Maquoketa
Manchester Whitewater Park (PnP)
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 0.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Maquoketa River at Manchester, Ia |
| Flow Rate as of 58 minutes | 231 cfslow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 27, 2024 |
River Description
Spanning approximately 1000 feet on the Maquoketa River in downtown Manchester, this was built for the 98%. The six features are largely designed for beginners (kayaks, SUPs, boogie boards, canoes, tubes, swimmers), and also provide access for fishing, fish passage, and aquatic habitat improvements.
On warm summer days the park often fills with tubers, swimmers, and onlookers. Mild whitewater play (front surfing and flatspins) is possible at medium levels.
If you're a slice kayaker (half/full slice) best slicing levels are about 400cfs and below. The eddylines are plentiful and behind the features it's generally deep for sinking some ends. Have sliced down to 45cfs and still found eddylines to play in.
***A message for tubers, swimmers,recreational users*** Read the signs posted at the whitewater park. This is a river, not an engineered-for-100%-safety amusement park! Check the water levels, know your skills, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
River Features
#1
Not much play at any level.
Under 500 cfs:
Eddy access from left or right for a fairly deep feature that is narrow and flushy. At the higher end of this range you might flat spin or ender but it’s likely you will flush every time. It is surfable on board but it’s a mushy surf.
500-1200 cfs:
Eddy access from either side, and the feature is still flushy and narrow. The sides start to get burlier as the water starts to flow over the rocks.
1200+ cfs:
Less play and the sides get more burly but are still rocky and shallow. At super high flows (8000-10000 cfs) this feature looks very fluffy and hungry. You can punch through the middle but might get endered in a playboat. (We do not know when this feature washes out ... so far it just gets bigger with more water.)
#3
Little to no play at most levels, this feature is generally flat or a slight bump. You might be able to have an extremely mellow surf in a boat or a sup, but that's about it.
At super high flows (8000-10000 cfs) this forms the best little wave at the park! Catch on the fly from the river right eddy below feature 2, the wave is about 2.5ft tall and 20-25ft wide. It changes periodically from green to foam in different sections across the face. It mostly offers soul surf and flat spins, but roundhouses, blunts, and airscrews are possible!
When you flush, make a bee-line for the eddy river-right below feature 4, to get out and walk upstream, across the road and put back in below feature 2 for another shot at feature 3!
#2
It’s pretty much flat with no play at a majority of levels.
At super high flows (8000-10000 cfs) it’s a green wave in the middle, with fluffy but rocky/shallow sides, and it tends to be catch-on-the-fly and changing moment to moment.
#4
At a majority of levels it’s a little bump with no real play, but you can practice ferrying across the current from eddy to eddy. It may allow a weird diagonal angle surf for a few seconds but that’s about it.
At super high flows (8000-10000 cfs) its a fun little beginner surf with eddy access. While the feature itself is beginner friendly, getting there and around the park at such flows can be very intimidating for newbies, who will need a solid roll and ability to catch eddies to avoid a long swim. At these high flows far river-right is transformed into a mellow, foamy wave against the cement wall (where the former dam was located), with eddy access right by the wall. The rest of the feature is washed out at high flows.
High Stakes Wave
A fun little 'bonus feature' wave forms right above feature 5 at 700-1000 cfs. Eddy access left or right allows access for mellow surfs and occasional flatspins.
Its named High Stakes because if you flip, its very likely you will be going through the next feature upside down!
#5
<500 cfs:
Very mellow, front surfing (for playboats, inflatable/foamie boards, and boogie boarders) but it can be an odd surf because of its shape.
500-1200 cfs:
Fun but still mellow front surf, with flatspins possible but tricky to nail. In the upper end of this range (800cfs or so), its deep enough to plug but can be tough to line up. Loops have been done, but tend to be few and far between. May be able to do roundhouses/blunts if you got the goods. The eddy lines at this level are a little bit of a rodeo themselves!
This level is actually pretty darn fun for boards! (SUP or prone works well, can use hardboards as its finally deep enough, and fun for boogie boards too.) Best eddy access is from river right.
1200+ cfs:
The feature is no longer accessible from either eddy, blocked on both sides by guarding curlers that are tough to impossible to paddle across. Some may be skilled/lucky enough to catch on the fly.
This feature washes out at higher levels, somewhere around 3-4K cfs
#6
No play at a majority of levels. At lower levels you might get a little awkward diagonal surf but that's it. There is a cool rock splat right at the top of the feature at lower levels.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportVisited here in May. Not worth the drive for playboating. The features are shallow and not retentive.
However, the eddylines are deep behind the features so I could use my half slice and that was fun. Some fun rocks to splat too. Just bring your half or full slice for this location.
This project has been completed since 2015. The park is open and free to use 24/7 365.
Update. The project is underway. Construction of 6 features has started and is ongoing. Completion is anticipated spring/summer 2015. Check out Manchester Whitewater on Facebook for the most accurate updates. https://www.facebook.com/manchesterwhitewaterpaddlerssurfers/
You can also contact me, Hannah Ray J, a Manchester native, for more details. I can be reached via Facebook or email hannah_rayj@yahoo.com
The flow was around 270-280 cfs on 8/5/17. Excellent beginner work for moving water, approaches, and eddies. All the eddy lines were strong and squirelly. Requiring attention to position and technique.The eddies were flowing almost as strong as the main current and at time required an effort to get out of.
The first three drops are smooth chutes with easy to see tongues with a little splash at the end. There were small spots for front surfing, but not really any room for any kind of moves.
The fourth drop required more effort to line up. The conflicting main and eddy currents had to be navigated through some rocks to get lined up. A little bigger splash at the bottom. The fifth and sixth drop each increased slightly in complexity and splash size. These pools were just as strong but smaller. The most efficient walk up would be from bottom to the top of the fourth drop as these are closer and have more play options. Four and five had a large front surf opening with some carving and maneuvering possibilities. The sixth had front and side surf possibilities - you could move around on the river left side without losing the wave. The side surf was a little sticky and if I had more time I might have been able to try some spins.
My friends got tubes at the Watershed slightly upstream and enjoyed the day. The crowd was a mix of tubers, kayakers, and swimmers. The kayakers coming out early in the afternoon with most leaving before the crowds increased. Be careful around the tubers as they don't have much control. A group got upset at me when they dropped in on me while I was surfing and I couldn't get out of the way in time for them.
There are a good range of options for food and groceries in Manchester (except on Sunday when the grocery store is closed). Nice tent accommodations in nearby Bailey's Ford.
Sorry if there is a duplicate post, I had an issue with my browser.
Construction is underway.
Feature 1 @8100cfs
Feature #1 @350cfs
Feaure #3. When the park first opened this feature was a fun little playspot for front surfing spinning, but people complained about the rocks placed downstream that created this fun spot, so the feature was 'fixed', ruining the play. There is no longer any play at a majority of levels. At super high flows this becomes the bestest, cutest little wave at the park!
Feature 1 @8100cfs
Feature #2 Zero play at a majority of levels. Maybe some mellow catch on the fly play at super high flows
A mellow, small wave that forms at medium water