Iowa · river
Cedar River at Charles City
USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.
Weather comparison · not a safety rating
Weather unavailable
Current weather is missing or over an hour old. No score is shown. Check the local forecast before travelling.
Weather observation: unavailable.
River observation: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:30:00 GMT.
Page checked: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:06 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.
Wind
Unavailable
No fresh weather reading returned
Air temp
Unavailable
Check the local forecast below
River flow
2,070 cfs
high for this date
Current weather is unavailable. Use the local sources below before planning your trip.
Is this flow normal for September 29?
Today's 2,070 cfs is 553% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.
The median flow on this date is 317 cfs, across 60 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.
Current score unavailable
We don't have launch notes for this one
This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, and uses available public readings. 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.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive
- USGS gauge 05457700
Full hydrograph, historical flows, and station metadata