Rock Creek (Mitchell County)

325th St. to Jersey Ave.

River Miles: ~8 - 10
Counties: Mitchell
Recommended Flow: No Gauges Available

Review(s):

Submitted By: Nate Hoogeveen
Skill Level: Intermediate
Date of Paddle: 9-18-04
CFS: not available
Recommended Craft: Any. You'll find rocks, of course, so maybe leave that $2,000 kevlar boat at home.
Type of Water: Mostly flat with some class Is, and a class II.
Overview of this section: There are very likely smallmouth bass, although we didn't fish. We saw a number of deer, some wood ducks, geese, and a heron. The scenery is sublime; most of the trip is through deep woods with a canopy of trees. Much of it also passes along scenic little limestone cliffs shrouded in yew. The water was fairly clear, and it's quite rocky.
Hazard and Rapids: There is one solid class II rapids at a rock dam. You'll know its coming when you paddle down a long slow pool, and then take a river-left turn at an abandoned rock quarry. Getting around it requires a portage on riprap with unsure footing. There can certainly be fences. Watch especially closely as you approach the swift culvert where 316th St. crosses the creek. We had one portage around a river-wide snag toward the beginning of the trip.
Camping?: Osage Spring Park, three miles north of the put-in and 2 miles east, just south of Highway 9 after passing the Cedar River bridge.
Other Launches?: The one road crosses in between has more difficult access (over fences), not recommended. Also, we paddled downstream as far as County T38; the scenery gave diminishing returns, and there are two dams that could be dangerous at higher levels.
Places to rent or buy outdoor equipment: n/a
Overall opinion of this section: I highly recommend it -- when it has water!
Picture: The rapids at the old quarry

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