Upper Iowa River — Kendallville to Bluffton: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 24, 4:45 AM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
Estimated range
205 cfs
3.4 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05387440
Runnable 100 – 1,200 cfs
What this means today
At 205 cfs the Upper Iowa River is inside the runnable range but only 105 cfs above the 100 cfs floor, so it is sitting at the shallow end of what this reach runs at. A dry few days would take it under.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 212 cfs to 205 cfs. Daily means over the past 6 days have run between 214 cfs and 252 cfs, 15% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Kendallville to Bluffton
Upper Iowa River at Kendallville to Bluffton is a 11-mile Class I run in Iowa — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Kendallville and take out at Bluffton, a trip that runs about 5 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 100–1,200 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Upper Iowa River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05387440 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable May–September. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class I
- Length
- 11 mi
- Float time
- ~5 hr
- Best months
- May–September
- Put-in
- Kendallville
- Take-out
- Bluffton
Reading USGS gauge 05387440 — Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Upper Iowa River — Kendallville to Bluffton?
- This section is generally runnable at 100–1,200 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Upper Iowa River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05387440 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Upper Iowa River — Kendallville to Bluffton good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Upper Iowa River here?
- Typically May–September, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Upper Iowa River — Kendallville to Bluffton?
- This reach is about 11 miles, roughly 5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.