Lazy Days

Resort & Campground on Elk River

Category: Noel MO

Category: Noel MO

Reasons to Plan Your May River Excursions by Booking in Advance

A unique way to explore the natural beauty of rivers and wildlife inhabitants is to plan your May river excursions. Adventures in float trips are best accomplished in a canoe, kayak, or raft with close friends.

River floats also provide an opportunity to get away from it all and enjoy a fun-filled weekend adventure while taking in stunning views and making memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you are looking for a relaxing time with friends on the river or a little more adventure, there is something for everyone on a river float in McDonald County near Noel, Missouri.

Book The Perfect May River Excursions

Floating trips are a great way to escape the humdrum of everyday life, whether looking for a peaceful float down a lazy river or a class II float with very few rapids.

With so many to choose from, finding the perfect float excursion can be challenging. Some factors to consider are the following:

  • The skill level of the river
  • River gear and equipment supplies (i.e., rivercraft and paddles)
  • Accommodations for you and your friends

Skill Level of a River

The skill level of a river can vary greatly depending on the category it falls into. Rivers get divided into several classes based on these characteristics, such as the river width, the water depth, the obstacles present in it—such as rocks or boulders, and the speed or current of the water, commonly referred to as the CFS (cubic feet per second) of a river.

Each class has a skill level, ranging from easy to expert. Knowing what class a river falls into is essential for determining its skill level and preparing for your journey.

We’ll talk more about river classifications in our next blog. Still, for this blog and the region we are talking about near Noel and Pineville, Missouri, the Elk River is a gently flowing river that’s easy to swim against its current, making it a great float river.

River Gear and Equipment Supplies

For those looking to explore the rivers of McDonald County near Noel and Pineville, Missouri, there are a few must-haves in river gear and equipment essentials to enjoy the Elk River or the Big Sugar Creek properly. From river-crafts, like a:

  • Six- or an eight-person raft
  • Two- or a single-person kayak
  • One or two-person canoe

You’ll also need these critical river gear and equipment supplies for an enjoyable experience on a river float.

  • Paddles
  • Floatation devices
  • Food and drinking water

Most river outfitters along the Elk River offer all three river crafts accompanied by paddles so that you can make sure you and your friends can easily navigate the gentle river currents.

Accommodations for You and Your Friends

If you know where to begin looking, you can find the perfect place to stay that can accommodate all of your friends while meeting every person’s needs and wants. Luckily, there are plenty of cabin options at the Lazy Days Resort and Campground.

Their resort offers you and your friends twelve cabin sizes that comfortably sleep groups as small as four to as large as thirty. In addition, they provide full RV hookup sites and on-site tent camping. With these options in mind, you and your friends can find the perfect place to stay that meets all your needs, including plenty of parking space, all while staying within budget.

Book in Advance for Your May River Excursions

Planning May river excursions are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have fun in the sun. But it is essential to book in advance to ensure you guarantee a raft gets secured for you and your friends.

By booking your May river float online today, you ensure you will have plenty of time to prepare for your adventure and that all of the necessary arrangements are taken care of before your arrival. So don’t delay—today, book your river float down the Elk River or the Big Sugar Creek with the river outfitter, Lazy Days Resort and Campground!

The resort location is along the Elk River banks; they are just a one-minute drive West of Interstate 49 at exit 5 near mile marker 6. Come enjoy your summer with your friends along the Elk River!

Craig SandersCanoes, Float Trips, Kayaks, Noel MO, Pineville MO, River Rafts

Book the Cabin Getaway in Missouri for River Float Trips Down the Elk River

Enjoy an unforgettable experience on the Elk River in Missouri by booking the cabin getaway! With the perfect combination of serene riverside views, nearby attractions, and comfortable cabins, the ultimate destination for a float trip and cabin getaway is located right here in Missouri.

Explore the majestic beauty between Pineville and Noel, MO, while you enjoy a leisurely float down the Elk River. Relax in your cozy cabin at night and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Exploring the Beauty of Missouri’s Elk River

Missouri’s Elk River is a stunning natural wonder that should be explored and appreciated by everyone. From the rolling hillsides to its slow-moving current, the Elk River is the perfect place to slow down to the lazy days of summer. The river’s beauty is enhanced by its diverse wildlife, including river otters, deer, and bald eagles.

Along the riverbanks are lush forests filled with trees and wildflowers that add to the tranquil atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or just want to take in the beauty of nature, Missouri’s Elk River has something for everyone.

