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Iowa | North-Central Iowa
Des Moines RiverSouth River District Access to Lehigh
Webster County Des Moines River water-trail day from Fort Dodge toward Lehigh, with sandstone bluffs, rocky riffles, Dolliver State Park context, and a direct Fort Dodge USGS 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 South River District Access and paddle the Webster County Des Moines River water-trail corridor toward Lehigh. Use the Fort Dodge gauge, leave daylight margin, and expect rocky riffles, boulders, wooded banks, and limited public exits.
Access map
Put-in
South River District AccessIowa DNR maps South River District Access, Dolliver State Park, and Lehigh in this water-trail corridor, but the saved endpoints are practical access-area anchors rather than ramp-survey coordinates.
Take-out
Lehigh Des Moines River accessThe official map uses river-mile access numbers; do not improvise private farm-bank exits just because the road is nearby.
Road shuttle
Stage the Lehigh take-out first, then drive back to South River District Access in Fort Dodge. Check Dolliver State Park as a mid-route contingency during the shuttle if your group may need to shorten the day.
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South River District Access to Lehigh Des Moines River access is about 15.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- High water can affect access roads and campgrounds between Fort Dodge and Lehigh, so confirm ramp and road conditions before committing.
More route and safety guidance
- Use only the named water-trail accesses. Private banks, muddy slopes, and wooded bluffs limit casual bailout choices between Fort Dodge and Lehigh.
- High or rising water can hide boulders and bridge remnants while adding fast current and floating wood. Treat the upper end of the range as experienced-paddler water.
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 Fort Dodge, IA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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 Fort Dodge, 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 |
| Preferred range | 400 cfs to 8,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | 8,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | CanWePaddle Fort Dodge to Lehigh estimated range |
| 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-22966 cfs / 4.25 ft at 2026-07-22 20:00 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 range400-8,000 cfs
CanWePaddle ties the Fort Dodge-to-Lehigh section to USGS 05480500 and estimates a 400 to 8,000 cfs runnable window.
- Official route characterSouth River District to Dolliver, 15 miles
Iowa DNR describes this stretch as an excellent intermediate paddle through woodlands, sandstone cliffs, rocky riffles, and high wildlife density.
- Access chainFort Dodge, Dolliver, Lehigh
Visit Fort Dodge says the Des Moines River Water Trail has eight public access sites with Fort Dodge, Lehigh, and Dolliver State Park as key destinations.
- HazardsBoulders, bridge remnants, riffles, wood
Iowa DNR calls out glacial erratic boulders, old bridge remains, rocky riffles, and wooded banks on this water-trail corridor.
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
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All 18Nearby routes within 75 miles
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