See all 18 routes on Des Moines River
Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines RiverAustin Park to Keosauqua Boat Ramp
Official Lower Des Moines River water-trail reach from Austin Park around the Lacey-Keosauqua bend to Keosauqua, with state-park bluff scenery, endpoint camping support, and a direct Keosauqua gauge.
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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 Austin Park and paddle the official Lower Des Moines River Water Trail around the Lacey-Keosauqua bend to the Keosauqua boat ramp. The reach is beginner-appropriate only at normal levels and still deserves bridge, release, and private-bank checks.
Access map
Put-in
Austin Park boat accessAustin Park is a named water-trail access with camping context, but the saved coordinate is a practical access-area anchor; verify the ramp and parking from land before leaving a vehicle.
Take-out
Keosauqua Boat RampKeosauqua is the named public boat-ramp finish near Hotel Manning and the direct USGS gauge town.
Road shuttle
Stage at the Keosauqua riverfront boat ramp near Hotel Manning, then drive back to Austin Park northeast of Pittsburg. Walk both ramps before launching because release-driven levels can change ramp edge conditions.
Additional access notes
- The Lower Des Moines is meandered, but private property begins at the high-water mark. Keep breaks to legal bars, riverbed, and clearly public lands.
More route and safety guidance
- Red Rock releases can make this reach unexpectedly low, high, or fast even when local weather is quiet.
- The Lower Des Moines is meandered, but private property begins at the high-water mark. Keep stops to legal bars and public lands.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Des Moines River at Keosauqua, 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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 | Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 3,000 cfs to 4,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 6,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Outdoor Adventures Made Easy lower Des Moines Keosauqua-gauge notes |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official routeAustin Park to Keosauqua, 5.8 mi
Iowa DNR names this exact Lower Des Moines water-trail reach and describes the nearly two miles to Pittsburg plus the remaining bend around Lacey-Keosauqua State Park.
- Public access and campingAustin Park and Keosauqua access/camping context
Villages of Van Buren lists Austin Park with boat access, camping, restroom, water, kiosk, and shelter, and Keosauqua with boat access, restroom, water, food, kiosk, camping, lodging, cabins, and B&B options.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05490500 8,110 cfs / 12.87 ft at 2026-07-23 13:15 CDT
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.
- Threshold model800 / 3,000-4,500 / 6,000 cfs
The app reuses the accepted lower Des Moines Keosauqua-gauge model from the adjacent Bentonsport-to-Bonaparte source, with no new segment-specific cutoff invented.
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 Des Moines River
All 18Nearby routes within 75 miles
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