QuietJourney Forums - Print Page

QuietJourney Forums
Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums >> Other Places to Paddle >> mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling water https://quietjourney.com/community/YABB.cgi?num=1082509176 Message started by uirgreyjay55 on Apr 20^th, 2004 at 11:59pm

Title: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling water
Post by uirgreyjay55 on Apr 20^th, 2004 at 11:59pm

my neighbor is a dnr employee who has maps of the mississippi river backwaters. he has paddled these waters before and has found solitude and beauty.
this friday we are heading over to the river, 35 miles east of decorah iowa to paddle and camp!
there is an abundance of wildlife now, with no bugs!
i'll post how it went when i return! grey

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by Riversend on Apr 21^st, 2004 at 2:50am

Grey: my future dream is to travel the countries great rivers.wether it be up or down. Any reports will be taken with respect. Hope I live long enough to do many of them. I've been thinking of the great circle route. but thats a lot of area to cover. Great grandaddy pioneers had it made, nuthin but a river and no place else to go...man, they had it made!

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by Kingfisher on Apr 21^st, 2004 at 4:23am

Also fishing for most species is open year round on the big river and it's backwaters and through May it can be great!

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by CanoePam on Apr 21^st, 2004 at 8:34pm

Grey:
Are you camping on the river? What specific part? I've been for day trips in the Mark Twain refuge down in Louisa County (I think) but never farther north.

Pam

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by uirgreyjay55 on Apr 21^st, 2004 at 9:12pm

yes pam, we are planning on two evening campouts, with fire and stargazing!
this time of year the grass is low on the islands and shorelines!
we will put in above lansing iowa and paddle upriver into the big muddy's backwaters!
should be very cool, hope the weather is decent! grey

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by kennedy63 on Apr 26^th, 2004 at 4:20am

I have duck hunted the backwaters extensively from Red Wing, MN to Lansing, Iowa. I would think that you could get some pretty good solitude this time of year, especially if you stay away from the "motor navigable" portions. Bring some good rubber boots, or consider a pair of hip waders.

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by troutbreath on Apr 26^th, 2004 at 8:09pm

So, Grey, what happened? When do we get a trip report?

TB

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by uirgreyjay55 on Apr 26^th, 2004 at 8:58pm

sorry tb, it'll have to be later, this weekend did'nt happen!
other commitments came up! grey

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by BWyoungster on May 6^th, 2004 at 12:33am

I would love to paddle the length of the Mississippi some day, does anyone know aprox. how long it takes??

Title: Re: mississippi river backwater-untappedpaddling w
Post by quetico_vet on May 6^th, 2004 at 9:03pm

wrote on May 6^th, 2004 at 12:33am:

I would love to paddle the length of the Mississippi some day, does anyone know aprox. how long it takes??

Upstream or downstream? Sorry BWY, I couldn't help myself....

I could get mileage for you from point A to point B, then all you'd have to do is the math (that's the hard part for me ;) ) Just figure in some delay time at the locks and you're there...

Cheers,

q_v