Lazy Days

Resort & Campground on Elk River

Category: Big Sugar Float

Category: Big Sugar Float

Plan a Fall Float Trip With Friends in McDonald County, Missouri

As the air turns crisp and the leaves transform into a vibrant tapestry of oranges, reds, and yellows, there’s no better way to soak in the beauty of autumn than by planning a fall float trip with friends. McDonald County, Missouri, with its stunning waterways and lush landscapes, offers the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable float. Today’s blog will help you and your friends plan a fall river float, from choosing which river is suitable to packing river essentials.

Choosing the Perfect River

McDonald County boasts several picturesque rivers, ideal for a fall float trip. The Elk River and Big Sugar Creek are the two most popular rivers for float trips in McDonald County, Missouri. Each river offers a unique experience:

Elk River: Known for its gentle currents and clear waters, this river is suitable for those seeking a relaxing day of river floating.

Big Sugar Creek: Is an adventurous experience in the fall as the river’s water levels drop. With its changing river features, rivergoers face occasional rapids, portages, and quick maneuvering to avoid hitting the river bottom. It’s essential to keep your wits about you and follow safety guidelines when navigating challenging sections.

Planning a Fall Float

Once you’ve selected a river, begin researching entry and exit points. The 7.5-mile float down Elk River offered by local outfitter Lazy Days Resort is popular among college students. They can provide valuable information and equipment rentals, ensuring you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable trip.

Packing Essentials for a Fall River Float

Packing the right gear is crucial for a successful float trip. Here’s a list of essentials:

Comfort Items: Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and water shoes.

Food and Drinks: Pack a cooler full of sandwiches, snacks, and plenty of water.

Weather-appropriate Clothing: For cooler temperatures, bring a light jacket or hoodie and a change of dry clothes for the ride home.

Remember all the safety gear: Life jackets, first aid kit, and a whistle for emergencies.

Waterproof Bags: For your phone, camera, and any other valuables.

Booking a Fall Float Trip in McDonald County, Missouri

Are you interested in planning a fall float trip in McDonald County, Missouri? Then, book a fall float for you and your friends with local outfitter Lazy Days Resort in Noel, Missouri, who offer equipment rentals and valuable information about Elk River and Big Sugar Creek.

A fall float trip in McDonald County, Missouri, is a perfect way for college students to escape on the weekends and create lasting memories with friends. By planning a fall river float with all the essentials, you and your friends will have an unforgettable adventure. Start planning your fall river float today!

Book an Elk River Float

Book a Big Sugar Creek Float
Craig SandersAutumn Floats, Big Sugar Float, Elk River Float, McDonald County

Mastering River Rafting Paddle Maneuvers

Mastering paddle maneuvers is not just a skill; it’s a key to unlocking the full potential of your river rafting experience. It’s the tool that empowers you to navigate river bends and around river obstacles like downed trees or boulders. 

Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or just learning, understanding the basic techniques of rafting strokes will enhance your maneuvering and give you a sense of control and enjoyment on the water. In today’s blog, we’ll explore the essential paddle strokes every rafter should know, from put-ins to take-outs.

Basic River Raft Strokes: Forward and Reverse

The foundation of any good paddling technique begins with the forward and reverse strokes. The forward stroke is the primary propulsion, driving the raft through calm and turbulent waters.

On the other hand, the reverse stroke allows a team of paddlers to slow down or backtrack when necessary. Mastering these strokes can make or break your rafting experience.

The top tip for all paddle strokes is to fully plunge the paddle blade into the water, up to the paddle neck. Submerging the entire blade makes paddle strokes more efficient and less work for everyone in the boat.

Forward Stroke

  1. Hold the paddle’s T-grip with your inside boat hand while gripping the paddle shaft with your other hand.
  2. Reaching as far forward as possible before fully submerging the blade in the water.
  3. Keeping the paddle parallel to the raft, pull the paddle backward alongside the raft until the blade is behind your hip.
  4. Then, lift the paddle entirely out of the water before leaning forward again, as far as possible, to plunge the blade into the water to complete another stroke.

Reverse Stroke

  1. Leaning as far forward as possible, place the paddle shaft on your riverside hip for leverage as a pivot point and submerge the blade entirely into the water.
  2. Position allows you to use your body weight effectively to help push the paddle blade through the water toward the front of the raft, completing the reverse stroke.
  3. Keep the blade parallel to the raft as you complete the stroke for maximum efficiency.

