BWCA Mississippi R. from Lake Itasca...at lower flow Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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05/20/2019 09:37AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Anyone have any insight for paddling the headwaters region after river level starts dropping? I had a training trip set for May but that had to be cancelled. So now I'm thinking maybe late June. I've never paddled this stretch.

My only concern would be the area from Lake Itasca to Bemidji. At what river gage level or flow rate would this stretch be too shallow?

Thanks for any help,
BeaV
 
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tonyyarusso
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05/20/2019 10:27AM  
The DNR publishes numbers for gauge interpretation for three sites along that stretch:

Mississippi River nr Vern, CSAH37 (RM 1329.9):
Very High above 87 ft
High from 85 to 87 ft
Medium from 84.2 to 85 ft
Low from 84.2 to 84.2 ft
Scrapable below 84.2 ft

Mississippi River nr Wilton, CSAH7 (RM 1297.2):
Very High above 45 ft
High from 42.5 to 45 ft
Medium from 40 to 42.5 ft
Low from 39.1 to 40 ft
Scrapable below 39.1 ft

Mississippi River nr Bemidji, CSAH11 (RM 1286.7):
Very High above 440.4 cfs
High from 167.6 to 440.4 cfs
Medium from 63.4 to 167.6 cfs
Low from 37 to 63.4 cfs
Scrapable below 37 cfs

"Scrapable" is where you may need to get out of your boat and line it over rocks, which is still possable, but much less fun. (I walked part of the Namekagon that way.) Looking at past gauge data, they all seem to stay above that level throughout June and July, although sometimes not by a lot. Your bigger problem may be the two stretches marked as having "abundant vegetation" that can make them impassable.
05/20/2019 11:23AM  
Thanks Tony! I will check those gage levels as I get closer...perfect. And it's funny you mention the Namekagon...I just checked the gage levels this morning and current flow is now at a 20-year record high after heavy rains this weekend. I am paddling this soon and "scrapable" there may mean our noses are rubbing on concrete as we pass under low clearance bridges in the upper section:)
05/21/2019 08:17AM  
I've paddled that section in 1991 during the Mississippi flodding summer.

The part past Lake George area has some huge swamps probabally a couple square miles. The vegetation was way taller than we could see over unless we stood up.
When we sat down and tried to paddle we would get turned around, taking the channels created by the shfting cat tail mats. We were like rats in a maze, we paddled in circles for a few hours. We thought we may have to spend the nite in the canoe, but we finially found our way out of there.

Can't answer your question about low water levels, but I know those swamps were a bear at high water levels because the water level changed the channel and moved the cattaial islands all over like a maze.
05/21/2019 09:15AM  
I don't see a Lake George anywhere near this area, but the DNR river maps do describe areas that may be impassable due to thick vegetation. That sounds like fun to me!
inspector13
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05/21/2019 09:26AM  

Someone created a Google maps "picture trail" from Lake Itasca through Lake Bemidji to Stump Lake. About eight or so miles are missing through Mississippi Headwaters State Forest. Of that missing part, half looks like it could get choked. This picture trail was created August 2016. Only in the very beginning did they have to walk their canoes.

05/21/2019 10:17AM  
BeaV: "
I don't see a Lake George anywhere near this area but the DNR river maps do describe areas that may be impassable due to thick vegetation. That sounds like fun to me! "


My bad I was thining of a smaller creek around Lake George.

The Mississippi part that I am refering to looks to be between Stumphges and Bear Den Rapids along Beltrami Cty rd 5.
inspector13
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05/21/2019 10:47AM  

It looks like that is where the picture trail stops. Maybe they took out at Bear Den Canoe Rd SW. It looks to get better past Rice Lake.

07/02/2019 03:32PM  
Just as a followup to my post....I did this trip last weekend (June 28th and June 29th) with the following river conditions-

Mississippi River nr Vern, CSAH37 (RM 1329.9): 84.7 ft gauge ht
Mississippi River nr Wilton, CSAH7 (RM 1297.2): 40.6 ft gauge ht
Mississippi River nr Bemidji, CSAH11 (RM 1286.7): 120 cfs flow

Under those river conditions, paddling conditions were good. If I were to do it again, I would choose to use a more maneuverable boat than a MN II. The first section is just a little creek and then there's a long section of indy-style curves. Using a MN II requires coming up with some creative paddling techniques.

Here's a couple pics taken near the headwaters.



07/03/2019 01:07PM  
Looks like you had a paddling partner, how were those swamps I talked about, did you cruise right through them?
Also did you do it straight or camp over nite. I know there are designated campsites along that route, I stayed at one over night when I did it years ago.
07/03/2019 03:15PM  
LindenTree: "Looks like you had a paddling partner, how were those swamps I talked about, did you cruise right through them?
Also did you do it straight or camp over nite. I know there are designated campsites along that route, I stayed at one over night when I did it years ago."

Navigation was really simple. The areas marked on the DNR maps as "may be impassable due to thick vegetation" were a piece of cake. However, the area named "the meadows" would be a little challenging if it was done at night...but who paddles at night!

Campsites are few and far between. Some have lean to shelters that have more lean then they ought to. Some sites are not marked. Some sites are not marked and couldn't be found, by us, when we really wanted to camp! We did it in basically 2 days going as far as Winnie and pulling out at the West Winnie Campground for a total of 103 miles.
 
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