Hamilton County Conservation

Canoes

Canoe Calendar

Contact us at 515-832-9570 during business hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
After hours contact 515-297-2381

WE OFFER TWO FLOATS

3-5 hour Float
Riverside to Albrights
$42 per canoe based on 2 people
$27 per kayak

6-8 hour Float
Briggs Woods to Bells Mill
$48 per canoe based on 2 people
$30 per kayak

► $4 for 3rd or 4th person in canoe (no more than 4 per canoe)

Group Rates: Groups of 8 or more are required for group rates. $5 off per canoe for groups of 8 or more canoes - no discount for kayaks

Walk-in Floats – 1-3 hour floats $15 per canoe based on 2 people – no shuttle service
Two Options:
1) Riverside to Briggs Woods (2-3 hrs)
2) Briggs Woods to Albrights (1-2 hrs)

Final rental is 3:00 pm. Need to contact Canoe Host in Briggs Woods Park – 515-297-2381.
Renter is responsible for transporting canoe/kayak.

POLICIES
Weather: In the event of heavy rains or high water as determined by Hamilton County Conservation Board (HCCB), rain checks will be issued.

Cancellations: If plans need to be cancelled or numbers reduced, you must notify HCCB a minimum of 7 days before the date of the planned activity to receive a "Credit Certificate" which can be used for another date within a 12-month period. If notification is after the deadline, full rental rates will be charged.

Damage/Lost: We charge for all lost or damaged equipment. Damaged equipment caused by abuse or carelessness is your responsibility; we do expect normal wear and tear.

Retrieval fee: $25 will be charged for canoes and kayaks abandoned or lodged

Late fee: $5 per canoe or kayak per quarter hour is charged after the designated "off the river" time.

WATER TRAIL RULES
Respect Property and Others: Do not tamper with private or public property. Respect staff doing their jobs and others enjoying the water trail with you, whether in your group or not.

Be Safe: River users required to have a Personal Flotation Device in the boat. Actually wearing it greatly increases your chance of survival if you capsize. River levels change and conditions change constantly. Avoid hazards such as snags and ALWAYS portage at low-head dams.

Limit Alcohol Consumption: Intoxication on waterways leads to poor judgment and increased risk of drowning. The river is public property and subject to the governing laws.

No Littering or Dumping: No glass containers on float trips. Leave NO trace. Volunteers work to keep this river clean.

TOURING INFORMATION

Riverside City Park to Briggs Woods Park:
Although this section is entirely within the City of Webster City limits, you would have a hard time knowing it due to the river bottoms forest community. The river falls at 3 feet per mile for 4.5 miles. There are a number of rapids but this section is known for calm water. This section is also known to be more prone to strainers (downed trees). Average float time under normal river conditions is 2 hours.

Briggs Woods Park to Albrights Canoe Access:
The river valley becomes more evident and is a very popular entry point for paddlers. The river falls at 5.2 feet per mile for 3.6 miles. There are a few rapids but this section is known for moderately swift water. This section is filled with rocks and boulders that could pose a challenge to novice paddlers. Average float time under normal river conditions is 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Albrights Canoe Access to Tunnel Mill Canoe Access:
This section is probably the least paddled section of the river and after Tremaine Bridge (Bevers), you will be in some of the most remote places on the Boone. It is also very wooded and scenic and offers some great fishing. The river falls at 4.1 feet per mile for 7.5 miles. The first two miles the river falls at over 9 feet per mile. This gradient is the highest of anywhere on the Boone River. There are a number of rapids and calm water in this section and it changes frequently. The rapids here are class one and two which require occasional maneuvering. Trained paddlers will do fine. Approximately 4.5 miles below Bever Bridge is an abrupt shallow drop, which are the remains of the Tunnel Mill Dam. Average float time under normal river conditions is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Note: Bevers Bridge has a canoe access that is on private property. Please respect private property. This access is located just two miles downstream of Albrights Canoe Access.)

