Also see 
MCA Traveler, MCA: Archive, River Stories
Albany River by Joan Furlong and Mary Jo Wuetrich (t19)
Sea Kayak Symposiums by Chuck Holst (t18)
BWCAW Work Trip Report By Carl B. Anderson (t17)
Pumpkin's Progress by Suzanne Goldklang (t16)
Sauna Tour '99 by Sarah Ohmann (t15)
Seven Mile Creek by Tom Marks (t14)
Dubuque or Bust!! (Well, ...) by Shirley Kysilko (t13)
BWCAW Trips (t1)
Seal River June 21-July 11,1996 by Steve Kohlhepp (t2)
The Wonder of Squaw Bay by Jan Olson (t3)
Minnehaha Creek Paddling by Shirley Kysilko (t4)
Vermillion River Rafting Memorial Day Weekend, 1981 - Originally Written by Tom Olson (t5)
Sand Island Trip by Chuck Holst (t6)
Seven Mile Creek by Tom Marks (t7)
YELLOW RIVER TRIP by Jim Blake (t8)
Rock And Roll (The Cloquet River) by Jan Olson (t9)
Canoeing the Missouri Breaks by Curt Bush (t10)
South Dakota Rapids? by Dan Tallman (t11)
TCSKA Trip to Rossport by Adrienne Madson (t12)
"It was a quiet week...." Some day I would like to be able to say that. The last week of September was very busy for Linda and me. On Saturday, September 25, we led an ISK day trip on the St. Croix River, joined by two other kayakers named Craig and Paula. The weather was even better than forecast, with sunny skies, a light breeze, and a high in the 70s. Fall color was just beginning to show in the trees. We put in at William O'Brien State Park and paddled upriver about four miles to an island just below the Soo Line bridge, where we picnicked on the beach. Then we paddled around the island and back to our put-in. That evening Linda and I attended the ISK Voyageurs trip reunion party, and the next day Linda represented the MCA at Carpenter Nature Center.
The following Wednesday was the last weekly evening paddle of the year. The air was cool, the wind light. Joined by Dana Dickson and Jody Russell, we paddled around the islands in Lake of the Isles. Then, in the darkness in the middle of Lake Calhoun, we rafted up and drifted slowly with the breeze as we talked quietly and made a toast to good friends and good paddling.
Saturday morning, after two evenings making chili and packing for the weekend, we put in at Wild River State Park for the first day of the MCA Fall Color Cruise. Six kayaks and two canoes, paddled by five women and four men, cruised upriver into a cold wind and then back down again. At William O'Brien, we set up tents and stoves, heated up the chili and corn bread, and sat around the fire telling tales late into the night. Sunday, joined by more canoes and kayaks, we paddled downstream from Interstate State Park to Osceola for lunch and the building contest (ISK member Dave Ender of Lake City won first place for his plywood kayak). Then nine kayaks and one canoe finished the trip to William O'Brien in sunshine and a light breeze. Kayakers go all the way!
Local Canoe Trips by Dale Eggert
Are you looking for a local canoe trip or quick getaway in the Twin Cities. Following is a list of possibilities to consider. Many of these have been described in past issues of HUT! You might also check with the MCA Cruise Director to see what is in the Cruise Files.
Rice Creek Lake Chain-Geo. Watch, Marshan and Rice; Access from Hodgson Road or Main Street in Lino Lakes. The channels between lakes may be hard to find later in the season when the rushes grow out.
Rice Creek - Stinson Blvd. to the Mississippi River. This is best in the early spring, but after a heavy rain it is canoeable.
St. Paul Chain of Lakes: Phalen-Round-Keller-Spoon-Gervais. There maybe a short portage between Round and Keller on the creek.
Mississippi River: There are three sections with a number of access points. Coon Rapids Dam Park to Boon Island in Minneapolis. Boom Island to Ft. Snelling State Park through the locks, and the Grey Cloud Island area in Cottage Grove. Minneapolis Chain of Lakes: Calhoun-Lake of the Isles-Cedar-Brownie or the Nokomis East and west and Hiawatha. Minnehaha Creek - The complete route of 21 miles can take 6-10 hours to complete. I have done it in three sections over 3 evening as follows: Grayís Bay to Knollwood Center, Knollwood to 50th & Wooddale in Edina and Edina to the Falls.
Crow River from Rockford to the Mississippi River. Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan Chain of Lakes: Jensen-OíBrian- Holland. This includes short portages between lakes. These are only some of the possibilities. Please share your favorite route with the MCA membership in a future HUT!
