Canoeing/Kayaking in South Dakota State Parks

SD state parks make great places to go canoeing.

Prime Places/Rentals
Publications
Basic Canoeing Instructions

Prime Places / Rentals More equipment checkout / rentals
South Dakota state parks offer many great places to enjoy the water on a canoe. While you can Canoe or kayak on almost any calm body of water, check out the following prime places: Angostura Recreation Area near Hot Springs Canoe or kayak an the Angostura Reservoir. Rentals available. Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon Canoe or kayak on the Big Sioux River, which winds for nearly two miles through the park. Canoe or kayak launching facilities. Big Stone Island Nature Area near Milbank Canoe or kayak on Big Stone Lake. The only way to get to this nature area is by boat. Chief White Crane Recreation Area near Yankton Canoe or kayak on peaceful Lake Yankton. Rentals available. Farm Island Recreation Area near Pierre Canoe or kayak on the Missouri River. Rentals available. Fisher Grove State Park near Redfield Canoe or kayak on the James River. Launch site. Fort Sisseton Historic State Park near Lake City Canoe or kayak on Kettle Lake near the historic fort. Rentals available. Lake Herman State Park near Madison Canoe or kayak on Lake Herman. Rentals available. Lake Thomspon Recreation Area near Lake Preston Canoe or kayak on one of the largest natural lakes in the state. Rentals available. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area near Canistota Enjoy canoeing or kayaking around Lake Vermillion. Rentals available Newton Hills State Park near Canton Canoe or kayak on the Big Sioux River. Launch site. Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce Canoe or kayak on the eight glacial lakes surrounding the park. In July, the park hosts an annual family Canoe or kayak tour. Multiple launch sites. Rentals available. Randall Creek Recreation Area near Pickstown Canoe or kayak on the 39 mile Scenic and Wild section of the Missouri River. Launch site. Roy Lake State Park near Lake City Canoe or kayak around Roy Lake. Primitive island camping available by reservation. Rentals available. Walker's Point Recreation Area near Madison Explore Lake Madison by canoe. Rentals available.
Canoeing/Kayaking Publications
These free brochures from the Department of Parks and Recreation are available at many parks and local sports shops. Click on the brochure name to download it and print from your home computer. (Require Adobe Acrobat Reader.) Or, email us your address and we'll mail you a copy.
	Canoeing & Kayaking in South Dakota A general statewide guide, features rivers across the state. SD Missouri River Canoe/Kayak Map: Pickstown to Running Water Highlights interesting sites and accesses of the area. Big Sioux River Canoe/Kayak Map A detailed map of accesses and mileage from Sioux Falls to Fairview.
Basic Canoeing Instructions
Safety is the number one issue. Do not take canoes out in windy and/or stormy conditions. Make certain there is at least one adult in the canoe. Make certain that all lifejackets fit properly and are zipped/hooked correctly. Do not stand in a canoe. Save the horseplay for off the water. Stay out of the swimming area. Stay close to shore, especially when just learning to canoe. Canoe correctly to enhance your fun. The person in the front (bow) is the motor and the person in the back (stern) does the steering. Paddles should reach to about the chin when the bottom of the blade is on the ground. Try to adjust the weight in the canoe so that the stern is heavier than the bow. This will help keep the canoe from plowing through the water. Keep the weight in the canoe balanced so the canoe doesn’t lean to the right (starboard) or left (port). When paddling on the port side of the canoe, hold the top (grip) of the paddle in the right hand with fingers facing away from you. The left hand should be placed on the shaft a short distance above the blade. When paddling on the starboard, reverse hand positions. Person in the bow uses a basic power stroke – blade goes into the water at about the knee position, paddler leaves the blade in the water and pulls it parallel to the canoe to about the hip, lifts blade from water and swings it back to the initial position. Person in the stern uses basically two strokes. The C, or sweep, stroke begins with the paddle blade entering the water at about the knee, then, with the blade in the water, swings out away from the canoe and then swings back to the hip before taking the paddle out of the water. The other stern stroke is the J stroke. This is a bit harder to do. The blade goes into the water near the canoe by the knees, gets pulled back to about the upper thigh at which time the hand on the grip turns the blade clockwise on the port side/ counterclockwise on the starboard side, and then the paddle blade gets pushed away from the canoe at almost a 90 degree angle. Try never to have both people paddle on the same side of the canoe as the canoe can tip more easily. Try not to keep switching the paddle from one side of the canoe to the other to steer. Learn to do the correct strokes so you can paddle a length of time on one side. When you want to switch to paddle on the other side, yell "hut" so your partner changes at the same time. For most efficient paddling, try to have the blades of your paddles in the water at the same time. In the stern, try not to rudder (dragging the paddle in the water behind the canoe). This acts as a brake and cancels out much of the bow person’s power stroke. Canoe perpendicular, not parallel to waves. For better stability, kneel in the canoe rather than paddling from a sitting position. Take good care of your equipment so it will help take care of you. Never sit or stand in a canoe on land because rocks, big and small, can make holes in the hull (outside part of the canoe). Push the canoe into the water bow first before getting in. Stabilize the canoe by having the stern person put his/her knees on each side of the stern. Bow person gets in first, keeping the body low, keeping one hand on each side of the canoe, stepping only the center of the canoe as he/she moves toward the bow. As stern person gets into the canoe, he/she pushes the canoe away from shore. Wear your lifejacket rather than leaving it in the bottom of the canoe where it can be damaged. Try to keep paddles from hitting the canoe while paddling. Check all the equipment back in when you are finished with it. Take good care of your canoeing buddy so your buddy will take good care of you. Encourage your buddy to use sunscreen and insect repellent and use it yourself. Encourage your buddy to drink lots of water to keep from becoming dehydrated and drink a lot yourself. Watch your buddy to make certain he/she is not getting sunburned.