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Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines RiverDouds Access to Austin Park
Longer official Lower Des Moines River day from Douds to Austin Park, shifting from straight agricultural banks into wooded bends and old southern-Iowa bluffs, with endpoint camping support.
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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 Douds and take out at Austin Park for a longer Lower Des Moines River day through wooded bends and bluff-country scenery. Iowa DNR describes few special hazards on this reach, but the distance, release-controlled levels, private banks, and rescue exposure make it less forgiving than the two upstream starter segments.
Access map
Put-in
Douds County Park & Des Moines River AccessIowa DNR gives Douds to Austin Park as about 9.75 miles and lists Austin Park as the next downstream access before Keosauqua.
Take-out
Austin Park boat accessAustin Park is described by local water-trail materials as about two miles northeast of Pittsburg with boat access and campground amenities; verify the exact ramp and parking condition before leaving a shuttle vehicle.
Road shuttle
Stage Austin Park first, then launch from Douds County Park. This is the first longer reach in the Eldon-to-Keosauqua sequence, so set a firm turn-back decision before leaving Douds.
Additional access notes
- The Keosauqua USGS gauge is downstream of Austin Park on the same Lower Des Moines corridor. Use it as a proxy with same-day visual checks at Douds and Austin Park.
More route and safety guidance
- The lower half bends through steeper wooded terrain; plan fewer easy exits and more rescue exposure than the short Shidepoke/Douds split.
- Red Rock releases, wind, silver carp, bridge debris, and private uplands should all factor into the same-day decision.
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Conditions
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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.
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 routeDouds to Austin Park, 9.75 mi
Iowa DNR Lower Des Moines River water-trail material names this reach and says the first half is similar to the straighter upstream reaches before the river bends through wooded hills and valleys.
- Public access and campingDouds ramp; Austin Park camping/boat access
Villages of Van Buren describes Douds as a boat-ramp access with two campsites, and county guide material lists Austin Park on the Des Moines River with camping, shelter, water, primitive toilets, and boat access.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05490500 5,060 cfs / 11.84 ft at 2026-07-23 10:00 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 community model from the adjacent Bentonsport-to-Bonaparte source and documents the proxy limitation.
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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