Do river segments like “Ski Jump,” “Serpent Slide” and “Discretion Drop” sound like attractive places to paddle? How about “Machine Gun Ledges” or “Confinement Canyon”? If you’re an adrenaline junkie, running these whitewater maelstroms on area rivers Bois Brule, Devil Track, Poplar and Manitou will get your heart pumping.
But what about the rest of us, who find flatwater paddling in places like the Boundary Waters more our style? Why extend one’s personal paddling limits? Is there a middle ground for whitewater wannabes, and what’s the reward?
Here’s the how and why of experiencing Minnesota spring whitewater without having to descend a rocky horror river corridor.
By Chris Pascone
READING THE ROCKS
Most canoeists and kayakers envision paddling as peaceful, serene and transcendent. These “silent sports” give back in so many ways — exploring nature, exercising, traveling deep into the wilderness. But early spring provides opportunities for a different form of paddle sports — whitewater paddling, also known as “creek boating.”
It’s the time of year when nature opens the valves and lets loose, sending a crescendo of gravity-induced snowmelt and rainwater hurtling down toward Lake Superior. This is your best chance to see what whitewater paddling can do for your soul.
That said, one thing you can always count on in Minnesota is an unpredictable spring. Cory Mooney, a whitewater addict from Duluth, says unpredictable water levels are the North Shore’s own worst enemy: “The North Shore is world-class,” he says. “I think we’d have droves of people coming to visit if it was predictable. You don’t know if the rivers are going to be running at the end of March or the beginning of May, depending on snowmelt.”
Thus, Mooney and his paddling friends check water levels daily. Some rivers have online gauge readings, but for a lot of rivers that’s not the case. “On some rivers, you have to know exactly which rock to look at, and how high up on the rock the water level needs to be for good runs,” Mooney reports. “One day in April, a friend of mine from the Twin Cities took off work and drove all the way up to the Devil Track, north of Grand Marais, just to look at the rocks and see where the water was. It’s really feet-on-the-ground.”
While timing is everything for the most committed hardcore paddlers looking to launch down 15-foot waterfalls, novice whitewater enthusiasts need not be so demanding. Keep it simple and go in spring, when water levels are generally higher.
NEXT-LEVEL PADDLING
Whitewater paddling enhances your appreciation of a wild environment. With Minnesota whitewater currently flowing high, it’s up to you to take the next steps. Let the power of whitewater deliver you a deeper paddling experience this spring.