Kayak Love

Iowa · river

Black Hawk Creek at Hudson

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

97of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Black Hawk Creek at Hudson
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Dandelion Fascination.jpg by Zvanstanley, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

8 mph

gusting to 17 mph

Air temp

68°F

5% chance of rain

River flow

98 cfs

high for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 86

  • Today

    77

  • Wed

    72

  • Thu

    86

    Best

  • Fri

    45

  • Sat

    64

  • Sun

    71

  • Mon

    80

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
1a716
2a817
3a917
4a1019
5a1120
6a716
7a615
8a317
9a415
10a617
11a918
12p1017

Is this flow normal for September 8?

Today's 98 cfs is 123% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.

The median flow on this date is 44 cfs, across 72 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind8 mph — noticeable but manageable-3

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Iowa