Timeline
18:54
Start at 300 Craft & Rooftop. The rooftop setting gives you a preview of the skyline before the light fades. It opens at 14:00 on Saturdays, so you have plenty of time to settle in with a drink.
19:39
Walk west for about 12 minutes to Riverpoint Lofts. This historic complex offers a quiet, shaded spot to wait out the final minutes before the sun hits the water. The architecture frames the view nicely.
19:54
Watch the sun set toward the WNW. The golden light from 19:17 hits the brickwork of the Schmitt and Henry Manufacturing Company complex just as the sun dips below the horizon at 19:54.
20:24
End the evening back at 300 Craft & Rooftop. The bar stays open until 02:00 on Saturdays, making it the perfect place to decompress after the walk and enjoy the night air.
Local tip
The sunset direction shifts slightly throughout the year. In April it sets WNW, so position yourself at Riverpoint Lofts to catch the light on the western-facing buildings. Check the route if you need to navigate from Court Avenue to the riverfront.
Check before you go
- 300 Craft & Rooftop is open Tu-We 15:00-24:00, Th-Fr 15:00-02:00, Sa 14:00-02:00, Su 14:00-24:00.
- Riverpoint Lofts is an exterior historic site; access is public during daylight hours.
Worth knowing
- 300 Craft & Rooftop is open at 18:54 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
- 300 Craft & Rooftop is open at 20:24 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Des Moines (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).