Lime Springs to Highway 30: A long and mostly slow-going trip with intermittent riffles and simple Class I rapids, this upper stretch of the Upper Iowa River doesn’t glitter with outrageous rock outcrops or bubbling natural springs as its…
Browsing Tag
Minnesota
Krogh’s Landing to Two Rivers Landing: A surprisingly diverse river with natural features that continue to change over the course of ten miles, with countless riffles and easy and fun Class I rapids, weeping seeps and natural springs, eye-popping…
Kruger to the Mississippi River: The final leg of the mighty Zumbro, this trip will appeal only to purists and aspiring river-adopters. But truth be told it’s got plenty of grit and heart to it, redounding the paddler with…
Highway 30 to Kendallville: A primer trip for the jaw-dropping grandeur that awaits in the subsequent stretches of the photogenic Upper Iowa River, this section features plenty of its own rock outcrops, bluffs, riffles, and light Class I rapids,…
Touring Lake Superior from Tettegouche State Park: A truly wild and rugged environment along a sliver of Lake Superior’s north shore that treats paddlers to exquisite cliffs hundreds of feet high composed of rock over a billion years old,…
Elba to Highway 74: A very pretty and intimate little stream, this creek-like river courses through large swaths of public land corridors and is surrounded by tall, attractive hills. Water levels are usually reliable, but this stream is more…
Highway 61 to Bay Point Park: A smorgasbord paddle that courses through the Cannon River bottomlands after an encore performance of bluffs before quietly slipping into the Mississippi River backwaters, this scenic trip packs enough for a long weekend…but…
Welch to Highway 61: A languorous segment of the Cannon River featuring stately bluffs, occasional rock outcrops, and a sizeable stretch of public land and little development, there’s a lot to like about this short trip. There’s also a…
Part two of two on the North Branch of the Root River. This section offers lots of riffles as well as several solid Class I rapids. (Adjust to 1080p for the best picture). Root River: North Branch Moen’s Bridge…
Part one of two on the North Branch of the Root River, a simply stunning escape deep in the heart of the Minnesota Driftless Area that is abound in towering bluffs lush with exquisite limestone outcrops, rolling hills and…
Theilman to Kruger: A wider and slightly slower segment than those upstream, the salient premium on this trip is scenery and isolation through a huge swath of public land, not to mention the visible change in landscape as the…
County Road 7 to Zumbro Falls: Practically a primer for the more fabulous features found downstream, this trip is a very pleasant paddle nonetheless, featuring good wildlife opportunities, the beginning of bluff lands, some fun riffles, gravel bars and…
Parsley Bridge to Lanesboro Access: A simply stunning escape deep in the heart of the Minnesota Driftless Area that is abound in towering bluffs lush with exquisite limestone outcrops, rolling hills and miles of undeveloped public land. These two…
Lanesboro Access to Peterson Access: A gorgeous journey through the heart of the Minnesota Driftless Area featuring towering bluffs with exquisite limestone outcrops, rolling hills, reputable current (including a few solid Class I rapids) and bountiful wildlife, this scenic…
90th Street to Zumbro River County Park: An accessible, beginner-friendly, and beautiful paddling experience in the driftless region of Rochester, Minnesota. This section of the South Fork of the Zumbro River is only a short drive from downtown, but…
The St. Croix River is a hugely popular destination for multi-day canoe and kayak camping trips in northern Wisconsin. From Gordon Dam to the confluence with the Mississippi, the river flows 155 miles through a wild and sometimes rugged…
The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is unlike most paddle-camping options in Wisconsin. For one, it’s the hardest-working river in America, where large barges and heavy commercial boat traffic can cause pause for even the most experienced…
Here’s a short but wonderful trip down the South Branch of the Root River in Minnesota’s driftless country which is narrow, full of riffles, standing waves and some attractive outcrops. (Adjust to 1080p for the best picture). Root River:…
We love paddling our neighboring states, especially Minnesota’s driftless region. Here, we returned to the Cannon River to explore a section quite popular for canoeing, kayaking and tubing. With that in mind, do know that you’ll company along the…
Preston Trailhead Park to Heron Road: A fantastic day trip on a narrow, often canopied river with plenty of delightful riffles, standing waves, and some very attractive outcrops. When you add it all up, it makes for a wonderful…
Cannon Falls to Welch: A bluff country paddle full of numerous riffles, gravel bars and island channels that cut through bluffed-valleys 300′ tall along the eastern edge of Minnesota’s Driftless region, this popular section of the Cannon River is…
Highway 5 to Preston Trailhead Park: A truly beautiful daytrip whose incredible attributes outweigh its detractions, (nonstop riffles and light rapids in trout stream-clear water past stunning bluffs with exposed rock outcrops vs. many portages around downed trees and ducking…
Kawishiwi Lake to Lake One: A quintessential canoe country trip that any paddler or outdoors lover should experience at some time in her life, the Boundary Waters is a special place that offers many rewards – an unspoiled landscape,…
Seemingly endless standing waves (and a first-ever shuttle via ATV) highlight this beautiful section of Minnesota’s Zumbro River, another run that made our Best Paddles of 2015 list...…
We made our first (recorded) visit into Minnesota territory in 2015 and it was a beauty worthy enough to make our Best Paddles of 2015 list...…
Zumbro Falls to Millville: The Zumbro River is a fun, occasionally riffly and easy-going paddle that cuts through the distant wooded bluffs of the beautiful Zumbro River Valley. Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Trip Report Date: June 1, 2015 Skill…
Faribault to Dundas: A visit to one of the staples of Bluff Country, the Cannon River offers a variety of beautiful sights, including limestone cliffs, outcrops and a stunning old gristmill to end the trip. Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆…