Cedar, Iowa, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 0.1 Miles |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA | ||||
| usgs-05464500 | 8000 - 35000 cfs | III | 00h23m | 1430 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. |
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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.
Joe Holt provides (2008-05-07): Here is the latest information on the levels for Park-and-Play at Palisades.
| Flow (cfs) | Location | Description |
| 8,000-10,000 | Channel side |
This is the flow for the wave on the channel side. It is tough to catch and requires a fast boat to surf. It is a hoot when you can get it! |
| 10,500-14,000 | State Park side |
The hole is great for surfing and flat spins, but is too shallow for anything vertical. It is very retentive and it no place to be upside down. |
| 24,000-30,000 | State Park side |
The hole is deep, fast and powerful! Vertical moves are possible if you have the balls to try them. The hole is plenty retentive and seems to pull you out to its meaty center if you don’t watch it. |
| 32,000-35,000 | State Park side |
The feature turns into a wave. It is easy to attain and great for most tricks. It is not sticky at this level and is low consequence fun if you have a roll! |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| usgs-05464500 | 8000 - 35000 cfs | III | 00h23m | 1430 cfs (rc= -0.8 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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not much happening here. |
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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. |
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar River [IA] |
State Park Hole
|
~12000 | Joe Holt | |
| Cedar River [IA] |
Palisades-Kepler
|
~7500 cfs | Steve Weliver | |
| 7y317d12h23m | Cedar Riverq [IA] |
Wave#2 from Rive Right
|
~7400 cfs | Gary Heil |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. reach
state
reachlink
Palisades-Kepler State Park (PnP), Cedar Iowa, US (mobile)
User Comments
non-profit group focused on the long-term sustainability of the Cedar River and its tributaries.
Headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the group arose from the Cedar River Festival, the longest
active river clean-up in Iowa.
large wave-hole that is shown in the photos. A wave does still form in the south breach of the dam
at the flows listed above, however, it does not get steep enough to surf a boat shorter than 8ft
and even then it's a slow ride. No more fast carves and no more 360s. Also, the eddy that used to
pull you back up to the dam from at least 200 yards downstream on the river left side of the south
breach now only extends ~30 yards below the dam.