Resources. Water trails and recent listing of canoe/kayakk liveries www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/. River gages waterdata.
m ! !
85#
38
¬ «
The Maquoketa River at Buzzard Ridge.
The Maquoketa River is a popular and scenic river with relatively consistent flows and excellent fishing. In its headwaters, the Maquotea is a coldwater trout stream containing a trout fishery upstream of the lake at Backbone State Park. A number of watercraft campsites are available offering downriver paddlers opportunities for multiple days on the river. Downstream of the dam at Backbone, it transitions into a walleye-smallmouth bass fishery. The area from the MonMaq Dam to PIctured Rocks Park is one of the most heavily paddled sections of river in Iowa. The areas in the vicinity of the Canton Canoe Access are also well known for their remarkable bluffs and wild setting. Anywhere downstream of the Mon-Maq Dam is a “big river” species fishery, including sturgeon, sauger, flathead catfish, and drum. Note that there is no portage to get around the Delhi Dam, and that the section of river above it is primarily flanked by private residences along the still waters Lake Delhi. This area requires a vehicle shuttle from Turtle Creek Park to the Maquoketa River access downstream of the dam. Major fish species present: Smallmouth bass, channel catfish, northern pike, walleye
N
Legend y Hard-surface boat ramp | Carry down access | Unmaintained access l Fishing access ! 9 Campground Watercraft campsite
_ Restroom !
20
410
¬ «
!
!! #
130
!
3
¬ «
Maquoketa River: Map 1
n Backbone Lake Dam ! lBackbone State Park !! 9 ²! _! |!
13
! !
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! !
!
#
115
!
i ipp
v Ri
#
110
!
!
!!
!
!
DELHI
!
#
100
Dunlap Park ! _! |! m
N
1 mi.
2 mi.
portage river left
!
80
#
9! | _! !
136
20
£ ¤
52
¬ «
¬ «
!
# 75
!
70
#
151
£ ¤
#
65
| Indian !
Dam l Mon-Maq n! ! |! portage on river left
38
¬ «
HOPKINTON
90
#
85#
MONTICELLO
!
!
# 95
| Pioneer Road ! River Access
l Maquoketa River Access y! ! l Shearer Wildlife Area ! l Retz Wildlife Area !! |
l Pin Oak Access y ! ! 9 Bailey's Ford Park !! y ²! l! _!
!
Quaker Mill Dam portage river left n! ! | _ Tirrill Park |! ! l River View Park !! |
|Lindsey Bridge Access !
!Dundee Access |
DUNDEE
125 Ma # qu
ok ! eta R
120#
Manchester n Dam! portage river left
MANCHESTER 20
£ ¤
eta ok
Ri ver
qu Ma
y ! Highway 52 Access
!
5#
Turtle Creek Park # 105 _! ! 9! y ²! Hartwick Marina y ! 13 ¬ « n ! DelhinoDam portage
52
¬ «
# 10
Damon Bridge Canoe Access ! | # 15
!
SPRAGUEVILLE
iver ta R
| !
62
25 #
Bridgeport ! Access |
!
# !
Iron Bridge ¬ «! |Canoe Access
City or town Public lands
Paved & unpaved roads
Federal or state highway
5-mile markers, from mouth
² Drinking water near river n Dam (danger!) m Rapids or rock dam
61
£ ¤
30
Spragueville l! y Access ! MAQUOKETA
iss i ss M
1 mi.
!Buzzard Ridge _
2 mi.
Maquoketa River: Map 2
Minor fish species present: Crappie, white bass
CASCADE
ver
l !
Chenelworth ! Canoe Access | 428
¬ « !
#
|! ! 9 Royertown Canoe Access
!
!
!
oke a qu
151
£ ¤
oke ta Ri
!
!
#
50 !
!#
45
!
40
#
35 #
64
¬ « Maquoketa y! ! l City Access
M
portage on river left
Watercraft campsite at Retz Wildlife Area.
80
#
!
Ma qu 60 # !
55
#
| Indian Bluff ! ! Highway 136 | 70
l Mon-Maq Dam n! ! |!
!
75 #
65
Supples Bridge ! Access | 38
64
Morehead Canoe Access! |
¬ «
Millertown Bridge! |
| «Canton Canoe Access! ¬
64
¬ «
954
¬ «
er iv
!
