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Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines RiverEldon Ramp to Shidepoke Access / Selma
Short official Lower Des Moines River water-trail starter from Eldon to Shidepoke Access at Selma, with public concrete ramps, Red Rock release caveats, sandbar rules, and the 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 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.
Access map
Put-in
Eldon Water Street boat rampIowa 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 rampThe 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.
Road shuttle
Stage the Shidepoke / Selma access first, then launch from the cement ramp on Water Street in Eldon. Confirm the Keosauqua gauge trend and inspect the Shidepoke landing before putting on.
Additional access notes
- Sandbars may be legal below the ordinary high-water mark, but upland banks are private unless otherwise posted or managed as public access.
More route and safety guidance
- Steep banks, bridge current, wood, and silver carp can still create problems on a short trip.
- The Lower Des Moines is meandered; keep stops below the ordinary high-water mark or on public access land.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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 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.
- 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 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.
Other routes nearby
More on Des Moines River
All 18Nearby routes within 75 miles
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