The Crow River watershed is largely located within the area 100 miles west from the Twin Cities before it detours northeast to dump into the Mississippi and form the border of Hennepin County. While the river stretches upstream for countless unmarked miles and also includes a Middle Fork, only the North Fork beginning at theContinue reading “Canoeing Minnesota’s Crow River”
Category Archives: Paddling
Canoeing the Zumbro River
Nestled in southeastern Minnesota, the Zumbro River has multiple branches and forks that come together to make their way to the mighty Mississippi. Carving through the driftless region, this designated Minnesota Water Trail passes bluffs, farms, and quaint towns. Water levels are often low, so it’s imperative to check gauges before setting out. Usually ErikContinue reading “Canoeing the Zumbro River”
Paddling Minnesota’s Snake River: In Four Parts
Located in eastern central Minnesota, the Snake River flows largely south from McGrath to Mora before turning east and winding its way to the Saint Croix River. The watershed to the north flows into Lake Superior, but the water on the Snake will eventually make its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Spanning nine years,Continue reading “Paddling Minnesota’s Snake River: In Four Parts”
Canoeing the Big Fork Plus a Little
In pursuit of the Minnesota Water Trails, initially Erik and I planned to canoe the Red Lake River to the Red River to the Canadian Border with my mom providing a shuttle. Mother Nature had other plans with the flooded Red River creating what looked like a giant lake between Grand Forks north to theContinue reading “Canoeing the Big Fork Plus a Little”
A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure
As we paddle all the designated Minnesota water trails, Erik is often intrigued by the non-designated waterways and in particular, loop connections. He found such a one, the Rabbit River, that almost forms a connection with the Mississippi between highway 6 and Riverton. And so an adventure was born. In addition, we’d take almost aContinue reading “A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure”
Boundary Waters: The Fernberg Road Loop
A few years ago, someone was telling me about how they were a guide in the Boundary Waters. I almost said “oh, yeah, I go there all the time.” I stopped myself and realized “Elspeth, you hardly ever go to the Boundary Waters.” Somehow, because most people I know frequently go to the Boundary WatersContinue reading “Boundary Waters: The Fernberg Road Loop”
The Great Northeast Minnesota River Loop
This loop begins near the town of Floodwood. From here, we paddled up the Whiteface River to the Whiteface Reservoir and then portaged into the Saint Louis River and paddled back to Floodwood. Erik, my husband, found this route on the map. It can be difficult to combine loops when paddling rivers, but this lookedContinue reading “The Great Northeast Minnesota River Loop”
Backpacking and Packrafting Gates of the Arctic National Park
Alaska has been on my radar since I learned the place existed. It’s larger than life and has mountains. But it’s huge with infinite places to explore. In 2015 I saw photos from Gates of the Arctic National Park and decided we had to go there. After much planning and changing our itinerary, we eventuallyContinue reading “Backpacking and Packrafting Gates of the Arctic National Park”
Canoeing Minnesota’s Rum River
Over the long Memorial Day weekend of 2016, (taking Friday off from work) my husband, Erik, and I paddled the 154 mile Rum River. Erik’s parents, Barb and Steve, helped us with a shuttle. The Rum has a special meaning to me because when I was a kid, we had a cabin on the riverContinue reading “Canoeing Minnesota’s Rum River”
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail: 700 Miles from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine
Around 2007, back when Erik and I were dating, we loved going to the Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo and there we learned about the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). A few years later, after doing Minnesota’s Savanna Portage (link is to my book where that story resides) and our “canoe to the ocean trip-”Continue reading “The Northern Forest Canoe Trail: 700 Miles from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine”
Elspeth Ronnander 