Updated August 2026
Best Kayaking Lakes in Iowa
Top 7 kayaking lakes in Iowa, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).
- Grade A–B water quality
- No known access restrictions
- 50–2,000 acres
Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Nine Eagles Lake (A) tops the Iowa list.
Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Iowa lakes rather than the small, residential ones.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Clarity | Area | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nine Eagles Lake | Decatur | IA | A | 11 ft | 59 acres | ~14 ft est. |
| 2 | Dale Maffitt Reservoir | Dallas | IA | A | 9.8 ft | 230 acres | - |
| 3 | Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake | Story | IA | A | 6.8 ft | - | ~11 ft est. |
| 4 | Sand Lake | Marshall | IA | A | 6.4 ft | - | ~9 ft est. |
| 5 | Lake Wapello | Davis | IA | B | 7.5 ft | 287 acres | ~19 ft est. |
| 6 | Arrowhead Lake | Sac | IA | B | 5.6 ft | 110 acres | - |
| 7 | Bob White Lake | Wayne | IA | B | 0.6 ft | 104 acres | ~10 ft est. |
Where to stay near Iowa kayaking lakes
Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Iowa's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Iowa paddling lakes
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.