Your Perfect Cabin Getaway Along the Elk River in Missouri

Planning your float trip down Elk River this summer, you’ll want to plan a cabin getaway for you and your friends too. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat in the woods or an adventure-filled weekend on Elk River, there is plenty of options to choose from.

With twelve cabins available at Lazy Days Resort & Campground along the Elk River, you’ll have lots of cabin options to accommodate large groups of friends. It’s important to plan ahead and make sure you have booked the cabin and float trips for you and all your friends before you set off on your journey. So be sure to plan ahead!

Exploring the Best Camping and RV Sites Along Elk River

Elk River is a great destination for camping and RV enthusiasts too. With its vast forests and scenic rivers, the area offers plenty of opportunities to explore nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

From rustic sites to full-service RV sites, there is something for everyone at Lazy Days Resort & Campground. Be sure to book ahead of time if you want to secure a great spot to camp or park your RV for easy access to Elk River.

Book the Best Cabins and Campsites

Are you looking for the best cabins and campsites near Noel and Pineville, MO? If so, you’re in luck! The best location for great cabins and campsites is centrally located between the two towns and all at one location, Lazy Days Resort & Campground.

Book a cabin getaway or campsite at Lazy Days Resort for you and your friends today! Also, don’t forget to schedule your float trips too.

Craig SandersCabins, Campsites, Float Trips, Noel MO, Pineville MO, RVing

Cabin Life For One Week on a River Near Me in Pineville and Noel, MO

Cabin life on a river near Pineville and Noel, MO, can be enjoyable. The scenery is beautiful, and there is plenty of opportunity to explore the area. Fishing, boating, and swimming are all popular summertime activities, and you can also find many great spots for camping, hiking, and biking.

You can take leisurely walks along the riverbanks and explore the surrounding forests during your stay. You may spot wildlife such as deer, raccoons, and wild turkeys. There are also plenty of opportunities for bird-watching, as many species of birds nest in the area.

The nights can be playful and quiet, and you can enjoy the stars and the sounds of nature. You can also take advantage of a relaxing float with friends. At the end of a stay, you will have plenty of beautiful memories and laughs to look back on and share with friends and family for years.

Planning Your Cabin Lifestyle Stay With Friends

Unplugging for a week-long stay in a cabin can be just what you need. With some advanced planning, you can make the most of your time away and ensure that your weekend cabin life is comfortable, stress-free, and restorative.

From stocking up on supplies to making the perfect playlist, there are a few simple ways to ensure your cabin stay feels more like a lifestyle choice than a vacation escape. After all, a cabin lifestyle is often associated with a base camp—where we all meet to rest, eat, and relax after a long day out hiking, river rafting, or sightseeing.

Here is a short list of ways to unplug from it all.

  • Turn off cellular devices
  • Bring games for nighttime entertainment
  • Food shop and meal plan to save time
  • Pack a bathing suit!

Booking Your Cabin Stay in Advance

If you plan to escape from it all after the Spring semester ends, we at Lazy Days Resort & Campground would love to have you stay with us. We offer all our guests access to set off on an Elk River float trip right from our property. 

We have some of the valley’s premier Elk River cabin rentals for the ideal cabin retreat at the Lazy Days Resort. Our resort location is just a one-minute drive southwest of Interstate 49. Take exit 5 at mile marker 6. The resort location is between the charming towns of Noel and Pineville, MO.

Book your stay today and your float trip too. Here’s what some of our recent guests said about their stays at Lazy Days Resort & Campground!

Craig SandersCabins, Float Trips, Noel MO, Pineville MO

A “Christmas Connection” From the Small Ozark Town of Noel, Missouri

Today marks the middle of December, signaling that Christmas is just ten days away. That means there’s still plenty of time to get all your Christmas cards and packages mailed off to the Post Office Master this Christmas in Noel, Missouri.

Why Noel?

Aside from the town’s spelling, Noel (typical pronunciation, nole) is much like any other small town in the United States. “The Christmas City” Committee has many planned events for locals, from a Christmas Parade to a Christmas Lighting Contest.

Going into its 9th decade, the local Noel post office has carried on a practice that has drawn worldwide attention. But one tradition has stood the test of time. What began as a simple idea grew into a Christmas tradition sparked by Presidentially appointed postmaster Ed Rousselot in 1933.

Noel Post Office Tradition

Thanks to Postmaster Rosselot, Noel, Missouri, was put into the spotlight with a clever idea that has begun a town tradition that many locals volunteer their time each year to bring Christmas cheer to people all over the globe.

