White Breast Creek
Stickle Bridge (PnP or ~2.5 miles)
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 2.5 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia |
| Flow Rate as of 55 minutes | 31 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 2, 2019 |
River Description
A natural rock ledge lies about 1000'/0.2 mile upstream of the 70th Avenue Bridge. Most paddlers will do this as a park-and-play, paddling upstream to the ledge, portaging to get above it, and running/playing as much as their interest and ability (and the water level) allows. Those interested in getting a bit more paddling may put in upstream at the Hwy.S45 bridge for ~2.5 miles of flat/flowing water with an exciting finish running the ledge/rapids before taking out at 70th Avenue.
Ron Urias provides (2008-05-30):
Stickle rapids is a natural rock rapids. There's a big ol' wave there at 7' or more. Looks pretty nasty over 13'.
White Breast Creek, above the rapids, just downstream from Melcher-Dallas, is narrow and deep and a great for swimming fishing kayak and canoeing.
RoadKillPhil further provided (June 30 2014):
Paddled this in a duckie (NRS Outlaw) on 6-28-14 at 100cfs:
Very bottom of runnable range, but fun. Easily paddle upstream from south side of (70th Avenue) bridge to eddy on river right and wade above feature to run. Could get through without dragging (if one made the line perfectly). Surfable eddylines and smaller waves.
Paddled again on 6-29-14 at 700cfs:
Bank to bank whitewater with 2 channels of standing waves. Easily paddled upstream to eddy on river right and just barely wade far enough upstream on rock ledge to run. River banks steep, slimy, dense jungle: more of a chore than I wanted. Think about taking a couple lengths of rope if you try this -- one to drag yourself and one to drag your boat. A machete might be nice, too. Crops are right up to edge of jungle and could be damaged if not careful. Otherwise, consider putting in at highway S45 north of Melcher if running is your goal (I didn't do this). Standing (2'?) waves with short troughs and wave trains. Probably surfable with a playboat but not smooth troughs and too short for a duckie.
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Trip Reports
Log in to add a report6-28-14: 6.7', 100cfs, 149' @ Lake Red Rock: Very bottom of runnable range in a duckie (NRS Outlaw), but fun. Easily paddle upstream from south side of bridge to eddy on river right and wade above feature to run. Could get through w/o dragging if make the turns perfectly(?) surfable eddylines and smaller waves
6-29-14: 9', 700cfs, 150' @ Lake Red Rock: bank to bank whitewater with 2 channels/standing waves. Easily paddle upstream to eddy on river right and just barely wade far enough upstream on rock ledge to run. River banks steep, slimy, dense jungle: more of a chore than I wanted. Think about taking a couple lengths of rope if you try this..one to drag yourself and one to drag your boat. A machete might be nice, too. Crops are right up to edge of jungle and could be damaged if not careful. Or consider putting in at highway S45 north of Melcher if running is your goal (I didn't do this). Standing 2' (?) waves with short troughs and wave trains. Probably surfable with a playboat but not smooth troughs and too short for a duckie. I consider myself a novice in whitewater over CI, so whatever this is worth......