River Paddling Archives

Illinois: A Remarkable World of the Mississippi River Backwaters

A brief of pelicans wade in the Mississippi River backwaters.

Some stretches of the Mississippi feel remote. Others, like the Mississippi River backwaters remind you how closely the river runs alongside everyday life. Near Savanna, Illinois, the river spreads into a chain of wooded islands and shallow back channels. The water moves slowly and quietly here. From the canoe, it’s easy to lose sight of the nearby towns and highways. The river twists into narrow passages between sandbars and marsh grasses. Into the Mississippi River Backwaters For this paddle, we…

Iowa: Amazing Hidden World Among the Mississippi’s Lily Pads

Expansive view of lily pads Covering the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River moves differently than most. Whereas the Current River rushed through the Ozarks, the Mississippi near Le Claire, Iowa felt broad and patient, with quiet backwaters breaking up its wide channels and filling them with lily pads and drifting reflections. From the shoreline, the town still feels like the kind of place that grew up alongside the river itself—small shops, old brick buildings, and the Buffalo Bill Museum that tells the story of how the river has shaped…

Missouri: Beautiful Emerald Waters of the Current River

Current River in the foreground with towering cliffs comprising most of the image.

Some rivers move slowly. Others pull you forward the moment the canoe touches the water. The Current River in Missouri feels like the latter. Flowing through the Ozarks and the protected landscape of Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Current River carries a deep emerald color that almost looks unreal against the limestone banks and thick forest canopy. Before we even started paddling, the trip had already taken on the familiar logistics of river travel: arranging the shuttle, loading gear, and…