Big Sioux River - Trent to past Dell Rapids

Not for the Meek

A Guest Blog Entry by Jarett C. Bies, Sioux Falls

On the Saturday before Memorial Day my wife Laura and I sought some Big Sioux paddling and we considered several options before choosing a run from Trent, SD, to Dell Rapids. I had done the trip before and she had not, so when I mentioned we could go past Dell Rapids and through the Dells of the Big Sioux River, she said, sure that sounds good.



While the day was windy, it wasn’t hot, and so we drove north to Trent (about 30+ miles N. of Sioux Falls) after calling The River of the Double Bend Campground. Deb and Morris Kirkegaard run that campground, and they said they’d be willing to shuttle our car from Trent to our stopping point down river.

We paid them $10 for this service to cover gas and unloaded in the grass at their put-in. The access point is neither easy nor dry, and so we started our journey (at about 1:45 p.m.) with a bit of black mud in our cockpits but with good spirits.

Almost immediately after launching at Trent, one finds the remnants of a lowhead dam near the bridge that crosses the BSR entering the town of Trent. Approaching it from the water it looks scary, with tremendous swells and surges in the water’s surface, but it’s actually fun and besides getting a chilly lapful of water, most folks will have no trouble going through this five-seconds-of-rapids section.

After we went through that part, the river winds were in our face, then our side, then behind us as we snaked south down the Big Sioux. Having the river to ourselves, we imagined fur traders and others who before us had made this trip. There are splendid views along the way, and the trip between Trent and Dell Rapids does feature a number of natural sandy beaches.

We stopped at one beach to stretch, and the wind’s howl was enough to leave us feeling chilled and ready to get back into the cockpit. With all its bends, the Big Sioux is not a trip for the meek; it is a long stretch, regardless of where you start and finish, and beginners should not be coddled. You will have to paddle, working hard, to get down river. This is not a mere float or excursion where resting is the focus.

We reached Dell Rapids (“Just around the bend, I swear it,” I said more than once) City Park around 6 pm. Since we were fresh at the start, I has asked Mr. Kirkegaard to drop our car at a bridge (I believe it is the Colton Road Bridge) below the Dells. I regret that choice, as after 4+ hours of paddling we were both ready to be done.

Wildlife sightings along the way had bolstered our efforts but four hours of anything is indeed a bit much. We saw several owls and a few hawks, also spotted a turkey vulture and a few deer, but early morning or late evening is the best time to see all the critters on the river.

After a snack and some rest, we put back in at Dell Rapids City Park. The journey from Trent to that point is a nice solid 4-hour paddle and is perhaps a better “starter” paddle from Trent down. But we needed to reach our car and so onward we paddled.

On a gear note, my wife recently started using some soft rubber paddle sleeves to avoid blisters. They worked really well; in the past she’s gotten nasty cuts on the webbing between her thumb and forefinger and with these grips she was able to avoid them. The “reduces fatigue” claim the product makes was something we laughed about; our long trip was tiring.

Shortly after the park, the river splits into left and right channels. If you’re doing this trip for the first time, you HAVE TO GO LEFT, otherwise, you’ll face a nasty lowhead dam and a portage. But again, the trip’s level of difficulty goes up; we hit the rapids that give the town its name with a vengeance. A shore fisherman said “You’re going thru those?” and wished us luck.

These rapids, unlike the ones at Trent, are at least 100 yards long. Both of our boats (mine 17 feet, hers 15 feet) were turned sideways and bumped rocks as we passed through. We both realized at a certain point that you have to just let the river do what it will and while we were turned around we were never turned over, so it was a thrill and over before we knew it.

Immediately after that rush of water, the Dells of the river are visible and beautiful. It was worth it to see those towering multi-colored walls. Like the canyons at Palisades State Park in Garretson, SD, the walls fade away quickly and we were back to the same scenery we’d experienced during the four hours above Dell Rapids.



Again the twisting river led us to hope that next bend would give way to the car. Kirkegaard said it was about 30 minutes from the park to the bridge. I would clock it at twice that, but finally, shortly after the rivers reconverge, we found ourselves looking at the bridge.

I was able to crawl from my boat on the bank on the west side below the bridge, but the take-out there is murky, weedy, and not for a beginner. There was no way for me, save climbing into chest deep water, to stabilize my wife’s boat for her to take out there, so I grabbed my kayak and told her to paddle to the other side, on the east bank, where there appeared to be an easier departure point.

I was wrong; the bank was clearer but the vegetation gave way to ankle-deep mud. With the fatigue of the day on our shoulders, we did our best to stay calm and find a way for her to exit. Finally I just climbed into the water and man-hauled her and her yellow kayak onto a muddy bank. I was caked from toes to mid-thigh as we hauled the boat up to the car.



Folks seeking a long, adventurous paddle with rapids, beautiful scenery and a challenging take-out point will enjoy this route. Softer folks would not enjoy this endurance test. We’d do it again, albeit on a less windy day (and with a lunch packed along) but it’s not a relaxing half-day of fun. It was after 8 p.m. when our boats were loaded and we were driving back to Sioux Falls.



