Raccoon River

Walnut Woods to Water Works Park

River Miles: 8.3
Counties: Polk
Recommended Flow: 750 is a good level.

Review(s):

Knowledge of the area: Beginner
Date of Paddle: June 19, 2005
CFS: 3000
Recommended Craft: Recreational
Type of Water: Class 1. Flat, wide river.
Overview of this section: This section is wide and slow moving. Sand bars were numerous, but never any possibility of running aground. The bank is tree-lined for most of the trip, but I could here the freeway in the distance at the start. I was mildly surprised at the amount of wildlife I saw: Blue herons, turkey vultures, robins, red-wing blackbirds, catbirds, cowbirds, blue jays, crows, wild turkey, deer (just 1), a muskrat, toad, LOTS of softshell turtles at every sandbar, and a couple of homeless dudes camping just east of the 63rd street bridge. The water was high enough that I was able to paddle several hundred yards up Walnut Creek into Greenwood Park. This is by no means a secluded section of river, but it is nicely shielded by trees, esp. along Brown's Woods and into Water Works. It took about 2.5 hours of leisurely paddling.
Hazard and Rapids: None.
Camping?: Only at the put in at Walnut Woods.
Other Launches?: unknown
Places to rent or buy outdoor equipment: unknown
Other items of interest about this area: along about a half mile stretch, west of 63rd, someone had inserted sticks into the bank at fairly regular intervals. Each stick had a piece of white cloth tied to the end. They had to have been put there by boat. I could come up with no obvious reason for them.
Overall opinion of this section: Nice, quick urban paddle.

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Recent River Level Readings - taken from NOAA

Location: Des Moines