Kayak Love

Iowa · river

Maple River at Mapleton

USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

95

Favorable weather

Weather score out of 100

Weather only. This is a monitoring station, not a verified launch. Access, hazards and suitable flow are unknown.

Weather observation: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:45:00 GMT.

River observation: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMT.

Page checked: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:59:26 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Wind

9 mph

gusting to 16 mph

Air temp

63°F

3% chance of rain

River flow

205 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Sunday · 97

  • Tue

    21

  • Wed

    64

  • Thu

    37

  • Fri

    68

  • Sat

    86

  • Sun

    97

    Best

  • Mon

    76

Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
12a615
1a816
2a917
3a917
4a916
5a1118
6a1219
7a1022
8a1223
9a1125
10a1328
11a1635

Is this flow normal for September 29?

Today's 205 cfs is 99% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 103 cfs, across 83 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 9 mph — moderate wind at the forecast location-5

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.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Iowa →