90
#
151
£ ¤
9! | _! ! Pictured Rocks
MONTICELLO
NAMOSA
38
¬ «
portage and camping shelter on river left
Joinerville Park ! y 9! n ! Lakehurst Dam
¬ «
er
Legend
DYERSVILLE 20 £ ¤
75
Hard-surface boat ramp y 955 | Carry down52access
« ¬ « ¬
20 £ ¤
963
£ ¤
Unmaintained access 70
! Fishing access l 9 Campground
WORTHINGTON
Worthington Bridge
Watercraft campsite _ Restroom ! ² Drinking water near river
Whitewater Creek in Whitewater Canyon
!
65
¬ « 136
¬ « 8
n Dam (danger!) m Rapids or rock dam
151 £ ¤
Filmore Recreation ! Area
60
5-mile markers, from mouth
Hwy 136 Bridge!
!D61 Bridge
Whitewater Road
Paved & unpaved roads
ter
45
5
C re ek
CASCADE
Federal or state highway
!
50 55
City or town Public lands
hit
ew a
151 £ ¤
W
40
Cascade City Park n ! |! l no portage
North Fork of the Maquoketa River and Whitewater Creek: £ ¤ Map 3
¬ « 136
North Fork of theMaquoketa River near Searryl’s Cave State Preserve
35
The North Fork of the Maquoketa River is a that can usually be paddled during wet months. Infremay be one of its best selling points for an expedition, trip allows adventurous paddlers a chance to encounter of Iowa’s most remote areas, especially from Cascade to Ozark Bridge. The areas from Dyersville to Cascade to approximately mile 22 offer numerous limestone bluffs and outcroppings. A general lack of holding water make fishing a challenge. Seaonally, it contains big river fish as far upstread 151 as the dam in Cascade.
highly scenic river 30 quent access as a canoe Ozark Bridge | ! some
61
20 25
| !
Caven Bridge
! |
Teeters Bridge
£ ¤
15
Davison Bridge
m !
| !
5
Major fish species present: Channel catfish, smallmouth bass Minor fish species present: Flathead catfish, sauger, walleye
¬ « 428
Whitewater Creek offers a short run through the remarkable “Whitewater Canyon” below Whitewater Road. It is often too shallow to paddle, and becomes hazardous at flood times due to the constricted nature of 64 the gorge. It can be linked with a longer trip on the North Fork of the Maquoketa.
MAQUOKETA
¬ « 64
¬ « ¬ « ¬ « 52
£ ¤ 52
!
¬ « 386
#
Dubuque
!
¬ « 64
Maquoketa River, North Fork of the Maquoketa River, and Whitewater Creek
3
#! !
¬ « 62
¬ «
Backbone State Park
10
¬ « 924
#
Dyersville
!
Manchester
¬ « 966
! ! #
#
£ ¤
!
# !# !!
£ ¤ 52
! !#
MAP 1
13
963
#
!
¬ «
¬ «
20
!
!
!
¬ « 38
¬ « 136
#
MAP 3
# #
! !
£ ¤ 151
# # #
# !
!
Cascade
Whitewater Creek
#
1
#
rt No
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h
! # # !
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rk of t h #
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Maquo#! ke
¬ « 38
£ ¤
985
e
#
#
ta Ri # v er
MAP 2
151
Anamosa 64
¬ «
61
62
#
! #
! # !
#
Maquoketa Caves # State Park
# ! ! !
¬ «
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e Maquo keta Ri v
r
Monticello
#
¬ « 42
#
! # !
#
!
!
#
¬ «
Maquoketa
64
151
# !
! !
£ ¤
#
¬ «
Spragueville
64
¬ « 38
Be safe out there!
Stay legal!
Wear a life jacket! They really do save lives. It won’t work if you don’t wear it.
Camping on sandbars is allowed only downstream of the City of Maquoketa on the rivers in this guide. Most areas along the rivers upstream of Maquoketa are privately owned – these waters are navigable, but you must respect private property.
Don’t boat under the influence For your safety, don’t use alchohol or drugs on the water. Watch for hazards On rivers, hazards like dams, fences, snags, rocks, and bridge abuttments may be present. Dams and snags in particular can be killers. Avoid them! Plan to get wet! You may capsize, so dress for the weather. When the water and/or weather get cold, warm-when-wet clothing and a wetsuit are needed.
Expedition & Fishing Guide
Littering is a crime – pack out everything you bring in. Report littering or dumping by calling 888-NOLITTR.
Resources
Iowa
Water trails and recent listing of canoe/kayakk liveries www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/ River gages waterdata.usgs.gov or www.rivergages.com
Water Trails