He proposed mailing Christmas cards and letters to Santa get sent to:

Postmaster
Noel, MO 64854

Once the cards arrive, the envelopes get stamped with one of four uniquely designed stamps, which changes the town name from Noel (the french pronunciation, no-ell), once a year, starting the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve to “The Christmas City.” That gets postmarked on the outside of the envelope with either a:

  • Red Christmas wreath
  • Green Christmas tree
  • Red and blue stamp bearing the town’s temporary holiday name, “The Christmas City.”

Afterward, those Christmas cards get postmarked and mailed to the final destination anywhere in the world, including Santa Claus’ North Pole, Alaska, address!

Mountain Charm in this Ozark Town

All of this is only possible with volunteers. The tiny Ozark mountain town has just over 2,000 people; without the townspeople volunteering, “The Christmas City” postmark wouldn’t be possible. 

Plan Your Trip to Noel, Missouri

If you can’t make it to The Christmas City this holiday season, but planning to visit in Spring 2023, then you need a comfy place to lay your head with plenty of outdoor activities. Your ideal vacation stay is at Lazy Days Resort and Campground. 

With twelve cabins onsite at the resort, there’s plenty to choose from for you and your family to enjoy a cabin experience. From the rustic stay of a single-room cabin for three to full-sized cabins that can sleep 10 to 30 people to a magical stay in a treehouse for twelve, there’s no shortage of options to choose from for your Noel, Missouri, vacation. 

Book your stay online today for the perfect Ozark cabin vacation for your entire family.

Craig SandersCabins, Noel MO

Treehouse Cabin Stay in Southwest Missouri Ozark Mountains

If you’ve ever imagined what sleeping in a treehouse cabin might be like, then allow us to give you a grand tour. After all, treehouses are all the rage nowadays, from vacation rentals to luxury treehouse retreats made famous by the Animal Planet series Treehouse Masters.

So what makes a better cabin rental than a treehouse rental? A treehouse that sleeps 12 with six full-size beds and two fully functional bathrooms, of course. But what could be more wonderful than having a treehouse stay in the heart of the Southwest Missouri Ozark Mountainss, along the Elk River near Pineville, Missouri?

Treehouse Expectations

When you think about your family’s expectations of what you want from a treehouse cabin stay, you might think of the necessities. But a treehouse should provide you with much more comfort and peace than other cabin stays. For example, the treehouse should have all the creature comforts you find at home.

  • Running water
  • Air conditioning
  • Coffee pot
  • Refrigerator with freezer
  • Kitchen with a full-sized stove
  • Ample deck space overlooking Elk River
  • Television cable
  • WiFi service

Essential Elements of Treehouse Cabin

The word treehouse implies it’s a structure that carries you away into the canopy of trees. But, a treehouse can only be classified as a tree-house if it has these essential elements. 

First and foremost, a treehouse must built around a tree. By default, it must come fully equipped with a unique access point, be it:

  • Traversing a rope bridge
  • Climbing a rock wall
  • Scaling a rope ladder
  • Ascending a spiral staircase

Access to any treehouse should transport you to another world, high above the world below. All while exploring a unique and magical experience of a log cabin seated in the trees.

Book Your Spring Stay NOW

There is no place to experience a magical fairytale treehouse cabin stay better than at the Lazy Days Resort & Campground. Call (417) 223-3498 to book your first Spring treehouse stay today!

Lazy Days Campground is located along the Elk River in southwest Missouri in McDonald County. The resort location is between the aptly named towns of Pineville and Noel, Missouri. To get there from Interstate 49, take exit 5 at mile marker 6.

Learn what past guests had to say about their stay at the Lazy Days Resort.

Craig SandersCabins, Noel MO, Pineville MO, Treehouse Cabin

Wicked Hauntings of the Elk River Waters between Pineville and Noel, MO

Are you a ghost hunter? Do you love to have the wits scared out of you? Are you a thrill seeker looking for a unique haunting this October? Then look no further; you’ve stumbled across a wicked haunting of paranormal activity. 

Each year, on the eve of October 1, the Elk River of Southwest Missouri is said to be fraught with lore by locals living between Pineville and Noel, Missouri. They tell a bizarre story of someone, or something cursed, that haunts the Elk River waters. 

Locals that grew up in the area, like the Lazy Days Resort & Campground owners, tell a story passed down from one generation to the next. But, it’s no ordinary ghost story! Instead, it’s strangely twisted, like many other urban legends.

