Iowa | North Iowa
Winnebago RiverFertile to Mason City
Thirteen-mile Winnebago River Class I run from Fertile toward Mason City, using the direct Mason City gauge and local river-park access evidence.
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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 Winnebago River from Fertile toward Mason City using the direct Mason City gauge. Dam proximity at Fertile and take-out verification at Mason City are the key planning controls.
Access map
Put-in
Fertile Mill Park natural access / William Rhodes Island Park below-dam areaIowa DNR maps a City-owned natural access at Fertile Mill Park and reports a 13-foot parking-to-access carry; use only after confirming it is the safe below-dam entry and stay clear of dam hydraulics.
Take-out
Mason City East Park / Winnebago River corridorMason City endpoint access should be verified locally on the day of the trip; East Park is used as the practical endpoint anchor from available public mapping.
Road shuttle
Stage the Mason City vehicle first, then return to Fertile. Confirm the exact Mason City take-out and parking status before launching because this card uses a practical East Park corridor anchor.
Additional access notes
- Private banks, wood, and shallow riffles can limit emergency exits.
More route and safety guidance
- Confirm the Mason City take-out on the day of the trip. The app uses East Park / Mason City as a practical endpoint anchor, but local signage and access status control.
- The Mason City gauge is direct for downstream conditions but cannot show wood, shallow gravel, or temporary closures.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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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
Winnebago River at Mason City, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Winnebago River at Mason City, 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 |
| Preferred range | 100 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Fertile to Mason City estimated range |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22168 cfs / 5.12 ft at 2026-07-22 21:15 CDT
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 range100-1,500 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Fertile-to-Mason-City section to USGS 05459500 and estimates a 100 to 1,500 cfs runnable window.
- Access supportWilliam Rhodes Island Park / Fertile Dam and Mason City endpoint
The City of Fertile documents William Rhodes Island Park along the Winnebago River at the Fertile Dam. Mason City endpoint coordinates are a practical East Park / river-corridor anchor and must be verified locally before launch.
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
Nearby routes within 75 miles
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