Des
Moines River Float Trips
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The Des Moines River is |
Des
Moines River Float Trips
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The Des Moines River is |
The most challenging task in this trip is finding the boat ramps. The river is wide and free of obstacles, except when there is debris from a rain storm. When the water is running fast, a 40 mile day is possible. The trip should not take more than 2 days. There are 6 boat ramps with overnight facilities along the trail. The Austin Park campground is 28 miles downstream, and has excellent facilities for camping. Keosauqua is another 8 miles, with the Hotel Manning right next to the boat ramp.
Cliffland Access is maintained by the state, but it is difficult to find and there are no signs off Hwy. 34. Detailed driving directions are in the next section. Cliffland has a park and a boat ramp. It is in the Fox Hills area, and is quite scenic with its tree lined bluffs and deep forest. It is a quick row down to Eldon, about 11 miles. Eldon is the home of the American Gothic house (Grant Wood). The city boat ramp is right next to the fairgrounds.
The next boat ramp is at the Shidepoke Access near Selma, 5 miles downstream. There are picnic tables, and there is room for camping. If you are going on, the river begins to pick up speed through this area, about 5 miles to the Douds bridge across V64 (there is a new boat ramp at Douds as of 2/1/07). You are 4 miles from the Big Bend, which is a horseshoe bend to the west, and back to the east and north, past Keosauqua. As you turn sharply west, it is 6 miles of paddling along a very wide stretch of the river and you come upon Austin Park on the west bank. It is 15 miles from Shidepoke to Austin Park.
Another 6 miles and you pass Lacey Keosauqua park with it's high bluffs, pass under the steel bridge, and arrive in Keosauqua, founded in 1839 just 4 years after the Dragoons took their journey of exploration through Indian territory.
From Keosauqua, the river bends east and north 4 miles , then runs 4 miles to
Bentonsport, a retored village maintained by Van Buren County. There is an excellent
campground, a shelter with restroom facilities, and the buildings are
"riverboat gothic."
Another 4 miles downstream is Bonaparte, a Main Street city with historic facilities,
including the Bonaparte Retreat restaurant with an old mill atmosphere and great
food. There is a city boat ramp and park should you care to stop. The rapids
can be passed on foot, or run them if you dare. It's about 3 miles down to the Van
Buren Access boat ramp. Another 3 miles brings you to Farmington, with a
rather steep boat ramp but an excellent restaurant and very friendly people.
| Driving Directions | To get to Cliffland Access, take Old
Agency Rd. off Hwy. 34 east of Agency. Old Agency Rd. winds down through the Fox
Hills about a mile, then intersects with Cliffland Rd. At Hwy. 34 and Bus. 34
intersection, 2.8 miles E on Hwy 34, S .7 miles on Old Agency Rd. , turn W at the T
intersection, 1.6 miles, S 3.3 miles on Cliffland Rd., E bank. The Eldon city boat ramp is steep and offers street parking. Stay on Hwy. 16 to the south edge of town, turn east to the river. Or, ask for directions to the fairgrounds. Hwy 16 through Eldon, W on 1st St., S .3 miles on Water St. E bank. Shidepoke Access is just west of Selma, off Hwy. 16 on J12, across the bridge, and to
the east. Cliffland to Shidepoke is a great one day outing. Hwy. 16, W on
Bridge St., across bridge, N on Eagle Dr., W bank, N of bridge. Austin Park boat ramp is about 2 miles from the west end of the big bend. Take J40 through Keosauqua, cross the bridge at Pittsburg, then go north on the county road. Off Hwy. 1 in Keosauqua, J40 W, over Pittsburg bridge, .2 miles N on Bridge St., 1.8 miles NE on Eagle Dr., W. bank The Keosauqua boat ramp is just east of the Hotel Manning, past the steel bridge, on the north side of the river. There are several restaurants and convenience stores, and a very modern library. Check weather and river levels on the public access internet computer. Hwy. 1, E of bridge on Park St., N bank. The Bentonsport boat ramp is just past the J40 bridge, and just before the restored iron truss bridge. Go past the fudge shop, buy some fudge, then stop in at the general store and museum. The boat ramp is just down the street, north of the post office. For real comfort, stay at the Mason House and see the Murphy bath tub. The Bonaparte boat ramp is off J40, next to the woolen mill and the Bonaparte Retreat restaurant. Van Buren (Des Moines River) Access is on the west side of the river. From
Bonaparte, W on Hwy. W40, cross the Young bridge, 3 miles S on Eagle Dr. W bank.
Just follow the excellent signs. |
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| Dates | Dec. 12, 1998; Dec. 18, 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Journal Entries | The trick was to find Cliffland Access | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I have done the Des Moines Clear water and golden waves |
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| The Beautiful Land, Near
Bentonsport The last 12 miles of my 400 mile journey began with
a winter camp out overnight at the Bentonsport campground, just below this scenic overlook
on J40. It was December, and it was cold. |
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| Return to DesMoinesRiver.org |