So before we continue, know this, paranormal activity is often wrapped up in a shroud of confusion. So if you’re expecting answers, you will need to book a float trip to investigate this haunting for yourself. 

Historical Notes

Weather forecasts in the late 1800s were only reported as far as 48 hours and generally provided to the local post offices using the telegraph. In 1847 the town was known as Maryville, before Pineville became incorporated in 1873. 

But according to history, the Pineville, Missouri, post office was established on September 11, 1849. Nearly 24 years before becoming incorporated, there was no record of the town of Maryville, MO, anywhere in the public record.

Adding to the confusion behind this story was the U. S. Congress of 1898, which had not approved wide-scale dissemination of weather forecasts west of the Mississippi. That means there is no evidence of the story you are about to read.

Haunting of Elk River

It all began on the eve of October 1, 1898, while two teenage boys were canoeing down Elk River, fishing at dusk. The weather that day was remarkably perfect and made for an excellent evening for Fall fishing, at least so they thought. 

The two young men launched on their fishing trip toward Noel, MO, from the Elk River public access point in Pineville, the seat of McDonald County since 1847. They had just passed where the I-49 bridge now sits when they heard what could only be described as a haunting banshee howl. The dusky skies quickly disappeared behind a dense fog.

As the two became more alarmed by the unearthly howls from the nearby pine forest that echoed across the waters, they reeled in their last cast and began paddling toward the shoreline. All while hoping not to encounter whatever was lurking nearby.

The boys looked upriver toward the town of Pineville, which disappeared into the fog bank. The day turned to night, and temperatures dropped nearly 40 degrees in seconds. Engulfed by the mist, the last five miles of their journey would haunt these two young men forever!

Upon their return to town, the two ran to the Pineville sheriff’s office, uncertain that anyone would believe them, and nearly flush with fear, they tried to tell the story simultaneously. Finally, sheriff Jarrett, supposedly at the time of the incident, separated the two boys. With remarkable accuracy in detail, they recounted their experiences exactly.

They spoke of a figure that walked down the center of Elk River but couldn’t be sure it was human. Then it would disappear for nearly five minutes before re-emerging behind them and looking more ghostly than human and floating rather than walking. Almost seven times, both boys reported feeling a bump alongside their boat, nearly turning them over as if something wanted them in the water.

Although, there is no official record of any kind. Sheriff Jarrett took nearly 168 reports from townspeople who heard a screeching howl every Friday and Saturday evening in October. But no one else reported any sightings of ghostly figures, strange beings on the river, or peculiar weather patterns.

If no evidence of such a story was recorded, does that mean it’s simply a local legend? Of course, but isn’t it worth investigating for yourself? Could it be that something wicked haunts the waters of Elk River? If so, what or who is it? Does it want to harm people, or is it just a restless soul looking for peace?

Haunted Discovery

To discover what those fright night shrieks and shrills are all about along Elk River, book your haunted weekend stay at Lazy Days Campground by calling (417) 223-3498 today. Haunted float trips will continue every weekend for the entire month of October. 

Elk River Haunted Float

Tickets are available for purchase online. The first haunted float launches at 6:00 pm, with the last raft pushing off at 10:00 pm.

  • Friday, October 7
  • Saturday, October 8
  • Friday, October 14
  • Saturday, October 15
  • Friday, October 21
  • Saturday, October 22
  • Friday, October 28
  • Saturday, October 29
  • Sunday, October 30
  • Monday, October 31
Craig SandersFloat Trips, Haunted Float, Noel MO, Pineville MO, Uncategorized

Board Your Elk River Haunted Float at Lazy Days Campground and Resort

October is nearly upon us, which means ghosts, ghouls, and creatures of the night will run crazed every weekend along the Elk River from September 30 through Halloween Night on October 31. Hosting the first ever Elk River Haunted Float is Lazy Days Campground and Skeleton Acres, working in partnership with Gracie’s Canoe Camp.

Discover the Haunted Tales of the Elk River Watershed

If you’re hoping to discover the haunted tales of the legendary folklore on Missouri’s monster, Momo, book your haunted weekend stay today. Haunted float trips begin next Friday, September 30. The first float launches at 6:00 pm, and the last raft launches at 10:00 pm.

Camping space is also available for those choosing to stay overnight. Campers can begin arriving at 1:00 pm at Lazy Days Campground on float nights.

If you decide to purchase a VIP ticket, you’ll receive one overnight camping stay with access to electricity and water. RV hookups are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you decide to stay another night, talk with Lazy Days Campground’s ghostly host to find out if spooky space is available for an additional haunted night’s stay.

