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Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines River
Eldon Ramp to Shidepoke Access / Selma
Check current paddling conditions for this Des Moines River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Eldon and take out at Shidepoke for the first short Lower Des Moines River water-trail segment. The route is beginner-friendly only at normal release-controlled levels; silver carp, steep banks, bridge current, and fast or low water still need same-day judgment.
Put-in
Eldon Water Street boat rampOpen mapIowa DNR identifies the Eldon put-in as the cement boat ramp on Water Street and the Shidepoke take-out as a signed cement ramp with a protected eddy downstream near Selma. The DNR guide labels the segment 4.5 miles, but source-backed access coordinates put the endpoints about 5.1 miles apart straight-line, so the app uses a conservative 5.2-mile planning label.
Take-out
Shidepoke Access / Selma boat rampOpen mapThe Keosauqua USGS gauge is downstream on the same Lower Des Moines water-trail corridor. Use it as a conservative proxy and confirm local depth and current at Eldon before committing.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Iowa DNR identifies the Eldon put-in as the cement boat ramp on Water Street and the Shidepoke take-out as a signed cement ramp with a protected eddy downstream near Selma. The DNR guide labels the segment 4.5 miles, but source-backed access coordinates put the endpoints about 5.1 miles apart straight-line, so the app uses a conservative 5.2-mile planning label.
- The Keosauqua USGS gauge is downstream on the same Lower Des Moines water-trail corridor. Use it as a conservative proxy and confirm local depth and current at Eldon before committing.
- Sandbars may be legal below the ordinary high-water mark, but upland banks are private unless otherwise posted or managed as public access.
Watch for
- Release changes from Red Rock Dam, low-water dragging, high/fast water, steep muddy banks, and exposed bridge or shoreline debris.
- Silver carp that can leap into boats or paddlers, especially when startled by noise or motor traffic.
- Private banks and limited mid-route bailout options despite the short mileage.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 3,000 cfs to 4,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 6,000 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 |
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 routeEldon to Shidepoke Access, DNR-labeled 4.5 mi; app planning label 5.2 mi
Iowa DNR Lower Des Moines River water-trail material says this paddle starts at the cement boat ramp on Water Street in Eldon and finishes at the well-marked Shidepoke Access at Selma. Source-backed access coordinates place the endpoints farther apart than the DNR mileage, so the app stores a conservative 5.2-mile planning label.
- Access supportConcrete Eldon ramp and Shidepoke ramp
Iowa DNR describes Shidepoke as signed, with a cement boat ramp and protected eddy; Fish Iowa separately lists ramp maintenance for Eldon and Shidepoke in the Ottumwa Dam-to-Farmington corridor.
- Current gauge checkUSGS 05490500 5,060 cfs / 11.84 ft at 2026-07-23 10:00 CDT
USGS Water Services returned current Des Moines River at Keosauqua data during this run.
- 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 flags the proxy/route-family limitation.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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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 Eldon Water Street boat ramp and ends at Shidepoke Access / Selma boat ramp, about About 5.2 mi on the water.
Is this Des Moines River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.