See all 18 routes on Des Moines River
Iowa | Southeast Iowa
Des Moines RiverShidepoke Access / Selma to Douds Access
Official Lower Des Moines River connector from Shidepoke Access near Selma to Douds, with public ramps, bridge-piling hazards, narrow agricultural banks, and lower-river Keosauqua gauge scoring.
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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 Shidepoke and take out at Douds for a short Lower Des Moines connector between two public water-trail accesses. The main route-specific cautions are bridge pilings, logs, pipeline no-docking signs, release-driven current, and silver carp.
Access map
Put-in
Shidepoke Access / Selma boat rampIowa DNR maps Shidepoke as the upstream access and Douds as the next downstream access at about 4.6 miles.
Take-out
Douds County Park & Des Moines River AccessVillages of Van Buren lists Douds County Park / Des Moines River Access at 14367 Walnut Street with boat ramp and limited camping context.
Road shuttle
Stage Douds County Park / Des Moines River Access first, then launch at Shidepoke. Walk the Douds ramp and parking area before launch because the river bends and bridge area can change with debris.
Additional access notes
- The Keosauqua USGS gauge is downstream on the same corridor, so pair the proxy reading with a visual check at Shidepoke and Douds.
More route and safety guidance
- A gas pipeline crosses below the river in this reach; obey warning signs and do not dock there.
- Use the public Shidepoke and Douds accesses only, and keep any legal sandbar stops below the high-water mark.
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.
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 routeShidepoke to Douds, 4.6 mi
Iowa DNR Lower Des Moines River water-trail material names Shidepoke to Douds and describes the straight agricultural corridor, bridge-piling hazard, and gas-pipeline no-docking warning.
- Douds public accessDouds County Park & Des Moines River Access
Villages of Van Buren describes the Douds river access as a boat ramp with shelter and two gravel campsites, and Fish Iowa lists 2021 ramp construction for Douds Access.
- 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 keeps proxy caveats explicit.
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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