This blog is designed to highlight the paddling opportunities within South Dakota, mainly within a 50-mile radius of Sioux Falls. While Sioux Falls is far from the adventure of coastal regions, there is a certain satisfaction in utilizing the available waterways to observe weather, water conditions, and the landscape along the shoreline. In addition, there is a wealth of animal life on the waters of small South Dakota lakes, rivers, and creeks, including geese, ducks, pelicans, great blue heron, egrets, hawks, owls, perching birds, deer, raccoons, and beaver. Eagles, fox, and coyote are also sometimes spotted.

The sites described are places where I have kayaked over the past few years, mostly in South Dakota but sometimes including locations in Iowa and Minnesota. One of the best sources of information on the accessibility of small lakes is the South Dakota Atlas and Gazetteer, the large map book of South Dakota. Lakes with a public access are generally identified by a boat symbol marking the location of a launching site on public land.

You will notice the menu of paddling locations on the right side of the blog. Each of the postings is linked to one of the areas, and my intention is to provide a continuing review of the places where I paddle. Perhaps these narratives will help readers select waterways of interest to them. Please feel free to offer a comment regarding any of my postings; I would welcome the dialog.

I also maintain a companion blog that describes hiking opportunities within the Sioux Falls area. You can access that blog at: http://hikingsiouxfalls.blogspot.com

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Winter SDCA Conference - Sioux Falls: January 26, 2008

SDCA Logo


The annual winter conference for the South Dakota Canoe Association will be held in Sioux Falls at the Outdoor Campus on Saturday, January 26, 2008, from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. This is a time for fellowship, networking, and learning for those of us interested in paddling our waterways in kayaks or canoes.

The conference this year will feature a PowerPoint slide show of waterways in the general Sioux Falls area – the Missouri River to Oakwood Lakes, navigational and personal safety, boat building, perhaps kayak fishing, Boundary Waters cruising, and bird watching on area lakes and streams. In addition, Dick Davidson will present a slide show describing one of his many adventures on northern rivers. A High Arctic Solo Canoe Trip on the Mara and Burnside Rivers to Bathurst Inlet will be great fun for all of us armchair adventurers who wish we could just chuck it all and head out on a long wilderness adventure. Dick Davidson is the most adventurous paddler I have ever known. For over 25 years, I have followed his canoe treks through Canada and Alaska. Just listening to him and looking at his slides is a great treat; I hold him in the highest regard. As the very long time president of the SDCA, he has helped many people find satisfaction in self-propelled travel on both area waterways and distant rivers, usually rivers flowing through northern wilderness areas.

There will be a discussion of cruises planned for next season, and an opportunity for conference attendees to offer their ideas for SDCA sponsored trips. We will elect officers for the next year, and there are several spots open for those who would like to take on a leadership organization within the organization.

So, I hope that you will mark your calendars for January 26, from noon to 3:00 p.m., and join us at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus, located near the Butterfly House and the Empire Mall –between 49th and 57th Streets.
Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)