The Big Sioux River is close, and challenging, but alas, hit it soon; after July 4 it’s usually not as much fun as water levels go down. Here’s to hoping for June rains! As for the driving distance, it’s a nice option for the determined paddler seeking away-from-folks action on a diverse body of water.

Jarett C. Bies
June 8, 2007

Lake Marindahl

Lake Marindahl – June 2007

For a long time I have wanted to visit Lake Marindahl. I had heard good things about it from fellow small boat enthusiasts and colleagues at the University of South Dakota, and today I finally made the trip. This lake is on the outside of my normal cruising perimeter; it is 70 miles from my eastside home in Sioux Falls, and I normally resist spending more time on the drive than I do on the water.



This morning, I set off in my Honda Civic with the big red kayak on top and drove along secondary roads through the springtime green with Joan Baez singing to me on a set of CDs as the decades dropped away along the drive. I drove down Highway 11 to Canton, west on Highway 18 to 19, through Viborg down to Irene, west on Highway 46 for a few miles until I saw the sign to Lake Marindahl. The sign indicated that the lake was three miles south on 446th Ave. That was the last sign to be seen. With my South Dakota Atlas, I saw that the launching point was at the south end of the lake. From 446th Ave, you have to turn back east to 447th Ave. and go for about a mile or so until you get to 301st Street. At that point, you head north for a mile or so on a gravel road to the State of South Dakota Lake Access point. The launching area is at the extreme south end of the lake just north of the dam and spillway and is well developed with a good gravel approach and parking area, a dock, and a toilet.



The lake has been created by damming up Clay Creek which feeds into the northern end. It is a beautiful setting with heavy tree cover and high banks at the southern two-thirds of the lake. There are some spectacular cliffs, especially on the eastern side, that are perhaps 100 feet high. The lake is long and relatively narrow with irregular shoreline on both sides. I was impressed with the large trees that are dominate along the southern end. The lake is pretty deep for prairie waterways and is about a third again as large as Lake Alvin.



There is plenty of variation along the shoreline and high banks so that there would nearly always be a sheltered side. On this trip, the wind was quite light, the temperature was about 70 or so at 9:30 a.m. when I arrived, and there were only a couple of fishing boats out on the water. By the time I returned, I was alone at the site.



As I cruised up the length of the lake, I moved along the shoreline peering into the growth of trees and bushes and up at the cliffs. As I got further north, there was much more birdlife, including ducks and great blue herons. The tree cover and hills begin to diminish as you move into the northern third of the lake. Still, this is an area where there seems to be more bird life. I saw lots of turtles sunning themselves on logs along the shore and jumping carp in the shallower areas. I did not, however, see any mammal life on this cruise, although the habitat seemed as though it would support a variety of animals.





Lake Marindahl is really a jewel of an area waterway. It is a tranquil and beautiful setting that provides great visual variety. It is fun to hover along the shore and stare up at the high cliffs. Still, it is a pretty long drive from Sioux Falls. I spent the whole morning for those 90 minutes on the lake. But then, I am retired and riding along listening to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan is not a bad way to spend the morning. For people who live in Vermillion or Yankton, this would be a great trip to take frequently. For me, I suppose that once a year is probably going to be my scheduled visit to Lake Marindahl.

Lake Alvin Canoe Festival - June 2007

Canoe/Kayak Festival – Lake Alvin June 3, 2007



The South Dakota Canoe Association (SDCA) hosted its annual festival of boats at Lake Alvin on Sunday, June 3. This is an event sponsored by the SDCA that provides an opportunity for people to try out a variety of canoes and kayaks that belong to members. People who want an introduction to kayaking often come out to try their hand at one or more of the available boats. Also, people who are interested in the experience of paddling another style of boat are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.



The day began with temperatures in the 70s, light wind, and sunny skies. Within an hour or so after the event began, a thunderstorm developed, and most of us were caught out on the lake or at the launching area and got a little wet. The rain was not cold, however, and we all were able to deal with it just fine. After half-an-hour, perhaps, the rain moved off and the boats were back on the lake. By then the wind was a little stronger, but the sun had reemerged and the day looked good.





Pete Larson brought a couple of whitewater kayaks along and demonstrated how to roll them. Rick Johns brought a couple of finely hand crafted kayaks for people to try out. He even did a little fishing from his kayak. ShaRon Kelly had a trailer full of canoes for people to try out if they wished. There were perhaps eight or ten kayaks out on the water most of the time.



The SDCA sponsors several cruises each season, and these are highlighted in the club newsletter. Joining the SDCA is a pretty good way to keep alert to paddling and fellowship activities associated with canoe and kayak activity. The price is right: $10.00 a year for an individual membership. For those who would like to initiate a membership, just send your information (Name, Address, Phone, e-mail, experience, hobbies/interests) and a check to: Director of Membership, SDCA, P.O. Box 90227, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-0227.