See all 6 routes on Boone River
Iowa | North Central Iowa
Boone RiverBell's Mill Park to Boone Forks Wildlife Area
Final Boone River water-trail leg from Bell's Mill Park to the Boone Forks canoe ramp above the Des Moines River confluence, with sandy bottom, strainers, a hidden walk-down take-out, and no downstream bailout.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Bell's Mill Park and take out at Boone Forks Wildlife Area for the final Boone water-trail segment above the Des Moines River. The take-out discipline matters: there are no take-out opportunities after Boone Forks for this route.
Access map
Put-in
Bell's Mill ParkBell's Mill is the campground-backed put-in with a concrete boat ramp and restrooms.
Take-out
Boone Forks Wildlife Area Canoe RampBoone Forks is a walk-down canoe ramp with DNR-published project coordinates, but Iowa DNR says vegetation or dead wood can hide the take-out.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Boone Forks Wildlife Area before launching at Bell's Mill. Walk down to identify the ramp and landing from shore because Iowa DNR warns the take-out can be hidden by vegetation or dead wood.
Additional access notes
- The route ends at Boone Forks. Do not continue toward the Des Moines River confluence unless the group has a separate downstream plan.
- The selected Webster City gauge is upstream of this lower finish. Make a visual call for wood, water level, and landing visibility before committing.
More route and safety guidance
- Expect long sandy-bottom stretches with downed trees. Low water can be slow, and high water reduces time to avoid wood.
- Boone Forks is the route boundary. Do not drift toward the Des Moines River confluence without a separate big-river plan.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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Measurement notes and coverage
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River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Boone River near Webster City, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Boone River near Webster City, IA |
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| Preferred range | 120 cfs to 1,100 cfs |
| Low threshold | 120 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Boone River Webster-City-to-Stratford range and Hamilton County cfs guidance |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route segmentBell's Mill to Boone Forks, 5.1 mi
Hamilton County touring information lists Bell's Mill Park to Boone Forks Wildlife Area as a 5.1-mile section with average float time around 2.5 hours in normal conditions.
- Published range120 to 1,500 cfs
CanWePaddle publishes an estimated runnable range of 120 to 1,500 cfs for the broader Webster City to Stratford Boone River route using USGS 05481000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22USGS 05481000 at 147 cfs / 2.12 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Take-out warningNo take-out after Boone Forks
Iowa DNR's Boone River guide says Boone Forks is a walk-down access that may be hidden by vegetation or dead wood and warns there are no take-out opportunities after Boone Forks.
- Take-out coordinates42.312497, -93.933272
Iowa DNR Boone Forks canoe-ramp project plans publish the ramp location as latitude 42°18'44.99"N and longitude 93°55'59.78"W.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Boone River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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