Customer Reviews

Paddling Southern Minnesota (Trails Books Guide)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book, after previously purchasing "Paddling Iowa", from the same publisher. The Iowa book is outstanding! Descriptive information on each stream, with almost river bend, by river bend information.

Paddling Southern Minnesota however, is not close to the same quality. The same maps are there, and they are good, the right rivers are covered, but the descriptions of the rivers are just non-existent. The Iowa guide has descriptions of what fish are in the river. The Iowa guide has much more information on the river structures, scenery and the whole river makeup. The Southern Minnesota guide has none of that. Except for using the maps, I'm still looking for a guidebook that describes the southern minnesota rivers. This one is not adequate!

If you live in southern Minnesota and like to paddle, this book is a must have. Not only does it provide great maps with mile markers, in/out points, and show locations of camp grounds, it also describes the scenery, gives Internet addresses to look up water levels for each river, and grades each trip for beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddlers.

The maps will scan or photocopy easily to insert in a zip-lock for your trip.

The reason for four stars is that it lacks two things I would like to see in the book. First, there is no reference map of Minnesota to show where the rivers are--you have to get out your atlas to locate it.

Second, each trip is designed as a day trip, which is great if you just want to go for a Saturday. However, it would have been nice to have an indication of which rivers make good weekend camping trips, providing the start and end points and camping locations for such a trip.

If the authors write a new ed. in the future, I hope they will incorporate those ideas into the book.

For most people, canoeing, kayaking, and river rafting in Minnesota is restricted to the Bountry Waters northern area of the state. Now with the publication of "Paddling Southern Minnesota", avid outdoors enthusiasts are presented with a do-it-yourself guide to 85 separate adventure opportunities and resources for canoeing, kayaking, and river rafting the streams and waterways of the southern have of this beautiful upper midwest state. Thirty-eight river systems are clearly identified and described ranging from Blue Earth, Hawk Creek, and Snake, to the St. Croix, Zumbro, and Mississipi. Enhanced with detailed maps and superb photography, as well as practical information on water conditions, wildlife, river history and sheer scenic beauty, "Paddling Southern Minnesota" is an indispensable and strongly recommended guide to planning a trip down any of Minnesota's southern waterways whether it be for a daytrip, a weekend excursion, or an extended vacation.

I received this book from my daughter on Fathers Day. It's a great resource for paddling enthusiasts who live in southern Minnesota or plan to paddle there. I read the chapter on paddling the second section of the Big Cobb in Blue Earth County and found it to be very accurate. I'm recovering from my incident in the rapids as I write this! I was showing the book to a friend who is a river fishing enthusiast. He was disappointed in the lack of information regarding fishing. The book does mention the kinds of fish found in some of the rivers however. I would recommend this book for anyone planning to paddle the waters of southern Minnesota but not for fisherman.

I found this guide to be indespensible. It provided critical information that the MN DNR did not or other guidebooks. I changed some trip plans based upon information in this book. It is enjoyable to read and is not dry, but keeps you interested.

Photocopy pages out of this and take them with you, don't get the book wet! This covers pretty much everything that is canoe or kayak traversable in Southern Minnesota. Use this book and some common sense to go anywhere the rivers go.