Split Rock Creek Palisades State Park Gitchie Manitou Park, the old Klondike Mills site and Newton Hills State Park. Both Big Sioux and Newton Hills have canoe launch sites and camping facilities where a park entrance license is required. Note, there are several low head dams where your watercraft must be portaged to the other side. The newly developed Jay Heath Canoe and Kayak Trail is designed for canoers and kayakers to navigate water trails along the Big Sioux River. A map indicating launch sites and campgrounds as well as gen-eral information about each site can be found at gfp.sd.gov/canoe/. not for the novice paddler. The Missouri is a big river that on windy days looks more like a large reservoir with white-capped waves that can easily swamp a canoe. There are no rapids, but sunken sandbars, snags and other obstacles abound. The Missouri is 20 feet or more deep in places. Know your paddling ability and don't exceed it. Two segments are administered by the National Park Service as the Missouri National Recreational River. For more information, visit www.southeastsouthdakota.com/what-to-do/attractions/yankton/ mnrr/. 2 SPLIT ROCK CREEK If you are a white-water paddler, the high water flow in spring and the summer rains make the Split Rock Creek just the place for you. Winding through scenic northeastern Minnehaha County you'll eventually meet up with the Big Sioux River east of Sioux Falls. With an elevation drop of 130 feet in eight miles from the SD 11 access west of Garretson, through Palisades State Park, to the SD 11 access, north of Corson, there are stretches that can be hazardous for the inexperienced white-water paddler. Find access at Palisades State Park, right-of-ways that cross the river, as well as at McHardy Park in Brandon. The sheer walls of red quartzite that line portions of the creek provide a scenic trip for paddlers. 5 JAMES RIVER The James River is a prairie stream that mean-ders and curves. It has been called the longest unnavigable river in the world. Fortunately, this distinction doesn’t apply to paddlers who travel the river in spring and early summer. You will find pictur-esque pastoral scenes as you follow this winding river. There are several access points near US and SD Highways. 6 3 VERMILLION RIVER From spring to fall the scenic Vermillion River can generally be paddled from Centerville south to the Missouri River. Access may be found at rights-of-way that cross the river. Colorful fall foliage is especially showy south of Vermillion. 4 MISSOURI RIVER Exploring the Missouri River by canoe or kayak is something you'll never forget. This river experience is LAKES FOR PADDLING Many South Dakota state parks have lakes that have easy access and are fun to paddle. Several lakes have a no-wake rule which makes them perfect for paddling, includ-ing Lake Yankton, near Chief White Crane Rec Area and Lake Alvin, near Harrisburg. Other popular lakes include Lake Herman, near Madison; Lake Vermillion, near Montrose, Lake Lakota, near Canton; Wall Lake, west of Sioux Falls; and Lake Mitchell. McCook Lake, near North Sioux City, has a kayak launch. Marindahl Lake, east of Yankton, is a quiet lake with an undeveloped shoreline where you can immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. For more info on lakes at state parks visit www.southeastsouthdakota.com/outdoor-adventure/state-parks/. SoutheastSouthDakota.com // 225 SOUTHEAST REGION
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2021 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 225
