Wow, looks like quite the mis-adventure! The rivers have been high around here until a few days ago, the Red was actually above flood stage for about a week and a half. I guess the high water wasn't a factor down in your neck of the woods...

A friend and I had a somewhat similar experience on the St. Louis River a few summers ago. It was 4th of July weekend, and a two day pleasure cruise turned into dragging the canoe for 3.5 miles over boulders, a six-mile hike back to the truck, and a night at the hotel / bar in Eveleth.

Just before we hit the last boulder section, it started to rain. A little over a MILE later, cold and wet and exhausted, we pulled over to make camp for the night. The next morning we loaded the canoe and dragged it through the woods about 1/2 mile to the nearest gravel road, and it was easier going through the woods than on the river. We were HAPPY to be bushwhacking through SNF.

We stashed the canoe and hiked the six miles back to the Hoyt Lakes DNR landing, then drove to Eveleth and promptly got a hotel room at the Super 8. Then we went to Goodfellas (?) for a steak and some whiskey, and spent the rest of the night drinking beer in the hotel sauna.

It was 4th of July weekend, and the DNR water level information stated that the levels in the river were "plenty" for canoeing.

Note to self...


A few pictures:
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