Earth Day cruise set for Saturday at 10 a.m.

The 2010 Earth Day cruise starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 24, on the Big Sioux River near Flandreau. It's a 9-12 mile trip that ends near the lowhead dam in town. It should take about 2-3 hours, depending on wind and water.

Paddlers should meet at the powwow grounds about 1 mile north of Flandreau on SD Highway 13. We'll shuttle vehicles starting around 9-9:15 a.m., then circle back with hopes of a 10 a.m. launch. Click on any of these photos/maps for a bigger view.




Here's a close-up of the put-in spot at the powwow grounds:






Here's a look at the dam - there's plenty of parking on the nearside, and if we run out there's a ton on the other side of the river.





Last year, some paddlers who wanted a longer trip continued down river to Egan. It can add 2-3 more hours of trip to your day on the water. Let me know if anyone wants to do this so we can shuttle vehicles to Egan as well as to the dam.

Bring a dry bag with a spare set of clothing. The water will be bone-chilling and a simple mistake can lead to dangerous conditions. Having dry clothes along might seem superfluous but it could save a life.







I hope these maps help.