Kayak Trip ?

[scrotcaster]

Me and the Misses are planning to do a kayak trip from the tailrace to Bismarck over memorial day weekend.. Question is, How long does it take? anyone know or did this before? Think it should be fun if the weather cooperates. Good places to stay overnight along the way?

Thanks in advance

 

[DirtyMike]

do a short trip, maybe even a couple short trips to train. That's a long ways to run. I have had friends do that trip before. Had to meet them with more beer at sanger. They were a mess over two days.

 

[Fly Carpin]

You can do it in 2, but plan for 3 if you want to relax and just float at all. Tailrace to Washburn takes a little more than a day at an easy pace with sandbar stops for hydration sessions. Downstream of Washburn gets wider, slower, and full of boats. And don't forget the rain gear if you're going over Memorial Day

 

[ndbwhunter]

I usually do a trip from Washburn to Mandan every year. I've done the tailrace trip before, and it's almost a little too long. As long as you don't run into a southerly wind you can make the trip in 2-2.5 days if you put in 8-10 hours a day. Paddling for that long really takes the fun/relaxation out of it. A shorter trip allows for a relaxed pace and more time to explore sandbars and backwater. We usually take at least one double kayak to use for hauling gear (beer and food).

 

[svnmag]

Damn that sounds fun. I'd be more about a john boat raft of sort and a couple trolling motors.

 

[Marbleyes]

I usually do a trip from Washburn to Mandan every year. I've done the tailrace trip before, and it's almost a little too long. As long as you don't run into a southerly wind you can make the trip in 2-2.5 days if you put in 8-10 hours a day. Paddling for that long really takes the fun/relaxation out of it. A shorter trip allows for a relaxed pace and more time to explore sandbars and backwater. We usually take at least one double kayak to use for hauling gear (beer and food).

I will stress what ndbwhunter is saying about southerly winds. A bunch of us did this and we had the misfortune of 35 mph winds blowing from the south. The kayakers could have kept going but the people in canoes were screwed. We rounded a corner north of Washburn somewhere and were facing white caps that were too big for the canoes. A shit show ensued. If the wind is supposed to blow from the south over 25 mph, I would make different plans. I do mean a shit show. Was definitely memorable though.

 

[ndbwhunter]

I will stress what ndbwhunter is saying about southerly winds. A bunch of us did this and we had the misfortune of 35 mph winds blowing from the south. The kayakers could have kept going but the people in canoes were screwed. We rounded a corner north of Washburn somewhere and were facing white caps that were too big for the canoes. A shit show ensued. If the wind is supposed to blow from the south over 25 mph, I would make different plans. I do mean a shit show. Was definitely memorable though.

I had a similar experience at that very same corner. There is nothing fun about kayaking when there are white caps.

 

[DirtyMike]

Friend and his wife did Misty waters to fox island and he could barely lift his arms for two days. Kinda had to laugh at him.

 

[svnmag]

I did Misty Waters on Fox Island back in the day. My problem was a sore penis.

 

[fly2cast]

3 fulls days is what I would do for a trip like that. could do it shorter but like others said it then becomes work rather than fun. Use to do a lot of trips from either Wilton or Washburn to Bismarck. When we went from Washburn we would leave on a Friday night and make it back to Bis in the late afternoon Sunday at a slow pace. Camp on sandbars, thats the funnest and easiest. Also instead of going all the way to Bismarck, I would go from Tailrace to Wilton or to Misty Waters at the furthest. So many boats as you get closer to Bismarck.

 

[Wild and Free]

My wife and I have done it several times. By canoe it takes 24 hours of water time same as current basically no matter how hard one paddles we have yet to make it much faster than free floating and enjoying.

By Kayak it depends on the type of kayak we have done it in 3 easy days or roughly 18 hours of paddle time by kayak and have talked to folks with nice fast kayaks who can do it in 12 hours.

 

[Marbleyes]

Also, make sure you pull your kayak/canoe further on shore than you think you should because the water levels can change pretty quickly. Or at least pay attention to the garrison dam water releases before you go.

 

[MSA]

Burrrr...that water is cold as hell on memorial day weekend, you should wait til labor day. I bet that water is warmer right now than it will be in may.

 

[Brian Renville]

I did Misty Waters on Fox Island back in the day. My problem was a sore penis.

She wore rings made of sandpaper I hear. I hear she was the master of the left handed reverse handy.

 

[svnmag]

She wore rings made of sandpaper I hear. I hear she was the master of the left handed reverse handy.

No man, not like that at all; she was a tiger. I could only enjoy two more encounters. She didn't like that. Gilligan would understand if he wasn't smoking dope and half queer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2byD0ytOWwY

 

[GSP]

A friend and I canoed the tailrace to Cross Ranch. We paddled quite a bit, and it took us 1.5 days. You will enjoy the trip, but like everyone said, pay attention to weather.

 

[JayKay]

4 hours on a sea-doo XP.

 

[Bfishn]

I tried to do a similar trip two years ago on McQuade weekend. If anyone remembers the weather that year, McQuade was rained out for the entire Saturday. We paddled from Stanton to Cross Ranch in a torrential downpour for 8 hours straight. Thankfully when we got to CR they had a fire going and hot coffee at the ranger station. We sat in there for a couple hours until we dried out and quit shivering. The next morning brought a 35 mph south wind. We ended up having to get picked up at Wilton. Looking back its kind of funny, but if any off us would have capsized in that water we may have been in trouble. Moral of the story, watch the weather and give yourself 3 days to go from the Race to Bismarck.

 

[Wirehair]

I would agree with advice above that if you are not an experienced Kayaker, start with a couple shorter trips. Hogue Island to Fox Island is fun if done during the week. Weekend boat traffic is an issues as you get closer to Bismarck. From tailrace to Fox Island generally requires two nights out. Prevailing winds make a lot of difference - south wind creates issues... paddling hard all day sucks...... going with the flow makes for a more relaxing journey.... Happy paddling!

 

[Bull Herbie]

So when everybody makes the trip down the river, where do you set up camp? Can you camp on the bank or do you have to camp on the sandbars?