Wapsipinicon River

Walnut Grove to Sherman Park

River Miles: 13.5
Counties: Clinton
Recommended Level: between 5 and 9 ft

Review(s):

Knowledge of this area: Advanced
Date of Paddle: 3/6/05
CFS: 1320 cfs/6.57 ft. on DeWitt gauge
Recommended Craft: Recreational
Type of Water: flatwater
Overview of this section: This is a good section for just a relaxing trip. Nothing earthshaking or must-see here, just a nice float. Recommended mainly for sandbar camping and wildlife viewing. There's tons of wildlife already in early March, with even more to come as the weather warms up. We saw 34 Bald Eagles, a deer, a muskrat, and numerous geese and ducks. Just downstream from the Syracuse access is a neat-looking old train bridge that is still functional. About a mile before Sherman park, there is a small island with the main river channel going to the left. If you go to the right instead, you'll see a small creek. This is one of the many creeks in Iowa called "Rock Creek." It is a pretty little place, and especially nice to paddle into and cool off on a hot day.
Hazard and Rapids: No rapids, but lots of snags. That would be the only challenge to a raw beginner.
Camping Available?: Campsites are right at the accesses at the beginning and end of this trip. Also, the Wapsi is a meandered stream here so you can sandbar camp!
Other Launches?: About 8 river miles down from Toronto (5.5 miles upstream of Sherman Park) is the Syracuse access.
Overall opinion of this section: This is a good place to go and just relax! "leisurely" would be the key word here. You can use the Syracuse access to break this trip up into an 8-miler or a 5.5-miler if you have kids or new paddlers in your group. The Syracuse-to-Sherman Park section is where I did my first ever paddle back in 2000 and I immediately fell in love with the sport, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

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Recent River Level Readings - taken from NOAA

Location: DeWitt