Explore Webster County from the water at different scales: the Lizard Creek Water Trail offers 14 miles of paddling, while the Des Moines River Water Trail runs for 46 miles through Webster County and Fort Dodge. Prairies, wooded ravines and museums offer a glimpse of entirely different sides of the area.
Paddling Routes and River Landscapes
The Lizard Creek Water Trail alternates between riffles and rapids of varying intensity. One important boundary to keep in mind when navigating the water: the water is public, but the land below and alongside the creek is privately owned. This means conditions on the water are clearly distinct from the ownership status of the riverbank.
The Des Moines River Water Trail offers the longer paddling route. It runs through Webster County and Fort Dodge and passes the limestone bluffs of the Des Moines River Valley. Comparing the two routes makes it easier to choose your experience: the Lizard Creek route centers on 14 miles with changing rapids, while the 46-mile Des Moines River route runs through the county and Fort Dodge. The Becker Access on this Water Trail is well signposted from the road and has ample parking.
Prairie, Ravines and Preserves
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area brings together 6,500 acres of native prairie, grassland, forest, river and lake. The lake is suitable for swimming, fishing and boating. In 1988, a 260-acre section of the area was designated a state preserve for its geological, archaeological and biological significance. In Brushy Creek State Preserve, a small, deep, wooded ravine provides habitat for the rare woodland vole. A trail that is open to horseback riding also runs through the preserve.
A very different landscape defines Woodman Hollow State Preserve: its 63.5 acres include a deeply cut, wooded ravine. A spring-fed creek forms a 12-foot waterfall there during wet periods and heavy rainfall. The area was officially designated a state preserve for its biological, geological and archaeological significance in 1970. The landscape and its historic designation give the preserve both a natural and cultural-historical dimension.
Liska-Stanek Prairie State Preserve is a 20-acre tallgrass prairie in Webster County. The gently rolling terrain has several shallow depressions and is also botanically remarkable: more than 130 native plant species have been found here, including more than 20 grasses. Natural bluffs and geological formations take center stage at Dolliver Memorial State Park, with views over the Des Moines River Valley.
Culture in Fort Dodge
The Fort Museum & Frontier Village presents the frontier history of the Fort Dodge area in a replica of a 19th-century fort. The permanent collection at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum ranges from European and American painting and sculpture to prints from both continents. It also includes American photography, contemporary American art, works by Iowa artists, and Japanese folding screens and prints. The Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and Soldier Creek.
On the Road on Wheels
There is also plenty to do beyond waterways and preserves: Gypsum City OHV Park offers 60 miles of trails for off-highway vehicles, all-terrain utility vehicles and dirt bikes. Webster County brings together a wide range of experiences—from paddling routes and prairie to art, history and off-road trails.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Fort Dodge, Sioux County, Ida County, Monona County, Emmet County, Warren County, Winnebago County, Hancock County.
For the main travel overview: Iowa.
