Cedar, Iowa, US

Palisades-Kepler State Park (PnP)

Palisades-Kepler

Palisades-Kepler
Photo of Gary Heil taken 2003 @ ~7500 cfs

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA
usgs-05464500	8000 - 35000 cfs	III	23h14m	1760 cfs (rc= -0.8 )
	not much happening here. Gauge (6510 sq.mi drainage) is ~14 miles upstream (relatively minor tribs intervene) so may lead/lag by a few hours, but should reasonably well portray flows.

River Description

At the right flows this is a Class III-IV, 2 meter wave with some Class VI hazards around it (according to local paddlers). Cliffs on both sides, pushy water, and other associated hazards should limit this area to high intermediate and expert paddlers only. Below 10,000cfs, the majority of the flow goes through the river right dam-breach which creates the play feature, reactionary waves, haystacks and other boat-swampers.

Update - 03-27-11: Two play areas are described below; the "Channel Side" on the west or opposite side of the river from the put in (pictured above). And "The Hole" which is downstream from the put in and created by the intact portion of the dam. On the river left side the hole is playable. Get more than a boat length or two towards the middle and it gets terminal.

First timers are highly encouraged to post on the Iowa Whitewater website to hook up with one of the local boaters.

Don't be tempted to run the center slot of the dam or play below it as there are a multitude of snags and other nasties just below the surface.

The following YouTube video is from April 16, 2011, when the river was in the 8500 cfs territory.