a quarter mile south of the Y52/956 bridge and has a cement ramp and eddy, but same-day water level and ramp condition still control usability.
Take-out
Allen's Grove AccessThe Wapsi River Environmental Center access is across from Sherman, more than 200 yards downhill from parking, and DNR says it is only for facility renters.
Road shuttle
Stage Allen's Grove Public Use Area first, then launch from Sherman Park's public ramp. Do not use the Wapsi River Environmental Center access unless your group has facility-renter permission.
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Access planner
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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Sherman Park boat ramp to Allen's Grove Access is about 11.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- USGS 05421740 is an upstream threshold proxy; use the De Witt gauge as a direct lower-river corroboration and inspect the landings.
More route and safety guidance
- Allen's Grove is the halfway public access; use it as the planned take-out for this split and do not continue toward Gambril unless that separate shuttle is staged.
- DNR warns that the river has many side channels and bends where current can carry paddlers into dead-log tangles. Choose routes carefully and portage only where safe and legal.
- The Wapsi River Environmental Center access across from Sherman is not treated as a normal public endpoint for this route because DNR limits that access to facility renters.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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.
- Intermediate accessAllen's Grove at about 11 mi
Iowa DNR says Allen's Grove provides a stop at approximately the 11-mile mark and can make a suitable trip for paddlers with at least intermediate experience.
- Allen's Grove access supportPublic boat ramp, no camping
Scott County describes Allen's Grove as a public use area with a boat ramp on the Wapsipinicon River and notes no camping is allowed there.
- 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
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Wapsipinicon River
All 8Nearby routes within 75 miles
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