Sturgeon River Side Lake to County Road 766

Side Lake, Minnesota

1 Review

Summary Trail Guide Topo Map Reviews Photos GPS

DESCRIPTION FROM:

Paddling Minnesota

by Greg Breining (Falcon Guides)

This marshy, winding section of stream makes for a pleasant day trip with a good chance of spotting waterfowl and shorebirds.

The Sturgeon (not to be confused with the tributary of The Big Fork) is a charming stream that undergoes some surprising changes. Some sections are slow and marshy. Others are filled with difficult whitewater. Yet others meander through dense forest. The first section, beginning at Side Lake, is slow and placid, winding by marsh and forest. Its course is exceedingly sinuous. Rarely can you see very far ahead. For this reason, it’s a great stream for surprising waterfowl and shorebirds such as great blue herons.

Right before the end of the trip, the Shannon River joins from the south. It’s possible to ascend the Shannon as far south as Shannon Lake for more opportunities to watch critters and do some fishing for big northern pike and largemouth bass.

View Guide Topo Map

Trail Statistics and Information


Activity Type:	Flatwater Kayaking & Canoeing
Nearby City:	Side Lake
Distance:	8.3
Skill Level:	Easy
Duration:	2 - 4 hours
Class:	Class I
Local Contacts:	Department of Natural Resources Information Center, 612-296-6157 or 800-766-6000 (toll free in Minnesota)
Local Maps:	PRIM Vermillion Lake, USGS Side Lake, Dewey Lake NW
Driving Directions:	Directions to Sturgeon River: Side Lake to County Road 766

Recent Trail Reviews

Morgan S.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 5/8/2016

This was a nice easy afternoon paddle - we put in at the McCarthy State Park boat launch on Side Lake. It took us just about 3 hours of easy paddling to get from there to where we took out - just before the rapids at the road 766 bridge. Note that the section between where the Shannon river joins up with the Sturgeon and where the rapids start there are some large rocks in the river to watch out for. There is a small parking area on road 766 (small dirt state forest road) for a hiking trailhead. Nice calm water with many bends - saw quite a few waterfowl, and a river otter. The water was a bit high when we went, which was necessary to get over some of the partial beaver dams. If the water was any lower we would have had a little bit of trouble getting over at least one of them - if the beavers are active this summer, it might be more difficult in the future. Nice 60 degree day was perfect with a little breeze - no bugs and not too hot. There isn't a lot of shade on this section of the river, so be prepared!