Little Sioux River Map #1

Diamond Lake !l ! Little Sioux River in Dickinson County 276 LAKE PARK ¬« ORLEANS 230# !l !9 Twin Forks Wildlife Area ¬«238 ! ¬«9 ! SPIRIT LAKE ! !| Twin Forks Canoe Access Cayler Prairie Preserve !l LYON # 225 ¬«86 OKOBOJI

Spooky Hollow !#220 !| " !m Canoe Access !! DICKINSON EMMET !m # MILFORD # ! 210 215 Horseshoe Bend !| !_ ! OSCEOLA !| Judd Canoe Access # 205

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CLAY S ¤£71 i o u x # R !l Yellow Throat ive Wildlife Area 195 !r EVERLY 190# Photo by Clay Smith Stolleys Pit !l !l Reiter Wildlife Area chey ! O ed a ! n 185 SIOUX R !# SPENCER The Little Sioux River is an Iowa prairie stream. It begins its journey in the swampy iver ! !# ! area of southwestern Minnesota and flows for approximately 220 miles, emptying ¤£18 Bob Howe/Thunder Bridge !l 180 #175! into the Missouri River almost midway between Sioux City and Omaha. The !| Hawk Valley O’BRIEN West Leach Park !y !9 Wildlife Area Little Sioux may not offer consistent paddling opportunities in Dickinson and Oneota Little Sioux Access !| !l # Clay Counties, but it does flow by scenic prairie remnants and public areas. ¬«240 170 N On its southwesterly course past Spencer, its flow increases as it is joined ¤£59 Stouffer Memorial Wildlife Refuge !| PALO ALTO Little Sioux Wildlife Area !y ! by the Ocheyedan River. This is western Iowa’s largest interior stream; 2 mi. # 1 mi. 165 the Little Sioux’s watershed is nearly equal to the watersheds of the GILLETT GROVE Wapsipinicon and Maquoketa Rivers combined. High Bridge Wildlife Area !l # 160 Kindlespire Park !y !9 ! Riverside Access !l !y Because of its scenic beauty, the area from Spencer to Linn Grove !y !l !_ Wanata Park Access #155 # ! was designated as a Protected Water Area. Visitors will enjoy Burned Out Bridge !| !! !y !_ Linn Grove Park # 120 ! PETERSON# Bluebird # remote areas of prairie and woodlands, making this a wild and 115 ¬«10 !y ¤£59 !125 Access 150 interesting segment to paddle. But there is beauty above 145 !y !l !_ !² !"! # # ¤18 Soo Access !| # ! # #130 140 and below this stretch, too. Scenic, high wooded ridges ! Hannibal 135 110 Nelson Area !| Waterman SIOUX RAPIDS and bluffs rise from the banks of the Little Sioux south of ! Wildlife Area Linn Grove ! !n !| Sioux Rapids City Park 105# Mill Dam Spencer through a narrow valley. Wildlife can be viewed (no portage) ¬«10 POCAHONTAS M i ! ll !| !9 !²!_ Martin Access everywhere along the Little Sioux, but O’Brien County, C re e because of its public lands and wildlife areas, offers k # ¤£71 100 !| Barnes Access some of the best viewing. The Prairie Heritage Cen- Mill Creek Bridge Access !| BUENA VISTA There are two low-head ! ter, overlooking the river near Hannibal Waterman Sue Jordahl !| !9 ! dams on the Little Sioux indi- Canoe Access Wildlife Area, offers information about prehistoric # cated with the dam icon: n. ! 95 ¬«3 cultures of the area (712-295-7200). CHEROKEE ! Paddlers need to avoid these PLYMOUTH !y Westcott Park # dams, landing well above and CHEROKEE 90 Remnant prairies, wooded ridges, and high !| !9 !² !_ Spring Lake launching far below them. bluffs with a slowly moving stream are the ¬«7 Alta Dangerous currents below Pearse Area !| ! !| Redtail Ridge Area common features in this scenic river system. r # these dams are capable of ve ! ! 85 Storm Lake Ri Fast-moving water and riffles between x # trapping and holding you un- ou !y !9 !² !_ Silver Sioux Recreation Area Si ! 80 e Martin and Barnes accesses are a change ttl derwater for extended periods Li QIUMBY !| Quimby Bridge of pace, and other more rapid areas exist #! !| !9 !² !_ of time. downstream of the Washta Access, and 75 Stieneke Access ¤£59 70# ! WASHTA downstream of Correctionville. Most Ranney Knob !|!9 !² !_ ! !| Ritts Access of the lower Little Sioux was channel- 65# ! ized throughout the Loess Hills area, !y Washta Access detracting from the experience in WOODBURY SAC this geologically unique part of the IDA 60# ! !| Walling Access ¤£20 state. ! CORRECTIONVILLE ¤£20 Little Sioux !| !9 !² !_ ! !l Copeland Park The Little Sioux is one of the to- Park Access # pnotch catfishing streams in the 55 # Little Sioux River state. Walleye and northern Stahl Park !| 50 pike concentrate below rock ANTHON ! Map #1 The riffles and the Linn Grove ¬«31 dickcissel # Dam during spring 45 is a sparrow- ! like bird found movements. !| County Bridge Access throughout # 40 Iowa in prairie grasslands Inkpaduta Access !l ! # 35 ! SMITHLAND !| Smithland Access