A weekend camping package is also available for those looking for longer fright nights on Friday and Saturday. However, only one haunted pass comes with the weekend camping package. You may purchase additional haunted event passes on location while staying at the Lazy Days Campground on Friday or Saturday.

Haunted Float Schedule

Tickets are on sale now for haunted night floats.

  • Friday, September 30
  • Saturday, October 1
  • Friday, October 7
  • Saturday, October 8
  • Friday, October 14
  • Saturday, October 15
  • Friday, October 21
  • Saturday, October 22
  • Friday, October 28
  • Saturday, October 29
  • Sunday, October 30
  • Monday, October 31

Halloween Haunted Activities

If you were born and raised in the four-state region of southwest Missouri, you know Missouri ghost lore is deeply rooted in our history dating back as early as the mid-eighteenth century. 

From haunting howls to wandering aberrations of the Ozark mountains, call Lazy Days Campground at (417) 223-3498 to book your haunted camping stay this Halloween season. Lazy Days Campground offers premier Elk River RVing, tent campsites, and cabin rentals.

While here, you can also partake in all the Halloween activities that include:

  • Haunted Hayrides
  • Spooky Float Trips
  • Tour the Haunted House
  • Walk a Terrifying Trail of Horrors

To get to Lazy Days Campground from Interstate 49, take exit 5 at mile marker 6. The resort sits nestled between the Ozark mountain towns of Noel and Pineville, Missouri.

Craig SandersCampsites, Float Trips, Haunted Float, Noel MO, RVing

Your Guide to Fall Foliage on Your Autumn Float Trip Along the Elk River

Fall is just days away, and there’s no better time to book an Autumn float trip than right now! To better prepare you for the Fall colors, we’ve put together this easy reference guide to help you identify those beautiful fall foliage.

Like so many states with striking Fall colors, Missouri is no exception. Fall in Missouri can last four to six weeks with showy displays of vibrant reds, brilliant oranges, dazzling golds, and bold purples.

Mid-October is often the time to take in those Fall colors. Although Missouri is host to a wide variety of foliage and plant life, residents are lucky to see the showy display that begins mid-September and wraps up sometime in mid-November. 

Mid-September Foliage

In about one week, early Fall colors emerge. Among the top forerunners of Fall color displays are:

  • Sassafras Tree
  • Sumac Shrub
  • Virginia Creeper Vine

Sassafras Trees

The leaves of a sassafras tree are uniquely shaped teardrops, often coming to three rounded points on each leaf. In early autumn, the sassafras leaves give off a brilliant display of reds, oranges, and yellows that intermingle with the natural bright green.

Sumac Shrub

The sumac bush is a magnificent sight of all the shrubs during the Fall. Its fern-like foliage lights up a forest floor with oranges, purples, and reds.

Virginia Creeper Vine

The Virginia creeper vine will adorn all it climbs with its rich hues of red. Unlike other North American creeping vines, like poison ivy, which display oranges and yellows, the Virginia creeper will envelop a tree trunk or building with Mother Nature’s paint.  

Peak Fall Colors

By mid-October, the Fall color heavyweights completely take over, which include the:

  • Maple trees
  • Ash varieties
  • Oak woods
  • Hickory trees

Maple Trees

The maple tree is well-known for giving a dazzling Fall show of rich reds, golden yellows, and orange ambers. Although there are 100 maple varieties around the globe, only twelve are native to the North American continent. The Missouri Department of Conservation only recognizes five as native to our state.

  1. Silver, or soft, maple
  2. Red maple
  3. Sugar, also known as a hard or black maple
  4. Box elder, or ash-leaved maple
  5. Amur, or Siberian, maple

Ash Varieties

Of the nearly 60 species of ash tree found all over the World, Missouri has six native varieties that range in magnificent hues of reds, golden yellows, brilliant oranges, and deep purples.

  1. Green
  2. White 
  3. Blue 
  4. Pumpkin
  5. Sullivan
  6. Biltmore

Oak Wood

Oak trees grow abundantly throughout Missouri, with nearly 22 known species and 30 oak hybrids. The Fall colors of the oak tree consist of deep reddish browns to dark, dusty yellows. 

With nearly four out of every five trees in Missouri being oak trees, it’s easy to understand how you might think the Missouri state tree is an oak. But you would be wrong; the state tree is the flowering dogwood.