Steering Strokes Through River Bends: Draw and Pry

Navigating river bends requires more than just a forward or reverse stroke. The draw and pry strokes are essential for whoever is designated to steer on the raft as the Paddle Captain, who sits aft-end of the raft.

The Paddle Captain’s primary responsibility is to steer the raft around bends, negotiate river obstacles, and keep it on a safe path downriver.

Draw Stroke

Using a draw stroke, the Paddle Captain extends the paddle to one side of the raft, keeping the blade vertical. Then plunges the blade into the water to draw the raft toward the paddle. The use of this stroke moves the raft sideways without changing its angle.

Pry Stroke

The pry stroke is designed to pivot the raft’s direction like a boat’s rudder. However, the Paddle Captain uses the paddle in a continual stroke maneuver, known as a rudder stroke, to feel where the river current is dragging the raft. The pry is just an adjusted stroke from the rudder, in which the paddle is pushed away from the raft on either side to redirect its direction quickly.

Navigating Put-ins and Take-outs

Put-ins and take-outs are critical points in any rafting trip. Proper paddle maneuvers can make these transitions smooth and stress-free and ensure you and other paddlers are always in control of the raft.

Put-Ins

Always position the stern of the boat toward the riverbank and the bow toward the river. When launching from the river’s edge, use forward strokes to quickly move away from the shoreline. If the river current is strong, employ a combination of forward and draw strokes to position the bow end of the raft correctly downstream.

Take-Outs

As you approach your take-out point, use reverse strokes to slow down. Utilize draw strokes to guide the raft’s bow toward the shoreline, ensuring a gentle and controlled landing.

Enhance Your Rafting Experience

Mastering these essential paddle maneuvers will enhance your river rafting experience by staying in control while on the river. Whether navigating tricky river bends or transitioning from the river smoothly at put-ins and take-outs, these techniques are invaluable for any rafter.

So grab a paddle, hit the water, and get ready to experience the thrill of a self-guided river float trip down Elk River or Big Sugar Creek. Your river float trip starts at Lazy Days Resort and Campground in Noel, Missouri. Book your trip today using one of the below links!

Book An Elk River Float

Book A Big Sugar Creek Float
Craig SandersBig Sugar Float, Elk River Float, Location, Noel MO, River Float, River Rafts

River Statistics of Missouri’s Elk River and Big Sugar Creek

Missouri is home to some of the most mesmerizing rivers in the United States. The Elk River and Big Sugar Creek, with their unique and captivating beauty, will surely inspire and intrigue you. Their distinct characteristics set them apart, making them a must-visit for any nature enthusiast or rivergoer.

Whether you’re a seasoned rivergoer or a curious nature enthusiast, understanding the statistical aspects of these rivers can enhance your appreciation and experience. In today’s blog, we dive into the intriguing river statistics of the Elk River and Big Sugar Creek, exploring:

Elk River: A Flowing Gem

The Elk River flows through Missouri’s scenic landscapes, offering a haven for outdoor lovers. Its average flow rate is approximately 180 cubic feet per second (cfs), making it an ideal floating river year-round, which gives it a Class I river rating.

As of August 9, 2024, the current river depth is just under 3 feet, supporting an abundant ecosystem of wildlife, fish, and insects. You might spot bald eagles, deer, or even a river otter. The rich biodiversity will make you feel more connected to nature.

Big Sugar Creek: A Tranquil Escape

Big Sugar Creek, though lesser known, offers a serene and picturesque experience. Its flow rate is much slower than the Elk, averaging around 7.43 cfs this time of year with a depth of near 5 ft.

The tranquility will envelop you, making you feel relaxed and at peace. It’s the perfect spot for nature enthusiasts seeking a calm escape. Water levels in Big Sugar Creek are generally stable, but like all rivers, they can rise after significant rainfall and drop after long drought periods.

Comparing the Two River: Elk vs. Big Sugar

Although both rivers are part of the Elk River Watershed, the annual average water temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Each river offers a distinct experience that caters to different preferences, skill levels, activities, and ways to cool off.

With river widths ranging from 25 to 50 feet (ft.), the Elk River offers an easy floating experience with minimal paddling and steering, except around river bends and obstacles.

In contrast, Big Sugar Creek’s lower flow rate, paired with its narrowest width of 25 ft. and its widest at 75 ft. gives the creek a Class II river rating.

Where to Book Your River Float Trip

Missouri’s Elk River and Big Sugar Creek each offer distinctly different and engaging experiences for rivergoers. Understanding the statistical nuances of these rivers, from flow rates to each river’s classification rating, can help you choose the perfect river adventure.

