Lizard Creek

160th St. & P29 to Hayes Ave.

River Miles: 5
Counties: Webster
Recommended Height: 5.5 - 6.5'

Review(s):

Submitted By: Ben Petty
AKA: bpetty
Knowledge Level of this area: Advanced
Date of Paddle: July 04
Gauge Height: 5.7'
Recommended Craft: Recreational
Type of Water: Relatively swift flowing water with many class I riffle areas, and a couple class II rapids, depending on flow rate.
Overview of this section: The launching point (of this 5 mile trip) at the intersection of P29 and 160th Street is a bit silty and unassuming, but after rounding a small bend, you soon enter a rocky riffle area that is characteristic of this creek. There are a couple houses in this area, but a canopy of tree limbs still shades you in most stretches. After crossing under P29, you’ll soon come up to a nice riffle area, then drop over a small ledge that spans the creek. Shortly after passing under P29 one final time, you’ll come up near a couple houses, which will be the last ones you see for the rest of this trip. Just past these houses, you’ll bend right, through a scenic riffle area that has been known to give up a few smallmouth bass to a presentation of a small leadhead jig w/ a white twistertail. If you do any fishing on this trip for smallmouth bass, please practice catch & release, as the fish are generally small in this creek, and it can be a fragile population. Continuing down the creek about a river mile later, as you pass through a riffle area you’ll see a large bluff ahead composed of colorful red sands. You won’t have too much time to leisurely stare however, as a swift riffle shoots you forward and to the left. There are a few other sections of interesting rock formations downstream of this area, and a couple small islands where Canada Geese were nesting during this trip, and they loudly let us know that they didn’t appreciate our presence. Tall bluffs tower over the stream valley in many locations here. Even where it’s not flowing through rocky riffles, the Lizard is a fairly swiftly flowing stream, so caution should be taken when you find a large boulder or downed tree in midstream. You’ll hear the creek roaring (at least as much as the Lizard “roars”) as you cross through a small riffle, then drop over a larger ledge - go over the ledge on river left for the most fun, steepest drop. No time to rest now, as you have to navigate around a few large midstream boulders in swift water (I’ve seen several boats take on a little water & a few nearly capsize in this stretch) as the creek prepares to take to take a sharp right turn. You’ll soon enter another little series of riffles and under a scenic canopy of trees as the Lizard turns left. The bridge ahead signals the take-out, with the easiest exit point being on river left just past the bridge.
Hazard and Rapids: A couple short (non-hazardous) drops over rock ledges, and some mid-stream maneuvering around boulders in a few of the riffle/rapids areas.
Camping?: Not along the creek, but nearby at Kennedy Park or Dolliver State Park.
Other Launches?: None
Other items of interest about this area: Many other paddling opportunities in this region include the Des Moines and Boone Rivers, and Brushy Creek Lake.
Overall opinion of this section: Excellent - One of my favorite places to paddle (and not just because I live 10 miles away).
Pic caption: Rocky streambed & high bluffs on the Lizard.

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Recent River Level Readings - taken from the Army Corps

Location: Lizard Creek