North Fork of the Maquoketa River

Worthington to Highway 136 Bridge

River Miles: ~15
Counties: Delaware and Dubuque
Recommended Flow: The gauge is pretty far downstream of this section, but 500-1000 is probably best.

Review(s):

Submitted By: Nate Hoogeveen
Knowledge of This Area: Intermediate
Date of Paddle: June, 2004
CFS: The North Fork Maquoketa near Fulton gauge was about 850 cfs.
Recommended Craft: Recreational
Type of Water: Mostly flat with very few riffles, with a class I-II exception at the end.
Overview of this section: This one could well have made it into the Paddling Iowa guidebook if it weren't so dependent on water levels. The first half of the trip runs along a number of nice bluffs and portions are very secluded, surrounded by woods. You cross no bridges on this whole section. On the second half, the valley widens out and the river has a number of long sandbars along it. In most places, trees lined the river. Alarmingly, at one point within 2 miles of the takeout, all the trees had been pushed into the river on the river right side, and a bulldozer was sitting on the hill.
The rapids above 136 could make a good WW playspot, although we were in long boats and didn't surf.
See watershed info at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm?huc_code=07060006 
Hazard and Rapids: We encountered no fences. Right at the end of the trip, there's a class I-II series of limestone ledges that are a hoot to run at good water levels.
Camping?: Nearest camping is east of Cascade on Hwy 151 at the Fillmore Recreation Area. You'll hear highway noise at night, though.
Overall opinion of this section: I like it. Not as amazing as the North Fork below Cascade, but well worth adding to a weekend of paddling when water conditions are good.

Add/modify info.

Recent River Level Readings - taken from Army Corps

Location: Fulton