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 31 minutes	296 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

No river features have been added

Trip Reports

jay bird - Not worth the drive for playboating

May 16, 2023

Visited 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.

Hannah Ray J Childs

Aug 31, 2019

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

Robert Szczesniak

Aug 7, 2017

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.

View all 11 trip reports →