Return
The Des Moines River was too high to do a float on June 16. I had hoped that the river levels would be going
down, but they're actually going up. The 3 access points we would have used were under about 10 feet of water.  The access at Runnells Bridge looked like this on June 16.  The boat ramp is at the top of the photo.  I paddled around the lake and out into the river waiting to see if anyone had missed the cancellation.  The current was too strong to go very far, so I paddled a half mile upstream and then back in.  Here's my impression of the river.

I did enjoy a visit to Gray's Lake Park in Des Moines on Father's Day.  The quarter-mile long pedestrian bridge is open, and people are walking across in droves.  We saw several really large carp feeding on minnows as we crossed.

On Father's Day, I called my Dad, and my daughter in California called me.  A super nice day.  MJS and I took a friend to see the renovated State Library.  We love the stained glass in the north wall, the summer view of the capitol from the second story panoramic window, the ornate gold-etched elevators, and the exquisite paint restoration,


Gerry Rowland
Des Moines

Runnells Bridge access is just south of Hartford off Hwy. 5.  To get to the Runnells Bridge access, take the 3rd gravel road to the left south of Hartford, which is Delaware.  The gravel road is marked with a Webb's Camping sign.  Take the gravel road 3 miles past the KIOA transmitters, then turn right on the gravel road at the campground sign (Carpenter Rd.).

Please contact me at 515-277-3092 or e-mail to gerryr.jpg (2230 bytes)

To get to the Boxcars access, take Hwy. 5 to Hartford and follow these directions:

East on Hwy. 5 for 3 miles  to Hwy. 316
North on Hwy. 316  through Runnell to SE 64th Ave (CR F70) (by the school)
East on SE 64th Ave (CR F70) for 1 mile (2 minutes) to CR F70.
East on CR F70 for 4.89 miles (8 minutes) to CR S6G.(at the Prairie City Brethren church)
South on CR S6G for 2.47 miles (6 minutes) to 60th Ave. (at the Mt Pleasant church)
South on 60th Ave for 0.51 miles (1 minute) to Briggs St.
Take Briggs St. to 72nd St., then take 72nd St. to Carpenter
East (right) on Carpenter St for 0.74 miles  to 68th Ave.
Southeast on 68th Ave for 1 mile

 

A map of the area with directions to Runnells Bridge access is available for printout.

I have photos of the area taken 4/29/01:

Red Rock is over the Boxcars access road
Looking north from Boxcars
Near Runnells Bridge access, the KIOA transmitter station
Sunset at Runnells Bridge access
Fishing at Runnells Bridge
Catching something at Runnells Bridge