# TowRiver — See lock traffic before you go

> Boating trip planner for inland waterways with live lock traffic and conditions. (iPhone/iPad app by Torben Rytt.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/towriver/id6785147266 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Torben Rytt](https://appshunter.io/developer/6784492469)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 223 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-14
- Data updated: 2026-07-19
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/towriver/id6785147266/reviews.md

## What is TowRiver?

TowRiver is a trip-planning and live-conditions companion for boaters on the Upper Mississippi River, the St. Croix, and the Illinois Waterway — from the Twin Cities down to St. Louis and up the Illinois to Lockport.

Everything below is free to use during early access.

MAP & NAUTICAL CHARTS • Interactive river map with the USACE Inland ENC nautical charts built in — bundled for the whole river, so they work with no signal. • Marinas, locks & dams, and every movable (opening) bridge on the three rivers.

TRIP PLANNER • Pick a start and destination and get distance, the locks and bridges you'll pass, and an estimated running time based on your own cruising speeds. • Routes across the Prescott and Grafton confluences automatically.

LIVE LOCK TRAFFIC & TOWS • See who's waiting, in the chamber, and inbound at each lock, in real time. • Underway tows plotted on the map with ETAs, plus each boat's usual route. • A typical-traffic heat map so you know the busy days and hours before you go.

BRIDGE CLEARANCE FOR YOUR BOAT • Enter your air draft and movable bridges are color-coded green / yellow / red by whether you'll clear them at the current river level — read live off the nearby gauge. Always confirm against the clearance board or the bridge operator.

RIVER CONDITIONS & WEATHER • Live river stage and flood status from NOAA gauges. • National Weather Service forecasts along your route.

WHERE AM I • A GPS view that snaps your position to the channel and shows the next lock, bridge, and marina up- and down-river.

NOT FOR NAVIGATION TowRiver is a planning aid, not a navigational instrument. Lock, traffic, chart, weather, and position data may be delayed, approximate, or incomplete. Always navigate with official charts, U.S. Coast Guard Notices to Mariners, working onboard equipment, and sound judgment.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Lock & traffic data: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. River & weather: NOAA / National Weather Service. Charts: USACE Inland ENC.

## Key features

- Interactive river map with offline nautical charts
- Trip planner with distance and lock/bridge estimates
- Live lock traffic and underway tow tracking
- Bridge clearance based on air draft and river level
- Real-time river conditions and weather forecasts
- GPS position snapped to channel with upcoming points of interest


## Frequently asked questions about TowRiver

### What waterways does TowRiver cover?

TowRiver covers the Upper Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to St. Louis, the St. Croix River, and the Illinois Waterway up to Lockport. It includes interactive maps with USACE Inland ENC nautical charts that work offline.

### How does TowRiver help with trip planning?

You can select a start and destination to get distance, an estimated running time based on your cruising speed, and a list of locks and bridges you will pass. It automatically handles routes across confluences like Prescott and Grafton.

### Can I see live lock traffic with TowRiver?

Yes, TowRiver provides real-time updates on who is waiting, in the chamber, and inbound at each lock. It also plots underway tows on the map with their estimated times of arrival.

### How does TowRiver help with bridge clearances?

Enter your boat's air draft, and movable bridges will be color-coded (green, yellow, red) based on whether you can clear them at the current river level, which is read from nearby NOAA gauges.

### What river conditions does TowRiver provide?

The app offers live river stage and flood status from NOAA gauges, as well as National Weather Service forecasts along your planned route. This helps you stay informed about changing conditions.

### Is TowRiver suitable for actual navigation?

No, TowRiver is intended as a planning aid and not a navigational instrument. Lock, traffic, chart, weather, and position data may be delayed or approximate. Always use official charts and sound judgment for navigation.

### What devices does TowRiver support?

TowRiver is available for iPhone and iPad. It is designed for users who need to plan their boating trips on these Apple devices.

### Does TowRiver have ads?

No, TowRiver does not contain advertisements. It is currently free to use during its early access period.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 1.0 — 2026-07-15

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-19.*
