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See all 18 routes on Des Moines River

Iowa | Southeast Iowa

Des Moines River

Bonaparte Boat Ramp to Des Moines River Access

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 3.4 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 1 hr to 2 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Des Moines River runs past bridges and downtown buildings in Des Moines, Iowa.
River contextDes Moines River through downtown Des Moines river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Giant Asparagus / Pexels

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 3.4 miBonaparte Boat Ramp to Des Moines River Access
DifficultymoderateThe mileage is short, but the old dam remnants directly below Bonaparte, the required cross-river move, private banks, and release-driven current justify more caution than a simple three-mile float.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the county Des Moines River Access south/east of Bonaparte, then launch from Bonaparte Riverfront Park. Confirm the old-dam line below Bonaparte before committing from the ramp.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow city, county, water-trail, and Iowa boating/PFD rules, and keep routine stops to public access land or legal river bars.
CampingOptions nearbyDes Moines River Access has primitive camping and a boat ramp according to Villages of Van Buren. Confirm current county rules, flood cleanup, and seasonal service status before relying on it overnight.
SeasonApr-OctLate summer and fall often expose more rock and geode-bar context, but very low water can require dragging or careful walking. Spring or release-driven high water can bury bars and make the Bonaparte start pushy.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Bonaparte and paddle the short official Lower Des Moines River Water Trail reach to the county Des Moines River Access. The first half-mile below Bonaparte carries the main decision: old dam remains and cross-current can be hazardous when low or pushy.

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Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

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Start

Put-in

Bonaparte Riverfront Park / Bonaparte Boat Ramp
Open map

Bonaparte Riverfront Park is the same public ramp used by the upstream Bentonsport card; use posted local signs for parking and ramp approach.

Finish

Take-out

Des Moines River Access
Open map

The Des Moines River Access coordinate comes from the named launch record and should be treated as a practical access coordinate, not a surveyed ramp point.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Bonaparte Riverfront Park is the same public ramp used by the upstream Bentonsport card; use posted local signs for parking and ramp approach.
  • The Des Moines River Access coordinate comes from the named launch record and should be treated as a practical access coordinate, not a surveyed ramp point.
  • This short segment starts below old dam remains. Do not launch if the group cannot safely make the DNR-described move away from the put-in side.

Watch for

  • Old dam remains, rough water, and shallow rock immediately below Bonaparte.
  • Fast release-driven current, floating debris, strainers, bridge or bank turbulence, and jumping silver carp.
  • Private cabins, agricultural banks, and limited legal exits between the public endpoints.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

The Des Moines River runs past bridges and downtown buildings in Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines River through downtown Des Moines river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Giant Asparagus / Pexels
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Score & sources

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

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Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteDes Moines River at Keosauqua, IA
DischargeChecking
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24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Air tempChecking
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Target band3,000 cfs to 4,500 cfs
Low threshold800 cfs
High threshold6,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreOutdoor Adventures Made Easy lower Des Moines Keosauqua-gauge notes
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Weather sourceChecking
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NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official routeBonaparte to Des Moines River Access, 3.4 mi

    Iowa DNR names the Bonaparte-to-Des-Moines-River-Access reach and describes the access as a cement boat ramp maintained by the Van Buren County Conservation Board.

    Source

  • Key hazardOld dam remains below Bonaparte

    Iowa DNR says old dam remains immediately below Bonaparte may cause a hazard, especially in low water, and that paddlers must move quickly to the opposite side after putting in.

    Source

  • Access and campingDes Moines River Access primitive camping and boat ramp

    Villages of Van Buren lists Des Moines River Access four miles southeast of Bonaparte on the south side, with primitive camping and a boat ramp.

    Source

  • Current gauge checkUSGS 05490500 8,110 cfs / 12.87 ft at 2026-07-23 13:15 CDT

    USGS Water Services returned current Keosauqua data during this run; the route is currently above the selected conservative high-water ceiling.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Iowa

All 133 routes
Iowa route guideBrowse every tracked Iowa route.Southeast IowaJump to routes in this region.

More on Des Moines River

All 18
Ashley Park to PetersburgSouthwest MinnesotaModerate · About 9.7 miAustin Park to Keosauqua Boat RampSoutheast IowaEasy · About 5.8 miBentonsport Boat Ramp to Bonaparte Boat RampSoutheast IowaEasy · 3.6 to 5 miChristiania Bridge to Ashley ParkSouthwest MinnesotaModerate · About 16.3 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Skunk RiverCottonwood Loop to Sycamore Loop, Welter Recreation Area · about 28 mi awayEasy · About 2.5 river miles between the Welter Recreation Area loopsNorth Skunk RiverDelta to Sigourney / South Skunk River Access · about 50 mi awayEasy · About 10 miSouth Skunk RiverGlendale Access to Rose Hill Access · about 61 mi awayEasy · Approximately 8.1 river miles between Glendale Access and Rose Hill AccessIowa RiverHills Access to River Junction Access · about 61 mi awayEasy · About 9.8 mi

Quick answers

Des Moines River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Des Moines River?

Paddle Today watches Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA and treats 3,000 cfs to 4,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Des Moines River route start and end?

This route starts at Bonaparte Riverfront Park / Bonaparte Boat Ramp and ends at Des Moines River Access, about About 3.4 mi on the water.

Is this Des Moines River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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