Missouri River in South Dakota

Trip Overview

The Missouri River through South Dakota offers great opportunities for paddlers interested in wide-open spaces, solitude, history, and adventure. Go for an overnighter or for an extended trek across the state. Most of the river consists of huge reservoirs held back by 4 dams, that offer endless miles of paddling. Below Ft. Randall dam the river resembles how it might have looked 200yrs ago when the famous Lewis and Clark expeditions passed through the area. Here the river ranges from a 1/4 to 1/2 a mile wide with a typical lazy current of about 4mph. Sand bars and cottonwood islands offer some great camping spots. The river continues in this matter for some 45 miles before running into the next reservoir. With a view from the river you will find little evidence to suggest that it is not the 1800s, there is little development if any on the vast majority of the river. With the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark journey nearly here there is no time like the present to share in a historical adventure on the mighty Missouri.

Missouri River Expeditions is a company that offers guided, fully outfitted, 3-day kayak trips on South Dakotas Lewis and Clark Trail. If you want to go on an adventure and get spoiled with bannanas foster and a bottle of bubbly these are the guys you want to call. How many of you out there have had a guide that could make you homemade chicken pate and Italian chicken on braised lentils with a camp stove in the middle of nowhere?

Just wanted to spread a good thing around!

Accommodations:

Camping both rustic and organized.

Contact:

Missouri River Expeditions LLC, 605-624-2627, www.missriverexp.com

Resources:

Navigation maps from the Army Corps of Engineers.