25th Anniversary Event #10
Family Canoeing

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Bring your friends or family out for a fun, relaxing canoe ride on a loop through the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. You'll canoe on an old oxbow, so the water is shallow with no current--perfect for beginning canoeists. Watch for herons, turtles and other wildlife as you paddle through this peaceful oasis in the heart of Iowa's most populous county.

Event details
Canoeing is offered at the heart of Chichaqua, where the old oxbows (a U-shaped curve of a river that can be left behind as the river changes course) remain navigable through much of the year. Unlike a river, there is no current here--so this offers a calm, less challenging experience in a canoe. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the wooded scenery on either side of you-as well as the herons and other waterfowl that frequent this area. Best of all, the channel makes a complete loop, so you get a river--like experience with great scenery and potential wildlife views on each side, but you end up where you started (no people or canoes hauling!).

For $10 per canoe, your family and friends can explore the Greenbelt and all of its wildlife for an hour. But hurry! You must call the Polk County Conservation Board office and pre-register for a canoe. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don't miss out on this afternoon of fun! To make reservations, call 515-323-5300. You can charge by credit card over the phone, or you can send a check to the PCCB once you've made your reservation.

Send check payable to:
Polk County Conservation Board
Jester Park
Granger, IA 50109

And while you're at Chichaqua, why not make a day of it? Various parts of this huge complex offer hiking, biking, camping, bird watching, dog-training and more. And be sure to stop by and say "Hi" to the INHF representatives near the canoe launch site.

The story behind this place
The Skunk River was straightened many years ago, but the river's old floodplain remains wet and easily flooded. For decades, various conservation partners have created and expanded the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, setting it aside for a variety of wildlife and recreation purposes.

Chichaqua is an important resting and staging area for migrating waterfowl and is home to several rare and declining species. It's also home to many reptiles and amphibians, as well as ground-nesting birds like the bobolink. Other parts of the wildlife area contain native prairies, natural or restored wetlands, and trails. Recreational uses include hunting, trapping, native seed harvest, future native seeding, educational tours, hiking and camping.

For about 10 years, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has helped the Polk County and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources acquire more than 15 properties as they became available, adding nearly 5000 acres to the Chichaqua wildlife complex, including 980 in Jasper. INHF has helped with landowner assistance and negotiations, interim funding and, in some cases, high-quality native plantings.

Partner information
The Polk County Conservation Board has acquired and manages 11,000 acres of parks, trails, wetlands, woodlands, and prairies in Polk County, including segments of the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Their environmental education staff educates approximately 35,000 school children each year and presents over 100 public programs to 7,000 residents.
pccb_info@co.polk.ia.us

Site Map
http://www.conservationboard.org:8080/

Driving Directions
To Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Longhouse: Take the Elkhart exit off Interstate 35. From the exit, drive east on NE 126th Avenue to the "T" intersection at NE 72nd Street. Turn left (north) and cross the Skunk River, following the curve as it goes east. Then turn right (south) on NE 80th Street at the Chichaqua entrance sign.

From Bondurant: Travel north on NE 72nd Street out of Bondurant. NE 72nd Street turns into NE Yoder Drive. Turn east onto NE 134 Avenue. Look for the park signs and turn right (south) onto NE 80th Street. Follow the long park entrance road to the Longhouse, which will be the first structure on your left side.

Visitor Info
The Greater Des Moines Partnership
(800) 376-9059
info@desmoinesmetro.com

Ames Chamber of Commerce
(515) 232-2310
chamber@ameschamber.com

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