Probably not a destination to trip too, but I spent alot of time paddling this river in southern Wisconsin, fishing & hunting :)

I also love the Great Mississippi, I want to paddle a different section of this river every year until I have paddled all of it in Minnesota...I might never get it done but it is fun trying.

WW -

A couple years back I was bicycling on the Coon Rapids dam (in the Twin Cities) on the Mississippi.  I saw this older guy "portaging" around the dam & decided to offer him a hand.

Turned out he had started 16 days earlier at the source of the river.  His intention was to paddle the whole doggone river down to the Gulf of Mexico!  It was his "retirement present" to himself.  

I only hope I do myself such a favor upon retirement....

Jimbo

I've pondered that trip as a father son trip when my son graduates from high school, before he leaves for college.  However, I am not independently wealthy enough to take about three months off work.  I am also not sure I would want to trade a summer on the Mississippi for a week or two in the much cleaner and quiter Q.

I would be happy to just do all of the Mississippi that is in Minnesota, There are some really remote areas of the big river starting from Crowwing State Park heading north.... going to do the section between Aitkin & Brainerd this spring, should take a couple of days as it snakes around alot. :)