Canoe trip notes - updated May 23, 2008

Suggested rivers:

  • Namekagon in northwest Wisconsin near Trego and Spooner
  • Root River in southeast Minnesota
  • Zumbro in southeast Minnesota - Too shallow?
  • Flambeau in northwest Wisconsin near Ladysmith
  • Upper St. Croix
    • Rush City to Sunrise landing (about 11 miles)
    • Sunrise landing to Wild river park (about 11 miles)
    • Taylors Falls to Osceola or Copas
  • Cannon River from Welch to Red Wing
  • Red Cedar River from Menomenie going south
  • St. Louis - above Cloquet

Links:

Further notes to follow, check back for updates.

~ Karl

Comments via email about past canoe trips:

Rivers canoed include the Namekagon in northwest Wisconsin near Trego and Spooner, the Root and the Zumbro in southeast Minnesota, and the Flambeau in northwest Wisconsin near Ladysmith, and other lesser rivers I don’t recall.
[Jesse]


The best Men’s canoe trip I went on was two years ago on the Namekagan River. Paul Mchugh did a great job of organizing. He found an outfitter, Heartwood (two hour drive), by Minong that provided everything for us except food. We put in on Sat. morning, went six miles and set up camp. Sunday we paddled just five more miles to the take out. It was just the right amount of canoeing vs. free time for swimming and horsing around.

Four years ago I lead the men’s trip on the upper St. Croix. Only five went and we fit everything into two canoes and paddled 11 miles as well. That was a great trip also and can be outfitted by Wild River Outfitters right there on highway 70 by Grantsburg (1.5 hour drive).

I have heard the Root River (two hour drive) was good three years ago, also, but I did not go on that one.

Other rivers I think are possibilities are the Cannon, Welch to Red Wing (one hour drive). Not Cannon falls to Welch because of all the tubers. The Red Cedar from Menomenie going south is good and there is a good outfitter in Menomenie (one hour drive). I think the St. Croix has other good options also. The stretch from Rush City too Sunrise landing (about 11 miles) is excellent (one hour drive) and from Sunrise landing to Wild river park (about 11 miles) is good too (one hour drive). Also Taylors Falls to Osceola or Copas is good (one hour drive).

Someone suggested the Upper Iowa, maybe it was you, but I think that is a long drive for a weekend, and transportation gets to be an issue because some of these people do not drive. When I suggested the upper St. Croix four years ago, some thought that was too far although the Namekagon is further but the Upper Iowa is much further. Decorah is 45 minutes further than the Root (Preston - Lanesboro), which is a two hour drive. [Ernie]


It is a bit of a drive, but Northeast Iowa is georgeous. Ed Ed (who doesn’t do email) suggested this to me a while back and has specific ideas about the details.
The Root River from Chatsworth and Lanesboro is a winner as well.
[Wayne]


I love the Namekagon even if I may not know how to spell it. The trip in 2006 was a beauty.
[Don]