The streams are not the only places to kayak either, with Webster County being home to three rivers and several lakes that are great to take your boat on.

Kayaking does come with a lot of risks. Rapids and harsh weather are just a few things to watch out for to ensure that the trip is not only as fun as possible, but as safe as possible.

“It’s always smart to go out there with a plan.” said Matt Cosgrove, director of Webster County Conservation.

Cosgrove went into great depth about the importance of safety on the water,

Matt Cosgrove

“Life jackets are a must, as well as making sure you check the weather before you go,” he said.

The Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center has gauges that show the water level of each river that you are able to kayak on in Webster County. He recommends everyone check those gauges if they are not sure how safe the water is.

Another warning Cosgrove gave was to watch out for drinking while kayaking,

“If you’re out on the water, you need to make sure you watch how much you drink,” he said.

Drinking while on the water can be a deadly activity, with 92 deaths in the United States coming from drinking while boating last year.

Submitted photo

Cosgrove is a big believer in the idea of, the more safe you are, the more fun you will have, and he does all he can to ensure everyone is safe while on the water. Paddling classes are offered at the Discovery Center and are available to all.

“I would recommend taking classes before going on a kayak for the first time,” Cosgrove said.

The Discovery Center, located along the bank of the Des Moines River in downtown Fort Dodge, also has kayaks available to rent for anyone who has taken those classes. You can rent the kayaks for a day, a weekend, or an entire week and can take them to all of your favorite spots across the state.

The most common spots are found in the designated water trails, which are parts of rivers, streams, or lakes that have been marked as the best spots for recreational use. Webster County is home to three such places on rivers, and a wide variety of lakes.

Badger Lake, located in John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and Brushy Creek State Recreation Area near Lehigh are the two most common lakes used in Webster County for kayaking because of the variety they offer.

Badger Lake has beautiful scenery as you kayak along it while Brushy Creek allows for a little bit of a challenge. Brushy Creek is littered with trees and other obstacles that are great for navigating in, around, and through the lake.

For those who are looking for more of a challenge, stretches of the Des Moines River, Lizard Creek, and the Boone River offer changes of twists, turns, and slight rapids that offer more of a thrill.

“Be especially careful on the rivers if you are new to kayaking,” Cosgrove said. “It can be more fun, but it is more dangerous.”

Clark Fletcher, a local kayaking expert and former Webster County supervisor, has spent years riding those water trails.

“We’re so lucky Webster County has so many great (kayaking) opportunities,” Fletcher said. “The trails we have are great for all sorts of activities.”

Fletcher, like many others, has explored almost every trail in Webster County and is looking for more opportunities. That is why the county started working on a cleanup of Soldier Creek.

“You can ride it now,” Fletcher said.

But he suggested that only those with a lot of experience should try it.

“They’re pulling concrete, barbed rods, even a whole hallway out the banks of the creek just to clean it up,” he said.

The project is still ongoing as they are making sure they do a thorough job making the creek as clean and safe as possible.