Des Moines River

The Des Moines River is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It rises from Lake Shetek in southwestern Minnesota and flows 525 miles to join the Mississippi near Keokuk, Iowa. Its main branch, the West Fork, begins in wetlands around Lake Yankton and Long Lake in Lyon County. The stream flows into Lake Shetek and then through Windom and Jackson before crossing into Iowa. In Minnesota the river is 50 to 200 feet wide and runs past farmland and wooded bluffs. Between Talcot Lake Dam and the Iowa line it drops 135 feet, an average of 1.98 feet per mile. The Des Moines River - Headwaters Watershed covers about 1,334 square miles across parts of seven southwestern Minnesota counties.

The Minnesota segment was established as a state water trail in 1967. The Minnesota DNR lists the Parks and Trails Windom office as the local contact. River flow usually peaks in early to mid-April. Hazards include dams that require portages, snags and several Class I rapids. The DNR's recommended day trip runs 7 river miles, from the Mayflower Park carry-in access just below Windom to the Christianna Bridge trailer access. In Windom, the river borders Island Park on the south and west, and a canoe access sits at the south end of the park. The DNR and the city added two boat ramps there in 1996. Kilen Woods State Park lies on the river south of Windom.

The DNR lists northern pike, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch and black bullheads in the river. The City of Windom describes the Des Moines River Dam as a popular fishing spot for northern pike and walleye.