Whether drawn to the Elk River’s easy currents or Big Sugar Creek’s tranquil waters, these flowing wonders promise unforgettable experiences and a deeper connection with nature. Your river float trip starts at Lazy Days Resort in Noel, Missouri, where you can enjoy comfortable camping facilities and a range of outdoor activities on both Elk River and the Big Sugar Creek near Pineville, Missouri.

They offer self-guided river float trips for all levels of experience. Book your river float trip today and embark on an unforgettable experience!

Book Elk River Floats

Book Big Sugar Creek Floats
Craig SandersBig Sugar Float, Elk River Float, Floating Elk River Missouri, Noel MO, Pineville MO, River Float

River Rafting Terminology: A Guide to Understanding the Terms

Most outdoor sports come with rules and etiquette designed to respect the environment and protect us from accidents. River float trips are no different. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss common river rafting terminology you might encounter on Elk River or Big Sugar Creek.

River Terminology

Aced It: When a rafting group, kayaker, or canoeer performs an exceptional paddle maneuver to control the rivercraft, like around a river bend without running a ground or pushing past the crux of a river, like a chute, which is a narrow flow of water between two obstacles, like boulders, trees, or between two other rafts to avoid a collision.

Alluvial: A long-term deposit of sediment on the banks of a river that creates alluvial fans or sandbars, which are good spots for lunch and to rid yourself of your proverbial “sea legs.”

Cubic Feet per Second (CFS): A term that tells rivergoers the volume of water moving in a river. When you know a river’s CFS, you’ll know whether it is small, average, or giant. Small rivers push between 500-3000 CFS, such as the Elk River in Missouri, which moves 560 CFS on a good day. While big rivers like the Mississippi push 590,000 CFS or more.

Gradient: In river rafting, the gradient of a river is a crucial factor that determines the speed and intensity of the rapids. It’s measured in feet per mile (FPM), indicating how fast or slow a river runs. For example, ‘The Numbers’ of the Arkansas River, which is upstream from Buena Vista, CO, is a Class III-IV with incredibly fast-moving water that drops 70 FPM, offering adventure seekers the opportunity to run rapids. Another example is the moderate-flowing river of the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho, which has a grade of 20-40 FPM. Then there are slow tributaries, like the Elk River in McDonald County, located in southwest Missouri, with more pools than drop conditions that has a grade of 7.8 FPM.

Lead Boat: The first boat in a small fleet of rivercraft.

Outfitters: This term might sound confusing, but it’s actually quite simple. It refers to a service business that provides all the necessary equipment and gear for a river float trip. These businesses are run by passionate individuals who love river float trips, like the team at Lazy Days Resort and Campground. So, if you’re planning a river rafting trip, remember to book with an outfitter like them!

Pools: These are areas along a river, between rapids, that tend to be deep, quiet stretches of the river. It’s like a little river oasis of calm in the midst of all the excitement. The currents are gentle enough to offer rivergoers an ‘out-of-boat experience,’ where they can float in the river enjoying its tranquility, much like what you’ll find on the Elk River in southwest Missouri.

Pool and Drop Conditions: Characteristics of a river with a calm section, called pools with intermittent stretches of rapids, known as drops.

Portage: When navigating challenging rapids, chutes, or impassable river features, such as waterfalls, all gear must be carried by hand below the drop.

River Channel: This is the deepest part of a river, primarily free of obstacles.

River Eddy: A section of a river where the current turns around and goes upstream due to its shape and contour.

Run: “A nice run” refers to a river section perfect for kayaking, rafting, or canoes.

Rapid(s): Rivers that have ripples, drops, and eddies are all caused by the amount of river obstacles that are either artificial or naturally occurring features, such as rocks, trees, geological uplift, and shallow water.

Standing Wave: To help you understand this term better, imagine a sizeable static wave forming when fast-moving water collides with slow-moving water.

Throw Bag: An essential part of river gear is a bag containing rope, or a  floating line, which is used as a tow line, tie-off, or in urgent situations where a person needs rescuing.

Undercut: Mostly found on rivers with soft sedimentary rock, like limestone and sandstone, where a river’s current has cut away at the rock, creating an overhang or ledge. It’s best NOT to float underneath these areas.

Book Your Float Trip
Craig SandersBig Sugar Float, Canoes, Elk River Float, Floating Elk River Missouri, Kayaks, McDonald County, River Float, River Rafts, Southwest Missouri