Turkey
Elkader Whitewater Park (PnP)
| Difficulty | II(III) |
| Length | 0.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr at Elkader, Ia |
| Flow Rate as of 45 minutes | 881 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 19, 2026 |
This whitewater park opened in 2014, and has gone through some “fixes”. The first fix (in about 2015) changed the main feature (formerly an awesome half wave, half hole) to just a hole. While this fix made it more fun for play boating, it was far less conducive to SUP surfing. The main feature continued to degrade, so another“fix” (in 2017/2018) resulted in a shallow, powerful, retentive (for swimmers and boaters), boxed-in hole at most boatable flows. The rock pad/weir to the surfers left of the main feature has degraded, now having under water body pockets. Know how to read water, know your skills, and what level of risk you are comfortable with.
Keep in mind the older photos in the gallery section show the feature before fixes, so they no longer accurately portray what the features are like presently!
The rating for this park is class III because you need to know where to go and where not to go. Given the retentive nature of the features at certain flows, beginner/intermediate paddlers could have a nasty surprise.
While you’re enjoying the quaint town, be sure to stop by Pedretti’s Bakery (not open on Sundays), and there are plenty of shops and restaurants.
Also check out the local shop: https://gearelkader.com/
Main Feature (river right) is referred to as The Gobbler by the locals.
At very low water (1,000 cfs or less) this isn't well-formed, so threre is little if any play. When the water is clear you can clearly see the jagged limestone rock that forms the feature.
Between 1000 and 3500 cfs, this is painfully shallow (with sharp rock!), retentive (for boaters and swimmers!), and is boxed in on both sides, making it difficult to get out of when you want, and it will likely be without any style or control. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Between 3500 and 4500 cfs it's great play boating, but these flows typically happen only with heavy rains and flooding. This becomes deep enough and the shoulders soften to be accessible from the eddy. It’s retentive enough for freestyle but not so much that it’s un-nerving, and you can get out when you want. At 4000 cfs its a hole not a wave, so it becomes less friendly for SUPs and wave-surfers.
Above 4500cfs, to some where around 5500cfs, its a catch on the fly feature. The eddy access becomes increasingly difficult to impossible to reach the feature, so make the most of each pass before you flush and have to hike back up for another pass.
At low flows, center-river is a string of rocks. At moderately high flows, its a pour-over that should be avoided.
At flows higher than 5000 cfs, a small mellow wave forms in the middle of a flooded river with no eddy access.
This is a one trick pony (at best). If you find the perfect 2' wide spot, it's deep enough to plug (though it doesn’t have much pop, and is very flushy). Intermediate boaters may find some mild entertainment, but understand that if you miss the 2' wide spot, you will find bottom!
Serious play boaters will likely skip it.
Mar 27, 2019
i paddled this today at about 1190 cfs. the main wave on river right was a flushy, fast white pile wave with nice green ramp. on the river left was a smaller spin wave that a local told me was for canoes to navigate through. in between the two features is a line of large flat rocks that makes a little island at low flows and becomes the high water feature at higher flows. the river right feature looks like it could have some playability down to a pretty low level. there is a park there that is still under construction. there are porta-crappers but no obvious places to change so be careful. the locals are very nice and fairly curious and the town is really pretty.
Jan 30, 2015
Yes, the wave was improved…for boating. It sucks for sup surfing now. The wave does not support a sup for surfing at all. It would not be worth it taking the sup, just bring your boat and have fun in that. Its great for boating!
Jul 30, 2014
Saturday Afternoon on July 26, 2014 at 780 cfs
