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

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Split Rock Creek: Upstream from Garretson



This was a wonderful day, a day to relish being retired and able to operate on my own agenda!  After my routine bagel, two cups of coffee, and a good read at my favorite morning spot, I walked back home, fed the Finnegan the dog, and took off for Garretson for a paddle through the palisades. 

The Garretson City Park was developed in the 1930s as part of the WPA.  The project employed 47 men in the construction of a dam and the stone building that serves as the park headquarters.  The park is owned and maintained by the city and is really a fine place for a hike, camping, day use, fishing, and, of course, as a launching point for canoeing or kayaking upstream for a mile and a half or so.   This is also where the touring pontoon boat “Jesse James” departs.

As normal, I was alone in the park and on the water.  I set out and crossed to the other side to observe some geese paddling around.  As I approached the first set of palisades, I was surprised by a large goose flying out of the cliff wall.  I could not see how the goose managed to find a spot in the cliff, but it zoomed over my kayak so close that I could hear the wind turbulence of its passage.  I suppose that I spooked the goose causing it to flee my presence.  If I had been hit by that large goose, it would almost certainly have caused a capsize.

There were more geese on the water today than I have ever seen.  They were flying overhead, fleeing from the cliffs, on the water, and in gaggles in the grass along the shore.  I saw a pair waddling along through the grass with a group of goslings trailing behind.

A few turtles were out sunning themselves in the 70-degree sunny and windless day.

As always, though, the palisades are the dominant feature along this waterway.  I was cruising through about 9:30 a.m. so there were nice shadows cast on the water.  The spring vegetation has taken hold with a world of green emerging all over the landscape.  The green trees growing on top, in the cracks, and on ledges of the cliffs are spectacular. 
I just like to cruise alongside the cliffs and look up at the hardy plants that have taken hold on the cliff faces.  There are also lots of cave-like entrances into the cliff, although I think that they just extend a few feet.  Soon the cliff swallows will return and bring clouds of these birds around the palisades.  They live in mud waddle nests that are enclosed except for a conical entrance hole.

At times the palisades rise up along both sides of the waterway; and at other times, they alternate on sides of the creek. 

The creek can be navigated upstream for about 1.5 miles until reaching a set of rapids.  Essentially, this is where the backed up water from the dam ends, and the creek reverts back to its rocky course.  Two houses are located at this ending point on the impounded water.

On the way back, as usual, I ducked under the stone arched bridge to cruise into Devil’s Gulch. It is possible to paddle back a few hundred yards until running out of water depth.  High palisades line the banks of the gulch, just as along the main course of the creek. A high railroad trestle runs overhead crossing the gulch. There were even geese on these waters today.

My cruise this morning took about an hour and a half.  However, I lingered along the cliff faces, looked at the geese, and just cruised along at my slow but contemplative pace. As I cruised along, I noticed the contrails of jet aircraft crossing high overhead, bound for distant places.  The reflection of their contrails traveled along with me on the return cruise.

The last time I kayaked this waterway was in November on a cold moonlight cruise under the leadership of Dave Finck.  As I moved along the creek today, I thought about that cruise in the cold and dark and the challenge it represented. 

A cruise along Split Rock Creek upstream from the city park is one of my favorite outings for friends wishing to go kayaking.  I make the cruise about three times a year to enjoy the changing seasons along the shoreline.

Past cruises along this waterway can be reviewed through the narratives listed under Split Rock Creek in the inventory on the right side of the blog.  A complete set of the photographs associated with this cruise can be viewed on my Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157629892366503/


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