Massey Park

Massey Park offers a two-lane public boat ramp on the north side of the park, providing convenient access to the Mississippi River near Dubuque. The facility includes daytime parking for vehicles and boat trailers, plus a concession building and accessible playground amenities. This is a straightforward launch point for paddlers and boaters heading onto the river.

As a major waterway (Stream Order 10), the Mississippi River in this section carries substantial volume with an average flow of over 685,000 cubic feet per second and average velocities around 11 feet per second. The upper Mississippi features a gentle gradient averaging 0.8 feet per mile, making it generally manageable for kayakers and canoeists, though paddlers should respect the strong current and large vessel traffic. The Dubuque area is part of the upper Mississippi River Project, which maintains multiple campgrounds, boat ramps, and facilities along Pools 11-22, offering plenty of support for multi-day paddling trips.