A paddling perspective: enjoy nature quietly

I surely love a fun ride in a fast motorboat, but people-powered paddling is my favorite way to explore from the water. Some of my fondest memories on the water are from a canoe or kayak point of view. The quiet of a people-powered boat allows paddlers to explore in stealth mode and enjoy nature when it is most unsuspecting.

Our scenic corner of the world includes a big menu of waters from which to select for paddling fun. We have rivers that are slow and calm, and ones that are fast and churning. Our lakes range from small, peaceful inland water to the mighty Lake Superior. Public access to recreational waters in our slice of heaven is so abundant that no paddler is excluded. Not all states can make that boast.

Kayakers of every stripe can find their ideal water match if they look around. The big waters of Superior are perfect for the long, slender sea kayaks built to cut a line through the waves while covering distance. Sections of the St. Louis River offer whitewater fun for the stubby kayaks that dart as quickly as minnows through rapids and around rocks, and skim easily over shallows. For those seeking calm adventures, many rivers and small lakes in the area offer great paddling for the flatwater kayaks that can move about and explore on milder water. These are the kayaks for folks like me who prefer to stay upright rather than roll over in the water.

Any inland lake, stream or river is also a great place to explore from a canoe. Canoes allow for lots of gear and the opportunity to cautiously move about the boat if needed while on the water. The standup paddleboard, or SUP, has gained popularity in recent years. While I have paddled on one, I do not have any open-water experience. For those explorers with good balance, the SUP may be a mode for you to try in calmer waters.

Of course, the big paddling adventures from past years stand out, such as the sea kayaking trip to the Apostle Islands. My paddling partner, Keith, and I joined two other couples for a three-day excursion to explore the sea caves and camp on Sand Island. That glorious trip is a story in its own right.

There also were countless canoe trips into the Boundary Waters area. Some of them with the quietness of our duo. Many trips were as leaders of a Venture Scout crew, and we paddled not so quietly into the wilderness. To no one's surprise, we never secretly happened upon a moose while with the Scouts.

While the big trips stand out in memory, it is often the routine paddles that create moments of awe. While paddling and fishing on Hanging Kettle Lake in Aitkin County, we guided our canoe into a patch of reeds only to come face-to-face with the first yellow-headed blackbird we had ever seen. This was not exactly a National Geographic moment, but it thrilled us as amateur birders. Watching an otter slide down the mud into a lake or a sturgeon perform an acrobatic jump can be rewards of exploring quietly on the water.

This entertainment can be viewed from many other perspectives, but we have found that sneaking a close peek is much easier in the quiet of a manual craft. A couple of states to the south, while paddling along the Current River in the Missouri Ozarks a few years ago, our canoe rounded a bend to spy a litter of bobcats in the hollow of a rock wall. We silently floated past for fear of startling the kittens into fleeing. That was a National Geographic moment, and we savor it to this day.

If you have the itch to explore, and you are drawn to the water, paddling is a great way to go. Before you invest in a craft, borrow from a friend, or rent at a state or public area to learn what boat best suits you. When exploring, it is always best to go with a buddy. Personal flotation devices (lifejackets) should be on and buckled at all times. Information on public access for the many rivers and lakes in our state can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website. Never go onto private property to access water without permission. Happy and safe paddling.

Ruth Reeves, a former journalist, naturalist and community ed director, lives in rural Carlton County and enjoys outdoor adventures in all seasons with her husband, Keith. She finds that one good adventure leads to another. Email Ruth at [email protected].