Missouri River (South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska) Updated 31-March-2004

Much has changed since Lewis and Clark's Expedition . . . but the Missouri River rolls on!

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Lower Missouri River "At a Glance" Scenery Ranging from urban to dramatic natural bluffs Best time mid-April to mid-October Wilderness Well developed river valley Water Flow Always plenty of water; fast current Water Quality Good to fair Campsites Varied, see below Hazards Fast current; wing dams; motorboat traffic Logistics Frequent access; not serviced by canoe rentals Trip Length 205 mile section described, several hundred more possible Recommendation For experienced paddlers only, the lower Missouri offers a unique big-river experience. "Thwarting" on the Missouri River (photo by Jerry Moore) General Description & Characteristics -- The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and one of the longest in the world, even though its lower section is named the Mississippi! This middle section of the river is wide, and the current is very swift. There is occasional commercial barge traffic as well as pleasure boating in season. The river flows along the beautiful wooded bluffs of the region and through several cities. The first 59 miles of this run have been designated a National Recreational River. Because of the swift current and potential of difficult paddling conditions, this trip should only be considered by experienced paddlers with skills in open water recovery.  The wakes from large motorboats and commercial barges may also pose hazards for the unwary. Location & Canoeable Mileage -- Starting at Yankton, South Dakota, a week long (or so) float trip will take you about 205 miles to Omaha, Nebraska (Dodge Park has public boat ramps). There is no particular reason to stop here. You can continue to float down the Missouri all the way to St. Louis where it joins the Mississippi!  If you do venture all the way on the Missouri, we recommend taking out at Hermann or St. Charles, Missouri, before you reach the Mississippi, to avoid the substantial commercial traffic found on that river.  The grand tour from Yankton to St. Charles, MO, is about 775 miles! Interesting Features -- This trip starts out in relatively remote country and the river looks much as Lewis and Clark's party saw it nearly 200 years ago. An interesting book to read as you float the river would be one of the publications of the journals of Lewis & Clark (see link below). As you proceed down river, there is increasing development and motorized traffic, but the scenic beauty continues unabated, except where marred by industrial sites. While there is not much commercial barge traffic on this section of the river, be sure to stay alert and give the barges a wide berth. It is preferred to float on the inside of the bends in the river when you encounter a large vessel -- since the barges generally track to the outside (deeper) part of the bends, the substantial waves from their propellers tend to be directed to that shore. As the Missouri has been developed for commercial navigation, you will find some man-made features that can pose problems if you are not careful. On the outside of most bends, the banks have been reinforced, usually with large boulders to prevent bank erosion. These are called revetments. On the inside of the bends, dikes (also known as wing dams) have been constructed every few hundred yards. The purpose of these structures is to force the water to stay in the desired channel. At certain water levels, these dikes can be hazardous -- you can get a boat hung up on a dike, or have a problem with the turbulence below the dike. Best to avoid them! The Corps of Engineers navigation maps show the location of these structures, and they frequently publish charts with their locations. Except in the winter season, the Missouri River will have a substantial flow from the releases on the reservoirs in the Dakotas. Camping -- Canoe campers can alight along the banks or occasional sand bars in most areas. There are numerous parks along the river, and many of these allow camping. Unfortunately, the sand bars on the Missouri are not what they used to be as a result of the controlled flow of the river. Environmental groups are lobbying for a more natural regimen of flow on the Missouri (while still maintaining the benefit of flood control). Additional Information -- Canoeing Information The US Army Corps of Engineers maintains the navigational channel of the Missouri River below Sioux City. They sell a useful navigational map for the Missouri River from Sioux City to Omaha. Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service   River Flow Data USGS station at Sioux City, IA If you have trouble getting data from this link CLICK HERE Parks on/near the River Missouri National Recreational River. Ponca State Park (Nebraska) Towns/Other Locales on/near the River Listing only those from Yankton, SD, to Omaha: Yankton, SD Sioux City, IA Decatur, NE Omaha, NE Books A Year Without Time -- A group of canoeists throw away their watches and set out to float the entire Missouri River The Journals of Lewis and Clark Undaunted Courage : Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West A Guide to Canoeing the Missouri River The River and I (diary of a historic trip) Fur Traders, Trappers, and Mountain Men of the Upper Missouri Passage of Discovery: The American Rivers Guide to the Missouri River of Lewis and Clark Montana's Missouri River (Montana Geographic, No 8) Unruly River: Two Centuries of Change Along the Missouri (Development of Western Resources) More Pictures   Environmental Issues/Organizations American Rivers is the primary river conservation group in the US. Their web site has information about the campaign to restore and protect the natural qualities of the Missouri River. Acknowledgments/Contributors   Miscellaneous "In the Wake of Discovery  (a 2004 recreation of the Lewis and Clark exploration: http://www.lewisandclark-2004.com/

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