See all 2 routes on Yellow River
Iowa | Northeast Iowa
Yellow RiverBridge Sixteen to Highway 76
Long lower Yellow River day from Bridge Sixteen to Highway 76, with Ion Bridge retained as a public alternate put-in for a shorter roughly 7-mile lower-river option.
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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 from Bridge Sixteen for the full lower Yellow River or use Ion Bridge as an alternate put-in for the shorter final 7 miles to Highway 76. Expect riffles, wood, public-land solitude, and a floodplain finish near Effigy Mounds.
Access map
Put-in
Bridge Sixteen Canoe AccessUse the public Bridge Sixteen launch downstream and river left of the bridge. Do not use Scenic View Campground take-outs, bathrooms, or private banks unless you are a paying customer or have permission.
Take-out
Highway 76 / Yellow River mouth accessThe Highway 76 finish is a mouth-area access near railroad and highway infrastructure. Scout the take-out before launching, especially if the Mississippi is high or debris is present.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 76 first. Launch at Bridge Sixteen for the full 16.75-mile route or at Ion Bridge / Old Mission Road for the shorter roughly 7-mile option. Avoid a bike shuttle unless you are comfortable with a long hilly Highway 76 shoulder route.
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Access planner
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This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Bridge Sixteen Canoe Access to Highway 76 / Yellow River access is about 16.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Ion Bridge is the only represented shorter-route put-in. Stage it intentionally; do not treat private or unsigned banks as casual bailout points.
More route and safety guidance
- Scout wood and the Highway 76 take-out before launching; missing the take-out commits the group toward Mississippi backwater and railroad/highway infrastructure.
- Yellow River State Forest camping is designated-site camping, not permission to stop on private or unmarked banks.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
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
Yellow River near Ion, 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.
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Yellow River near Ion, IA |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 201 cfs to 300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 601 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Wisconsin River Trips Yellow River Iowa gauge ladder |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Published route reportOld Sixteen Road to Highway 76, 16.75 miles
Miles Paddled documents the lower Yellow River from Old Sixteen Road to the Highway 76 railroad bridge near the Mississippi mouth, with put-in/take-out GPS points and a five-hour trip time.
- Lower route characterRiffles, Class I+, public-land lower miles
Miles Paddled describes swift riffles, rock outcrops, strainers and sweepers, then public land through Yellow River State Forest and Effigy Mounds in the final lower section.
- Target range201 to 300 cfs
Wisconsin River Trips describes 201 to 300 cfs at the Ion gauge as average depth and a good target range for a well-padded Yellow River.
- Low-water floor100 cfs
The WRT Yellow River ladder treats below 50 cfs as likely too low and 51 to 100 cfs as very shallow; Miles Paddled separately says this lower route needs enough water and gives 80 cfs as a minimum caution.
- High-water ceiling601+ cfs
WRT treats 601 to 1000 cfs as very high and perhaps only suitable for expert paddlers, with 1001+ cfs maybe too high for kayaking. The app keeps 601+ cfs outside broad recommendation.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 05389000
USGS operates Yellow River near Ion, IA with current discharge and gage-height observations, and both lower-Yellow route reports tie their conditions to the Ion gauge.
- Put-in supportBridge Sixteen public launch
Wisconsin River Trips says paddlers should use the public launch downstream and left of Sixteen Bridge, not the nearby private campground. Existing app research also identifies Bridge Sixteen Canoe Access as a named public access.
- Short-route optionIon Bridge to Highway 76, about 7 mi
The Yellow River water-trail guide and Iowa DNR state-forest materials support the Ion Road / Old Mission Road canoe-access corridor. It is retained as an intermediate alternate put-in rather than a duplicate route card.
- Take-out supportHighway 76 / Yellow River mouth access context
Miles Paddled used the Highway 76 and railroad bridge area as the safer take-out. NPS describes the Yellow River boardwalk and South Unit highway access area, while Iowa DNR maps canoe access and parking in the Yellow River State Forest lower corridor.
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
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