Big Sioux River: Lake Alvin to Klondike Mill

After completing a water sampling project on Lake Alvin, fourteen paddlers moved across the highway along the Grandview Road to the “put-in” at the public access area on the South Dakota side of the Big Sioux River. 

After arranging a shuttle of vehicles down to the Klondike Mill along the Iowa side of the river, the group launched through a muddy ramp into the river for the eight-mile cruise downstream.

The river was running moderately fast and full, the depth was adequate, and the wind was mostly at our back.  There were no threatening strainers or rapids. The dark skies had disappeared and there was nice sun on us all the way.  It was a perfect afternoon for a river cruise.

Experience among the paddlers ranged from novice to highly experienced.  I was, as usual, the oldest paddler, but there were also two young people with their dad in rented kayaks. 

We traveled as a group more than is usually the case.  While we were stretched out for a few hundred yards, most of the time nearly all the kayaks were visible.  A couple of the more experienced paddlers brought up the rear so that slower paddlers would not become isolated and out of sight.

There were lots of perching birds about, but I did not see many waterfowl or shore birds.  I did not see any mammal life along the banks.  This is to be expected, however, when a flotilla of 14 boats with paddlers in social conversation among themselves pass through their waters.

This is a beautiful stretch of river.  There are high cut banks along parts of the route and four-foot high banks along much of the rest.  The banks are consistently wooded, and this tree cover and high banks moderates the wind force. Several beaches were available for people to stop for a stretch, and we took a twenty-minute break along one of them on the Iowa side.

Over the course of the year, those segments of the Big Sioux River between Sioux Falls and Newton Hills are traveled several times on SDCKA cruises. It is usually a tranquil and social time for paddlers, a time to become better acquainted with others who share the sport.

Paddlers in the area are lucky to have Dave and Mary Finck and Larry Braaten as cruise and shuttle organizers.  They lead many cruises on area streams and rivers from March through November, and we all benefit greatly from their generous efforts. 

For those interested in viewing the complete file of photographs of this cruise, please feel free to access my Flickr account at the following URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157630153826022/