See all 18 routes on Des Moines River
Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines RiverKeosauqua Boat Ramp to Bentonsport Boat Ramp
Official Lower Des Moines River water-trail day from Keosauqua around the big horseshoe bend to Bentonsport, with sandstone cliffs, public lower-river access, sandbar-camping rules, and a 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 Keosauqua and paddle the official Lower Des Moines River Water Trail around the 8.6-mile horseshoe bend to Bentonsport. The reach has bluff and rock scenery, but release-driven flow, old dam remains, and private uplands require a current gauge and landing check.
Access map
Put-in
Keosauqua Boat RampKeosauqua is the named public boat-ramp start in the Iowa DNR guide; the saved coordinate is a practical access-area anchor near the riverfront ramp rather than a survey point.
Take-out
Bentonsport Park / Bentonsport Boat RampBentonsport Park is the same county water-trail access used by the existing downstream Bentonsport-to-Bonaparte card.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Bentonsport Park, then drive back to the Keosauqua riverfront boat ramp near Hotel Manning. Inspect the Keosauqua launch first because rock and old dam remains just downstream can change the start line.
Additional access notes
- Use legal sandbars and public land only. Iowa DNR says private property begins at the high-water mark on the Lower Des Moines.
More route and safety guidance
- USACE Red Rock releases can make the lower Des Moines unexpectedly low, high, or fast even when local weather is quiet.
- The Lower Des Moines is meandered, but private property begins at the ordinary high-water mark. Keep stops to the riverbed, legal sandbars, and public lands.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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.
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 Keosauqua, IA |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 3,000 cfs to 4,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 6,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength 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 |
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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 routeKeosauqua to Bentonsport, 8.6 miles
Iowa DNR Lower Des Moines River water-trail material identifies this exact stream reach and describes the horseshoe bend, sandstone cliffs, and Lower Des Moines access context.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-227,230 cfs / 12.62 ft at 2026-07-22 23:15 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
Outdoor Adventures Made Easy publishes lower Des Moines Keosauqua-gauge paddling notes for the adjacent Bentonsport-to-Bonaparte geode paddle. This card reuses that model conservatively and flags current high water above the normal recommendation.
- Safety and campingMeandered stream with sandbar camping; Red Rock releases matter
Iowa DNR says the riverbed, sandbars, and banks up to the high-water mark are held in public trust, sandbar camping is allowed on meandered streams, and Red Rock releases can make water unexpectedly low, high, or fast.
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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