This whitewater park is located on the Cedar River in the heart of Charles City, Iowa "America's Hometown" as it calls itself. It features 3 distinct drops. Dam Drop or DD is the first in line. This wave feature was designed to be the Midwest's premiere SUP (Stand Up Paddle) surfing wave, but it great for surfing and spinning kayaks. It is located where the old dangerous low-head dam was at, that was removed to create this park. The next feature is Doc's Drop the powerful hole provides excellent playboating, and vertical moves. The final drop is a wave/hole feature called Exit Exam great for beginning and advance kayakers. Each feature is followed by large eddies on both sides for easy reentry and safe exit. It is open year round and is free to use
River/Stream: Cedar River
Whitewater park grand opening in June, 2015
Charles City Whitewater website
Charles City Whitewater on American Whitewater
First feature is Dam Drop, also known as Double D
Doc's Drop
Other Iowa whiterwater parks
Built: 1933 for recreation. Whitewater park opened in 2011.
Owner: City of Charles City
Height: formerly 7 ft.
Length: 260 ft.
Comments: Avoid the dangerous 11-foot high Main Street lowhead dam that exists 800 feet upstream from the whitewater park.
Fatalities 1
- July 10, 1944, Phillip Thomsen, 10-year-old playing with a toy boat fell from a wall into river near the Beauty Dam
View of old beauty dam from river right
