Iowa / Rathbun Lake /
Rathbun Lake Small Boat Access
Rathbun Lake Small Boat Access is a public kayak and canoe launch on Rathbun Lake near Melrose, Iowa, run by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Zebra mussels (latest report 2009) reported in this water (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database). Clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear before you leave, and do not move water, plants or live bait to another water.
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database · checked October 20, 2026
Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.
At the launch
- Type
- Carry-in (canoe and kayak)
- Managed by
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Coordinates
- 40.87576, -93.06926
Conditions
- Weather forecast for this launch · National Weather Service
- Lake level at Rathbun Dam & Reservoir · USACE
Lake level: Rathbun Lake
Today's level loads here; without it, see the agency's page below.
Full pool is 904.0 ft (USACE, Top of Conservation).
Level from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Corps Water Management System (Rathbun Dam & Reservoir), about hourly; the agency's page. Levels change; check conditions at the ramp before you launch.
On Rathbun Lake
Lake in Iowa. All launches on Rathbun Lake.
Community
Where people who use Rathbun Lake talk about it.
Nearby launches
- Rathbun Lake Small Boat Access · 1.5 mi · Rathbun Lake
- Rathbun Lake Small Boat Access · 1.7 mi · Rathbun Lake
- Rathbun Lake Small Boat Access · 2.2 mi · Rathbun Lake
- Bridgeview Boat Ramp · 2.4 mi · Rathbun Lake
- Bridgeview High Water Boat Ramp · 2.4 mi · Rathbun Lake
- Wilderness Trail · 2.5 mi · Rathbun Lake
Sources
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District boat ramps record {6978DC04-A881-4AD2-9E48-0479DF059C9B} · US federal government data, public domain (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District)
Why it is listed as public: listed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District boat ramps. Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.