This has been mentioned here but I don't find much detail here. I have good info from the museum in the state park, but no sense of mileage in a day. Feels like with just lock length portages maybe 20 miles is not difficult?

I have not found much experiential info on line.

Hi Bill,

The one time I took our Troop to the Canal we put in at the camp to the West of the feeder canal and paddled to the visitor center & back in a day. Along the way where a road crossing had been put in we encountered a couple culverts which were wide & deep enough for a canoe to paddle through. If we wanted to continue past the camp then there would have been a portage around the locks.

I think 20 miles in a day is definitely do-able. The only real discernible current is at the culverts.

Id like to do the feeder but no campsites.

Thanks. 20 seemed doable. I do around 12 in Q and BWCA - counting portages only once, not thrice.

Yeah, I think one would be able to do the feeder from the source to the split. I could see there being a greater potential for current on the feeder though since the canal itself broadens & gets deeper.

At one time I had crazy ideas about putting in at the dam and paddling all the way to the first campground for a weekend out & back. Let us how it works out for you!

I have looked at the Hennepin too.
I am watching this thread to see what happens.

Well, if I up and decide to do it ill let you know. Monday-Thursday is free camping for seniors. Been thinking of starting up the feeder and getying to first site west. Go aways west and finish going east as far as makes sense. Was thinking less shuttle distance for my wife or son. Or other route.

There are lots of areas on the Hennepin Canal are weed choked. So you may get slowed down some with all of the lily pads and other vegetation covering the water.

Yeah. I suspected there were choked areas.
If I believed google earth I would think I could paddle the whole way from Hennepin to the Rock River.
Maybe in mid-May there is more water??