Upper Iowa River
Allamakee / Winneshiek Co. · 135 mi · Class I–II
1,760CFS/ 8.99 ft
Optimal→Stable· -30 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 300–2,000 CFS · USGS #05388250
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Iowa Scenic River · Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge
Iowa's finest paddling river winds through the Driftless Area — a region the glaciers missed, leaving 400-foot limestone bluffs, cold trout streams, and forested ridges unlike anything else in the state. The Upper Iowa carves through towering dolomite cliffs, past caves, and over gravel bars in a landscape that looks more like the Ozarks than the Corn Belt.
Trip sections
Kendallville to Bluffton — 25 mi, best bluffs section
Bluffton to Decorah — 30 mi, coldwater trout reach
Decorah to Upper Iowa Access — 15 mi, Class I–II riffles
Upper Iowa to Mississippi confluence — 30 mi, wide valley
Outfitters
Hruska Canoe Livery
Upper Iowa River canoe and kayak rentals from Kendallville to Decorah
Randy's Bluffton Store
Shuttle service, camping, and river info at Bluffton
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.