A year ago (August 2020) a group of friends and I attempted a 10 mile tube / kayak trip from Beaver to Weaver on the Whitewater State River Trail. We started in the afternoon and I grossly underestimated the time commitment with the tubes involved. Everything was smooth floating the first few miles until we encountered several log jams (two required us to climb over logs and lift our tubes/kayaks and gear over). After the two log jams and several additional snags we got tangled up in fishing line that had a part of a decaying dead hawk on it. A nice day was forecasted but Mother Nature decided a thunderstorm sounded like more fun. We finished about half of the trip with the dark of night coming quickly and ended up calling family to come pick us up. Lucky the third call attempt went through with the one intermittent bar of 3G or the story would have more to it! Despite the previous challenges said friends were determined to finish the 10 miles in one go at a later date... and so we did.
In the planning stages we decided no tubes this time, kayaks only and we were going to leave in the morning. The event was named "Paddle to Death" to keep our perspective in the right place and our spirits ready to battle log jams, gnarly snags, carrion and any weather or threat that would come our way! We were so enthusiastic we decided last minute to add on a few miles in the Mississippi and end in Minneiska.
It was the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and a cool, beautiful overcast morning. The typical morning fog that forms in the Whitewater Valley was just lifting as we arrived. The water was at a "medium" level, according to the DNR. This is about as good as it gets for paddling, not too high that it is dangerous and not too low that you have to go for a hike with your yak in tow.
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| The boat launch at Beaver |
We encountered the same 2 log jams as we did the previous year but got through them without any issues. The rest of the river ended up being very manageable. There were a few more snags but none that we had to get out of our boats for.
Despite Labor Day weekend and beautiful weather we didn't see anyone else paddling on the Whitewater. The only other person we saw on the river was a single fisherman. The route is quiet and relatively remote going through the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area.
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First log jam
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| Second log jam |
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| The "Waterfall" |
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| The "Waterfall" sandbar |
There was a neat area where the river narrowed significantly twice in a row. The second time the water spilling into a much larger pool that had a nice sandbar near by. The edges of the sandbar were unstable and like quicksand, step in the wrong place and you might be up to your thighs in sandy muck! Some of the crew went swimming in the cold water. They walked along the shore to the "waterfall" and jumped in. The pool below the waterfall was a nice size and definitely deep enough for swimming. Looked like it would be good for fishing as well.
We didn't stick around too long in the event there were a bunch more long jams or other adventures ahead.
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| The entrance to Weaver Bottoms of the Mississippi |
We ended up with a smooth ride the rest of the way and made great time. Coming in around 4 hours for the 10 miles to the Mississippi including time at the 2 log jams and the "waterfall". When we reached the confluence of the Whitewater with the Mississippi at Weaver Bottoms the water continued to get more shallow as we headed toward the main channel. The bottom appeared sandy and there were bunches of plants appearing more frequently until they became so thick it was hard to see where to go. At one point the water became so shallow we had to all get out and pull our kayaks. The river bottom ended up being a sandy muck at this point too and a few of the crew ended up having to lay on their kayaks to take the weight off their feet in order to not sink into the muck. It was the last challenge of the day until we found our way though all the plants to deeper water. We had a great day and got off easy with the "Paddle to Death"!
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| Nodding Bur Marigold |
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| Touch - Me - Not |
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