The Boone River rises near Britt in western Hancock County and flows generally southwardly through Wright, Hamilton and Webster counties, past Goldfield and Webster City.

[4] It flows into the Des Moines River 17 miles (27 km) north of Boone.

[5] Tributaries of the Boone River also drain portions of Kossuth and Humboldt counties.

[7] The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has designated the lower 26 miles (42 km) of the Boone River from Webster City to its mouth as a "Protected Water Area".

This stretch of the river cuts through a wooded valley and allows canoeing and fishing for smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, northern pike and flathead catfish.