See all 18 routes on Des Moines River
Iowa | North-Central Iowa
Des Moines RiverLehigh Access to Deception Hollow
Short Webster County Des Moines water-trail split from Lehigh to Deception Hollow, with sandstone valley scenery, beach-camping context, and the direct Stratford gauge downstream.
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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 Lehigh and paddle the short intermediate water-trail split to Deception Hollow. The route is useful as a low-commitment downstream continuation below the existing Fort Dodge-to-Lehigh card, with the Stratford gauge used as the downstream corridor check.
Access map
Put-in
Lehigh AccessLehigh and Deception Hollow are practical access anchors from Iowa DNR / Webster County water-trail mapping; confirm the exact signed landing from land.
Take-out
Deception Hollow carry-down accessThe Stratford gauge is downstream of this short reach. It is same-river and current, but it cannot replace a visual check for local wood, bank condition, or launch depth.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Deception Hollow, then launch from Lehigh Access. Both are mapped water-trail accesses, but verify the signed carry-downs and parking before unloading.
Additional access notes
- Do not continue into the long Deception-to-Skillet reach unless the group has planned that separate 15.5-mile day.
More route and safety guidance
- The Des Moines River is meandered in this corridor, but DNR still cautions paddlers not to wander onto nearby private land. Use signed access points and legal beaches only.
- High water can cover beaches and hide boulders, bridge debris, and wood. Cancel when the hydrograph is rising quickly or the take-out is not obvious from land.
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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 near Stratford, 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 routeLehigh to Deception Hollow, about 3 miles
Iowa DNR names this Webster County Des Moines River Water Trail reach and rates it intermediate.
- Access mapLehigh Access and Deception Hollow carry-down access
The Webster County map labels Lehigh Access and Deception Hollow on the designated Des Moines River water-trail corridor.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23USGS 05481300 at 1,080 cfs / 5.83 ft
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 posture400-8,000 cfs corridor range
The existing route-specific Fort Dodge-to-Lehigh CanWePaddle range is applied conservatively to this adjacent DNR water-trail split and disclosed as corridor-level support.
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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