Tunnel Mill Canoe Access to Bell’s Mill Park:
This section is lined with dense hardwood forests and has a high elevation change. This is probably the most remote section of the Boone because of the limited access to the river. It does receive a fair amount of paddlers because its proximity to Bell’s Mill Campground. The river falls at 2.7 feet per mile for 5.1 miles. This section is known for calm water and remoteness. Average float time under normal river conditions is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Bell’s Mill Park to Boone Forks Wildlife Area:
This section is heavily wooded and features long sections of sanded river bottom. The river falls at 3.7 feet per mile for 5.1 miles. This section is known for calm water. This section is known for strainers (downed trees). Average float time under normal river conditions is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

DISTANCE - Webster City to the Des Moines River
Miles from Previous Access to Next Access

Starting at Riverside Park in Webster City
4.6 miles to Briggs Woods Park - 2 mi S Webster City
3.5 miles to Albrights Canoe Access - 3 mi S Webster City
2 miles to Bever Bridge - 4 mi S Webster City
7.6 miles to Tunnel Mill - 7 mi S Webster City
4.9 miles to Bells Mill Park - 5 mi NE Stratford
5.2 miles to Boone Forks Wildlife Area - 2 mi N Stratford

NORTH FLOAT
Troy Park (Woolstock) to Webster City - 7-8 hrs
175th St Bridge to Webster City - 4-5 hrs

SOUTH FLOAT avg time - see below for details
Riverside Park to Briggs Woods Park - 2 hrs
Briggs Woods to Albrights Access - 1.25 hrs
Briggs Woods to Tunnel Mill - 5 hrs
Briggs Woods to Bell's Mill Park - 7.5 hrs
Albrights to Tunnel Mill - 3.5 hrs
Albrights to Bell's Mill Park - 6 hrs
Tunnel Mill to Bell's Mill Park - 2.5 hrs

BOONE RIVER INFORMATION
The Boone River starts in Hancock County and zigzags nearly 100 miles through Wright and Hamilton counties before emptying into the Des Moines River north of Stratford.

Check the current Boone River water conditions. If the CFS (cubic ft/sec)is 1100 or below than it is good for inexperienced canoeists. However, if the CFS is 1500 and above it is recommended for advance canoeists only.

The Department of Natural Resources has designated the 26-mile stretch from Webster City to its confluence with the Des Moines River as a Protected Water Area because of its outstanding scenic and natural qualities. Throughout this stretch, the stream bed gradient becomes increasingly steeper and cuts through a deep, heavily wooded valley. The frequent riffle-pool areas provide excellent fishing for smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Walleye and northern pike are periodically caught and an occasional flathead catfish is taken from the deep pools associated with the outside bends in the river.

Several Mills were built on the Boone River during the mid-1800s and give this stretch an intriguing historical background. One mill was located near Bever Bridge and was called Bone’s Mill. This mill, built in 1854, had a colorful history, including its continual battle with ice and flood waters, its important business function, a dash of romance, an unsolved murder and the thunderous explosion which ended its existence.

Tunnel Mill access, located about 16 miles downstream of Webster City, is at the site of the mill built by Robert Watson in the mid-1800s. The 400 ft tunnel was built to bypass a sweeping horseshoe curve, thus increasing the natural current by a steeper fall to the turbine. Remains of the dam can still be seen on the north side of the ridge.

Bell’s Mill Park is the site of a mill built in 1853 by Methodist preacher David Eckerson, which found its way to the Bell family. In 1888, flood waters swept away the dam, stopping the wheels of the mill. Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Bell donated the land for the present park as a memorial to pioneers who settled this area.

The second bridge downstream from Bell’s Mill is Vegors Bridge. High on a scenic hill to the north and west is Vegors Cemetery, a historic spot of early Indian and white burial.

Canoeists can end their trip on the Boone River a short distance above the confluence with the Des Moines River, at the Boone Forks Wildlife Management Area.