How to Paddle

This official Iowa boater safety handbook introduces you to laws governing boating and provides general information about safe operation on Iowa waters. 

Also available as a web-version and an eBook.

Meandered, Non-Meandered, and Navigable Rivers
These terms can be confusing, but are important in understanding what the rules are for where you can be and where you can't:

A Meandered river is one in which adjacent land owners own the land above the high water mark. Land below the high water mark is public, giving citizens the right to explore sandbars at leisure without worry of trespassing. Land above that level is usually private, and should not be utilized by people navigating streams except when portaging around an obstruction.

View a map of meandered rivers and legal boundaries of meandered rivers to learn more.

A non-meandered river, on the other hand, is one in which private landowners own all the land adjacent to and underneath the water-including the bottom, sandbars, and banks. Most river miles in Iowa are designated as non-meandered. A 1996 attorney general opinion, however, permits activities incidental to navigation on non-meandered rivers, such as, fishing, swimming, and wading when the river is considered navigable. This law also allows for trash clean-ups and the need to portage obstructions in the rivers.

A navigable river is defined by state law as one "which can support a vessel capable of carrying one or more persons during a total of a six-month period in one out of every ten years." Most rivers and larger creeks in Iowa, including non-meandered rivers, are considered navigable. State law expressly allows boating traffic down to one-person vessel such as kayaks on navigable streams. 

The required navigation lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise and whenever the weather reduces visibility.

Manually Powered Vessels When Underway (Manually powered vessels are boats that are paddled, poled, or rowed)

If less than 23.0 feet long, these vessels should exhibit a white light visible for 360° around the horizon and visible from a distance of at least one mile away if operating on natural lakes, Corps of Engineers impoundments, border rivers, or impoundments on inland rivers. If this light is partially obscured due to the nature of the vessel, an additional white light must be on hand to be shown in sufficient time to prevent a collision. This secondary light could be a head-lamp or even a flashlight.

SUP is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community not only across the country, but especially right here in land-locked areas like Iowa. It's fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water. You can surf river waves, run whitewater, try SUP yoga, fish or just take your board out on the lake for a relaxing paddle. want to connect kids to nature and the outdoors? They will have a blast on a SUP. There are rules you will need to obey when on a SUP:

Stand up paddleboards are subject to the following requirements:

• SUPs under 13 feet do not need to be registered
• SUPs 13 feet and over need to be registered and the registration decal must be affixed to the bottom side of the bow or be in the possession of the paddler at all times when the SUP is on the water
• Adults: A lifejacket must be either worn or on board the SUP
• Kids 12 and under MUST have a properly fitted lifejacket on at all times while on a SUP board.

• Obey local rules and regulations. Use only public lands and access points
• Respect private property. Never trespass to gain access.
• Be considerate to others while on the water. Give anglers a wide berth.
• Be considerate to local residents.
• Give back to the waterway. Participate in a river cleanup, or volunteer for a local watershed organization.
• Avoid introducing non-native species. Clean your boat and gear between trips.

• Dispose of waste properly. Never litter. Always pack out your trash. A good habit to develop is to always take a mesh trash bag so you can pick up around the access points. Always leave it cleaner than you found it.
• Use a portable toilet or other approved method to pack out solid human waste and paper products. Dispose of liquid waste 200' from water and away from camps and trails.
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces whenever possible. Minimize impacts to shore when launching, portaging and scouting.
• Avoid building campfires, except in established fire rings or in emergencies. Building a fire on sandbars is fine as long as you leave no trace of it the following morning.
• Respect wildlife by observing from a safe distance. Leave artifacts and natural features undisturbed.