Paddling Resources

California Island, 2020. Located at mile marker 177 on the Missouri River. Photo by Brandon Knoblauch.

Below are resources to help you prepare for your paddle trip and things to consider before you get on the river:

• Introduction to paddling the Missouri River - This video of the Big Muddy Speaker Series Presentation by Linda Coffman covers appropriate watercraft and gear, safety precautions, ideas for planning trips, tips on reading the water features, and a brief discussion on appreciating the river’s beauty, wildlife, history and lore.
• Missouri's boat accesses to the Missouri River - There are a lot of accesses available to you! Knowing where you are putting in and taking out is an important part of prepping for your trip. This google map includes a pin to accesses along the Missouri's reach of the river, along with accesses on tributaries that meet the Missouri River.
  • Distances between river access - knowing the distance between accesses is important in knowing how long you will be on the river! Here is a helpful graph with the distances between popular accesses from Kansas City, MO to St. Louis, MO.
• River Levels and Conditions - Here is a page with numerous resources to help you plan for your time on the Missouri River.
• Canoe Safety - There are a handful of hazards you could experience on the Missouri River, get to know them!

Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself while planning your paddle trip:

• How many miles will I be paddling?
• How many days will I be on the river?
• What does the weather and wind speed/direction look like on the days I will be on the river?
• Will I be on the river at night?
• Will I be camping ON the river?
• What resources are available at the accesses within my route?
• Am I able to secure all my gear onto my vessel?
• Do I have a shuttle set up or a way to retrieve my vehicle?
• What will the river levels look like throughout the duration of my time on the river?

Campout on Airplane Island across Huntsdale Access, 2023. Located at mile marker 179.4 on the Missouri River.