Kayak Love

Iowa · river

Iowa River near Lone Tree

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

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Iowa River near Lone Tree
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — ISS006-E-36495 - View of Iowa.jpg by Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

4 mph

gusting to 13 mph

Air temp

81°F

59% chance of rain

River flow

802 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 96

  • Today

    80

  • Wed

    26

  • Thu

    96

    Best

  • Fri

    72

  • Sat

    61

  • Sun

    83

  • Mon

    63

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)
9p413
10p611
11p1018
12a1734
1a79
2a516
3a617
4a1023
5a1424
6a713
7a1115
8a1020

Is this flow normal for September 9?

Today's 802 cfs is 23% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 651 cfs, across 66 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind4 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
  • Rain59% chance in the next 6 hours-12

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