# 30 Legend The yellow- MONONA headed black- y Hard-surface boat ramp ¬«175 CRAWFORD bird is found # | Carry down access CARROLL 25 Walleye in wetlands and | Unmaintained access prairie marshes of northwestern !l Fishing access r # e Iowa 20 iv 9 Campground R le p a Watercraft campsite M !m ONAWA !! !_ Restroom !l #

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i o M 5 !n F # Old Little Sioux Dam t (no portage) s Paved & unpaved roads e W LITTLE SIOUX SHELBY !! City or town Northern PikeAUDUBON !m(2) HARRISON Public lands !y Little Sioux Access Legend y Hard-surface boat ramp Mill Creek, when water levels are ad- ! Mill Creek | Carry down access 450th St Access !| equate, transports | Unmaintained access river users through Map #2 r !l Fishing access numerous small rapids flowing over 9 Campground glacial stones. There 15 Watercraft campsite *# is poor access, and you !_ Restroom must make sure to respect ! ! Drinking water near river private property here – much ² of the creek is bordered by Middle Rd Access !| n Dam (danger!) pastures with fences that must m Rapids or rock dam be carefully negotiated. Scenic 5-mile markers, from mouth views of prairie ridges and red cedar ! groves on sloped terrain are common. !| 470th St Access Federal or state highway Mill Creek is also the name of a culture of *# CHEROKEE Paved & unpaved roads inhabitants who lived in the area along the 10 Mill Creek Culture artifact Little Sioux River and its tributaries (including Mill City or town Mill Creek photos courtesy of the Creek) in Cherokee County from AD 1000 to 1200. Public lands Several villages have been discovered here, and Sanford Museum in evidence supports that the villagers were hunters as well Cherokee, Iowa !| High Country Rd Access as farmers. Their disappearance from this area is still a ! mystery. You can learn more about this culture at the Sanford Museum in Cherokee, IA. N

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Great blue herons are ! !| Sue Jordahl routinely seen along !| Canoe Access Mill Creek ! rivers throughout the Bridge Access CHEROKEE

Mill Creek

Minnesota

Spirit Lake «¬9 # Little Sioux River ¬«86 #

O " Okoboji c h # e # and Mill Creek y ed a # n #

R i v £¤71 e # r # Spencer # # ¤£18 # Algona ¬«240 #

# # Mill Creek # # # # # ¤18 # Map #2 # # #

# ¤£71 # ¬«3 Cherokee #

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¬«31 # Little Sioux River # MAP #1 # Pearse Area on Little Sioux River

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Onawa #

# Expedition Channel Catfish Caught on Little Sioux in Buena Vista County & Be safe out there! Stay legal!

Wear a life jacket! Land along the Little Sioux River and its tributaries, including They really do save lives. It won’t work if you don’t wear it. Mill Creek, is privately owned – these waters are navigable, but Fishing you must respect private property. Don’t boat under the influence For your safety, don’t use alchohol or drugs on the water. Littering is a crime – pack out everything you bring in. Report littering or dumping by calling 888-NOLITTR. Guide Watch for hazards On rivers, hazards like dams, fences, snags, rocks, and bridge Resources abuttments may be present. Dams and snags in particular can be killers. Avoid them! Water trails and recent listing of canoe/kayak liveries www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/ Plan to get wet! You may capsize, so dress for the weather. When the water River gages and/or weather get cold, warm-when-wet clothing and a wetsuit waterdata.usgs.gov or www.rivergages.com Iowa are needed.

Federal regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap. State law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, or disability. If you believe you have been discrimi- nated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to the Iowa DNR, Wallace Water Trails State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa, 50319.