Kayaking & Canoeing the Des Moines River

73 public access points for putting in and taking out.

• ▸Austin ParkVan Buren Co.
• ▸Becker Wildlife AreaWebster Co.
• ▸Bennington BridgeMarion Co.
• ▸Bentonsport ParkVan Buren Co.
• ▸Birdland ParkPolk Co.
• ▸Black Hawk River AccessWapello Co.
• ▸Black Hawk Road AccessWapello Co.
• ▸Boat RampVan Buren Co.
• ▸Boat Ramp
• ▸Bonaparte RampVan Buren Co.
• ▸Boone Forks Wildlife Area Skillet AccessWebster Co.
• ▸Carlson Recreation AreaWebster Co.
• ▸Center Street DamPolk Co.
• ▸Cherry Glen Day UsePolk Co.
• ▸Cliffland AccessWapello Co.
• ▸Coliseum RampWapello Co.
• ▸Cottonwood AccessPolk Co.
• ▸Deception HollowWebster Co.
• ▸Deer Creek AreaWebster Co.
• ▸Des Moines River AccessVan Buren Co.
• ▸Dogwood RampBoone Co.
• ▸Dolliver State ParkWebster Co.
• ▸Douds AccessVan Buren Co.
• ▸Eddyville Boat RampWapello Co.
• ▸Eldon RampWapello Co.
• ▸Eveland AccessMahaska Co.
• ▸Farmington AccessVan Buren Co.
• ▸Ford AccessWarren Co.
• ▸Hardfish AccessMonroe Co.
• ▸Harriet Street AccessPolk Co.
• ▸Howell Station Recreation RampMarion Co.
• ▸Hwy 210 AccessBoone Co.
• ▸Hwy 30 AccessBoone Co.
• ▸Ivan's Recreation AreaMarion Co.
• ▸Jay Carlson Wildlife AreaBoone Co.
• ▸Kalo Bridge AccessWebster Co.
• ▸Keosauqua RampVan Buren Co.
• ▸Lakeview - Cherry Glenn High WaterPolk Co.
• ▸Lakeview Main APolk Co.
• ▸Lakeview Main BPolk Co.
• ▸LehighWebster Co.
• ▸Lewis A. Jester ParkPolk Co.
• ▸Lincoln AccessPolk Co.
• ▸Lower DamWebster Co.
• ▸North Fraser RampBoone Co.
• ▸Norton's Ford River AccessBoone Co.
• ▸Phinney ParkWebster Co.
• ▸Pleasant Hill Boat RampPolk Co.
• ▸Prospect ParkPolk Co.
• ▸Ramp
• ▸Ramp
• ▸Ramp
• ▸Red Rock Tailwater AreaMarion Co.
• ▸Red Wing AccessLee Co.
• ▸Rhoades AcresBoone Co.
• ▸Rock Bluff ParkWapello Co.
• ▸Runnells AccessWarren Co.
• ▸SandpiperPolk Co.
• ▸Saylorville DamPolk Co.
• ▸Shidepoke AccessVan Buren Co.
• ▸Shultz AreaVan Buren Co.
• ▸South Fraser RampBoone Co.
• ▸Sportsman RampBoone Co.
• ▸Sub-1 RampDallas Co.
• ▸Swede Point (BCCB - Fishing access)Boone Co.
• ▸Sycamore AccessPolk Co.
• ▸Turkey Run AccessLee Co.
• ▸Upper DamWebster Co.
• ▸Waterworks (downstreamBoone Co.
• ▸Waterworks Ramp (upstream)Boone Co.
• ▸Woodman HollowWebster Co.
• ▸Yellow Banks AccessPolk Co.
• ▸Yellow Banks Park PondPolk Co.

• ⛺ACORN VALLEY
• ⛺Acorn Valley Campground
• ⛺Bob Shetler
• ⛺Bob Shetler
• ⛺Bob Shetler
• ⛺BOB SHETLER PICNIC AREA
• ⛺BOB SHETLER RECREATION AREA
• ⛺Camp Hantesa
• ⛺CampgroundVan Buren Co.
• ⛺CampgroundWebster Co.
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Campground
• ⛺Camping Area #1
• ⛺Camping Area #2
• ⛺Camping Area #3
• ⛺Camping Area #4
• ⛺Camping Area #6
• ⛺Chanotedah
• ⛺Chippewa
• ⛺COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA
• ⛺Des Moines YMCA Camp
• ⛺Dolliver Memorial State Park Campground
• ⛺Fox
• ⛺Hopi
• ⛺Howell Station Recreation Area
• ⛺Inactive Campsite
• ⛺Iriquois
• ⛺Ivans Recreation Area
• ⛺Keokuk Village
• ⛺Kickapoo
• ⛺Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Campground
• ⛺Lake Prarie
• ⛺Mohawk
• ⛺Navajo
• ⛺Onondaga
• ⛺Osage
• ⛺Ottawa
• ⛺Ottumwa RV Park
• ⛺Pilot Point
• ⛺Sioux (East)
• ⛺Staff Quarters
• ⛺Staff Quarters
• ⛺Wakan
• ⛺Yellow Banks Watercraft CampsitePolk Co.
• ⛺Zuni

River levels change fast. Before you launch, check the live USGS gauges, weather radar and flood-safety status for the Des Moines River on the interactive Iowa Paddle map. It flags dangerous high water and dams so you can paddle safely.

The Des Moines River is just one of dozens of paddleable rivers in the state. Browse the full guide to kayaking & canoeing every river in Iowa.