It’s finally spring and we all want to get outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. Though it’s only 50 degrees, we appreciate it after a very long, cold, winter. One of the very first adventures we want to attempt every year during the spring meltdown is a high-river canoe adventure.
Canoeing the local rivers near Pierz can be achieved with care and respect. If you are crossing a bridge in eastern Morrison County, you are likely to be crossing over either the Platte or Skunk Rivers. To canoe down these rivers is a privilege so take care when doing so.
Where Are The Rivers
The Skunk River is a 36.2 mile long tributary of the Platte River. A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger body of water. The Skunk River begins southeast of Peavy Lake, the Richardson Corner area near Hillman area. It flows south west, towards the Platte, passing through the edges of the city of Pierz and ending just southwest in the Rice/Skunk Wildlife Management Area 5 miles South of Little Falls. The Skunk River contributes to the watering of many cow pastures along its journey and provides entertainment for swimmers at the Pierz Park and campground Golf Course area. It’s a bendy river.
The Platte River is a 55.1 mile long tributary of the Mississippi River. It begins west of Platte Lake (connected to Sullivan Lake), located northeast of Harding and also ends at Rice Lake. Rice/Skunk Lake is part of the Crane Meadows Wildlife Management area (a great place for bird watching and hiking). The Platte River feels more like a heavy hitter than the Skunk. It has less bends so it can be a faster flowing river and seems wider.
Where to Drop Your Canoe or Kayak on the Skunk River
The Skunk River flows through the Pierz Park swimming area. This is where the Golf Course and Pierz Campground are also. There is a dam at the park. Putting your Canoe in on the west of the dam will send you southwest down the river. It will weave around the back side of the park avenue houses and townhomes, under CR 251 bridge behind the gas station on hwy 25/27. You could end your trip at that point (CR 251, a tar road) or continue to the next bridge on CR 38. If you continue, the river will run parallel to State Highway 25, and flow under the Soo Line ATV trail (old railroad). It will pass the Genola Campground. If you are camping at Genola Campground this is where you would end. If not, plan to end your journey at the Tarhar Bridge – CR 38.
Where to Drop Your Canoe on the Platte River
CR 47 is a place to drop your canoe in the Platte River. There is a bridge over the river and you walk down the bank on the south side. The road right of ways are narrow and you will need to stay off personal property. You can set sail and end your journey on CR 46. This part of the Platte is less twisty and is a nice width. This same idea can be applied at most bridges along the Platte River.
The Minnesota DNR map states that the Platte and Skunk Rivers have an official access point on Iris Road which offers boaters a safe place to drop their canoes. You would end up in Rice lake not far from where you put your canoe in. This is a great way to canoe the high river safely.
What about Parking?
You’ll want to avoid parking a vehicle on the highways. The best thing to do is to find a friend who can bring you to the river to drop you off and pick you up when you’re finished. The river bridges do not have parking options. They are mostly tar roads with an incline into the ditch which leaves little room to leave a vehicle. If you absolutely have to leave a vehicle, then make sure it is off the highway and is picked up at a reasonable time. You cannot park down in the ditches but must stay on the shoulder. Do not start or end your journey on a busy highway where you cannot park.
A Word on Road Right of Ways
Every road has a right of way. A right of way is a strip of land, of a specific width, that is legally established by a court of law, for public road purposes. They are basically how much ditch the state owns. This is important to know because some right of ways are wider than others. If it is wider, then you will have more ditch to walk on to put your canoe into the river without stepping on personal property. The DNR recommends to check the road right of ways on the Beacon Government Website (more on how to navigate the Beason site below). If the right of ways are narrow, you will want to check with the landowner to see if you can drop your canoe there. The road right of ways on county roads is typically 66 feet total or 33 feet from the center of road. This does not allow a lot of ditch usage before you are on a landowners property. So dropping your canoe in can be tricky. Again, check with landowners if necessary.
Packing for your Trip
- Registration. Check registration requirements for your non-motorized watercraft and make sure it is up-to-date.
- Life Jackets. Canoeing down a river is an adventure in the spring when the river is high. Life jackets are an absolute must. Buckle them correctly and wear them proudly. The river is swift and has an undertow in the rapids. Yes I said rapids. It can definitely get moving.
- Old Shoes. It’s spring but don’t wear flip-flops! You might have to get out and go around a tree or two on the bank and you don’t want to do that in sandals (poison ivy, leaches etc).
- Wear a hat or visor
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof your phones
- Bug spray is a must.
- Bring a snack
- Water bottle
Pack light, you don’t want to flip it or portage and have to deal with extra stuff.
Things To Consider
Take Your Time
The time it takes depends on how high the river is. If the river is high, you will travel further, faster. If it is low you will travel slower. Early spring is when the river is at its highest and will be the best time to go. Most trips take between 1-3 hours. We have tubed a short distance down the Platte, mid July, and it took an agonizing 3 hours. There was no flow, the river was low and the deer flies were horrible.
No Trespassing
Be sure to avoid private property along the way! You may see hunting cabins, pasture land, cows, or homes along the way. Do not trespass. Trespassing is illegal. Don’t litter. Also illegal. Leave No Trace (LNT) as always in nature.
River Obstructions
If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around, does it make a sound? Be careful of fallen trees in the river. You will need to either go around or over these. Other obstructions might include fences. Most rivers at some point run through cow pastures, which means you might see a fence across the river. Sometimes the river is high enough that you won’t notice it, but be on guard and pay attention to your surroundings. The fence is private property. Lastly, dams. There is only one dam that we are aware of and it is at the Pierz Park.
Go with a Local
If at all possible, go with a local of the Pierz area, someone who has traversed these rivers many times before. They will know more about what to expect on certain stretches of the rivers they have been down.
What is Beacon and How to Navigate it
Beacon allows users to view local government information and related records online. To check land ownership and right of ways, Go to Beacon and select your state (Minnesota) and county (Morrison). Click on Property or Plat Search. If you know a road you’re searching for you can enter it in the address line. If not, click on Map at the top and it will show you the topography of the area. You can zoom in. On the left side of the screen, tick the box that says Rights of Way. You will be able to view how far into the land the state department owns. If you click property search you can click on the parcels of land and view who owns the property. You can also zoom in to view the river you plan to traverse. You’ll be able to see if it looks like a smooth, wide ride or twisty with trees blocking. Beacon is updated yearly and is not a live site. It is an excellent tool to view your river before traversing it.
Enjoy the Ride!
One of the very first adventures we want to attempt every year during the spring meltdown is a high-river canoe adventure and everytime we attempt it, we have an enjoyable and safe time! We hope you can too.
Not so sure about the rivers? Maybe it’s a local lake you prefer. Check out Pierz Fish Lake.
