Canoes and rivers (Duluth, Winona, Stillwater: camps, live in, moving)

[demtion35]

Does anyone know of any meandering slow moving rivers with little or no current that would be excellent for canoeing?

Some rivers are just like the description above and would be great for a canoe trip.

In Wisconson near Superior there is such a river, known as the world famous Burle River.

What are some of the others, Im sure this will be very helpful and alot of people will find the answers useful and informative.

Lets explore all that Minnesota has to offer including some of its hidden gems, for those that love being here and coming here for vacations and trips.

Thanks

[heartwd]

In southeast MN there are many great rivers for canoeing! The Zumbro, Cannon, Root, and Whitewater are the first that come to mind that we have done in the last few years. The following web site is a great resource for info.

Southeast Minnesota Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - Water Trails

[Ghengis]

St Croix River (Nat'l Scenic Waterway) offers many options and outfitters providing drop-offs and pick-ups beginning at Taylors Falls and south to Stillwater. I would guess Taylors Falls is a 30 to 45 minute drive from downtown MPLS.

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway - St. Croix Outfitters (U.S. National Park Service)

from weatherunderground.com...

[demtion35]

heartwd, thanks do you canoe often? Sounds like you are mostly on the southeast MN. rivers?
I live in Duluth but dont mind driving. Im always passing over some small stream or river and always wonder what the name of this water is or where does this go, or that looks good for a canoe.
By the way our annual canoe trip is starting in four weeks from now in the BWCAW, for six days. Usually we leave in mid May but this year our schedules did not work out and we were so happy as it turns out mid May this year was cold windy and rainy. Yuck!
It is just my gf and I and our tripping dog who loves the canoe.
This will be our 6th year of paddling in the BW.
Our first canoe I bought from someone in St Paul for $500.00 was an Old TownTravellor weighs in at about #97. Way too heavy so traded it for #47 Winnonaoh Andarondik at 16' and we had this canoe for five trips.
This spring we drove to Ely and traded it for another and older Winnonaoh Sundowner weighs 42# and paid a difference of $50.00. This boat is sweet at 18' and handles and holds all of our gear so much better.
I end up taking about 10 rolls of film with us for our trips. We have had moose and wolf encounters with the hearing of the wolves at night time and being blessed with several close sightings and about 12 photos taken with my telephoto lens. Most people dont ever see a wolf in the wild and to be able to do so is a real experience not to be forgotten.
The sound of loons in the night is the most beautiful sound there is for us to hear. Campfire and the smell of woodsmoke and fresh brewed coffee. So far we have not had to deal with fire ban then there would not be a campfire for that time.
Some of the rivers we have been on are portinons of Isabella and several others in the Superior National Forest in northern MN.
Thanks

[demtion35]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

St Croix River (Nat'l Scenic Waterway) offers many options and outfitters providing drop-offs and pick-ups beginning at Taylors Falls and south to Stillwater. I would guess Taylors Falls is a 30 to 45 minute drive from downtown MPLS.

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway - St. Croix Outfitters (U.S. National Park Service)

from weatherunderground.com...

Its been years since Ive been to the river in the town of Stillwater. This is a lovely town and very old, The oldest in Minnestota if Im not mistaken
Looks great for canoe
Thanks alot Ghengis

[akronbball]

Originally Posted by heartwd

In southeast MN there are many great rivers for canoeing! The Zumbro, Cannon, Root, and Whitewater are the first that come to mind that we have done in the last few years. The following web site is a great resource for info.

Southeast Minnesota Flatwater Paddling & Canoeing - Water Trails

Could also try the backwaters of the Mississippi River. The Winona area or the weaver bottoms/dunes in southern Wabasha County have good areas to paddle.

[newcastle]

Originally Posted by demtion35

heartwd, thanks do you canoe often? Sounds like you are mostly on the southeast MN. rivers?
I live in Duluth but dont mind driving. Im always passing over some small stream or river and always wonder what the name of this water is or where does this go, or that looks good for a canoe.
By the way our annual canoe trip is starting in four weeks from now in the BWCAW, for six days. Usually we leave in mid May but this year our schedules did not work out and we were so happy as it turns out mid May this year was cold windy and rainy. Yuck!
It is just my gf and I and our tripping dog who loves the canoe.
This will be our 6th year of paddling in the BW.
Our first canoe I bought from someone in St Paul for $500.00 was an Old TownTravellor weighs in at about #97. Way too heavy so traded it for #47 Winnonaoh Andarondik at 16' and we had this canoe for five trips.
This spring we drove to Ely and traded it for another and older Winnonaoh Sundowner weighs 42# and paid a difference of $50.00. This boat is sweet at 18' and handles and holds all of our gear so much better.
I end up taking about 10 rolls of film with us for our trips. We have had moose and wolf encounters with the hearing of the wolves at night time and being blessed with several close sightings and about 12 photos taken with my telephoto lens. Most people dont ever see a wolf in the wild and to be able to do so is a real experience not to be forgotten.
The sound of loons in the night is the most beautiful sound there is for us to hear. Campfire and the smell of woodsmoke and fresh brewed coffee. So far we have not had to deal with fire ban then there would not be a campfire for that time.
Some of the rivers we have been on are portinons of Isabella and several others in the Superior National Forest in northern MN.
Thanks

I just got back from the BWCAW on a canoe trip and had a blast. A bunch of friends and I went up the Gunflint and through Poplar Lake and portaged in to Gatskin and camped there. The last portage at Gaskin was awful. I now call it cardiac hill as I was carrying-two 60 lb packs and a canoe!

Had some good fishing and beautiful weather. I used a Wenonha that I rented from UMD's RSOP and it sucked. It had some strange, flexible material for the bottom and it felt like it was dragging through the water.

As for rivers, the St. Louis portion in Cloquet that runs into Jay Cooke is nice. Jay Cooke also has level 5 rapids for Kayaks when they open the Thompson Dam.

[jwmn]

The Crow Wing River is quite excellent, in my opinion.

[demtion35]

Originally Posted by newcastle

I just got back from the BWCAW on a canoe trip and had a blast. A bunch of friends and I went up the Gunflint and through Poplar Lake and portaged in to Gatskin and camped there. The last portage at Gaskin was awful. I now call it cardiac hill as I was carrying-two 60 lb packs and a canoe!

Had some good fishing and beautiful weather. I used a Wenonha that I rented from UMD's RSOP and it sucked. It had some strange, flexible material for the bottom and it felt like it was dragging through the water.

As for rivers, the St. Louis portion in Cloquet that runs into Jay Cooke is nice. Jay Cooke also has level 5 rapids for Kayaks when they open the Thompson Dam.

We did that route in 06' From Popular into the EP at Liz Lake, into Caribu and west into Meedes, south into Swallow and Pillsbury, and finally into the western tip of Gaskin.

The third campsite from the west heading east is where we stopped staying there for six days, this is a five star site!! Absolutely perfect!!

One day we bushwacked into Larson Lake discovering an old smaller cave along the way, that was cool.

Another daytrip we went into Winchell Lake and goofed off in that area.

I have watched them do the rapids course on the Thompson dam of the river for several years, and boy is that a current and rapids class five for sure course for the competition.

The Colquet River looks decent for canoes in many sections over north of Duluth in that area.

Thanks