Hickory Trees

Although hickory trees are prevalent throughout Missouri, only 17 known species exist worldwide. Fifteen of those species reside on the North American Continent. Interestingly, there are eight species of hickory native to Missouri. 

The hickory tree produces deep rich reds, yellows, and purples during peak Fall colors in Mid-October.

Book Your Fall Elk River Float Trip

Now that you know how to identify the foliage along your float down the Elk River this Autumn, you can book a relaxing Fall float trip for you and your family by contacting the premier rental location for Elk River float trips at the Lazy Days Resort & Campground in Noel, MO. 

If you’re looking for a relaxing Fall weekend stay, Lazy Days Campground offers premier Elk River RVing, tent campsites, and cabin rentals. Call Lazy Days Resort today to book your Elk River RVing site now!

The resort is a one-minute drive southwest of Interstate 49; take exit 5 at mile marker 6. The resort sits nestled between the Ozark mountain towns of Noel and Pineville, Missouri.

We invite you to read past guest experiences at Lazy Days Resort.

Craig SandersAutumn Floats, Canoes, Float Trips, Kayaks, Noel MO, Pineville MO, River Rafts

Essential Paddle Grips Every River Floater Should Know

Whether you’re new to river sports or a born river explorer, there is much to be said about proper paddle grips. While gripping a river paddle may seem instinctive, improperly grasping a paddle with both hands holding onto the shaft is a primary reason for injuries sustained in the boat. Although, keep in mind that most rivers in Missouri are easy enough to float down without an expert river guide.

So if you’re paddling down the easy flow of the Elk River outside Noel, Missouri, or maneuvering the class I or II rapids in the Big Sugar Creek near Pineville, Missouri, paddle grip is an essential piece of knowledge that serves you and your fellow floaters well.

Paddle Grips

Regarding paddle grip, keeping hold of a paddle while rafting, canoeing, or kayaking a river ranked as a class I rapid or above is essential. However, it may not be as crucial while floating down Elk River because it’s rated lower than a class I rapid, making it an ideal family-friendly float. 

Therefore, knowing the two common paddle types can help you better prepare for when you must paddle. Whether you’re launching from the river edge or paddling to shore, there are different grip styles for both of these paddles:

  • Single-blade Paddle
  • Double-blade Paddle

Single-Blade Paddle

Canoes and rafts generally come outfitted with a single-blade paddle because there can be more than one paddler for these types of watercraft.

Single-blade paddles come with two different types of grips: asymmetrical and T-grip. The asymmetrical grip generally gets used in lake crafts, like canoes. However, most river vessels come with a T-grip design.

Both grip designs give a paddler the most significant leverage with the least resistance. Depending upon which side of the craft you are paddling on, you will always wrap your palm around the T-grip cross body.

For example, paddlers on a raft on the right side of the boat will grasp the T-grip with their left hand. While paddlers on the left side of the rivercraft hold the t-grip using their right hand.

In a canoe, it depends upon whether there is a solo paddler or a two-person paddle team. If there are two paddlers, the team must communicate well which side of the boat they should paddle on to direct the craft to shore or cross-river. 

For solo paddlers with single blades, it’s a matter of swapping hand positions to ensure the cross-body hand is always holding the paddle grip, depending upon which side of the canoe the blade is on. 

In other words, if the blade is in the water to the paddler’s left, the right-hand grasps the T-grip. If the paddle blade is in the water to the paddler’s right, the left hand will grab the top of the T-grip (as seen with the paddler above). 

The other hand will always hold on to the shaft. For canoes, that will depend upon where you’re seated, in the bow (front) or the stern (rear). It will be the strongest paddler sitting at the stern who instructs the person seated at the bow. That’s because the person in the stern will steer the boat.

However, paddling in a river raft is different. First, it depends upon which side of the craft you sit on. If you’re seated on the port (left) side of the raft, your left hand will hold onto the shaft of the paddle, while those sitting on the starboard (right) side of the vessel grasp the paddle shaft with the right hand. 

Double-Blade Paddle

On the other hand, kayakers use a double-blade paddle, which provides greater efficiency in traversing river currents and slightly improves a kayaker’s speed. For kayakers paddle lengths can range from approximately 79″ to 81″. 

The blades are typically feathered and can rotate using a center ferrule, meaning the blades on a kayak paddle can rotate in opposing directions. That gives kayakers an advantage in wind conditions and the ability to paddle upstream.

The grip on a double-blade paddle is pretty straightforward: you wrap both hands around the shaft between the blades. Keeping your hands slightly wider than shoulder length apart and bent at 90 degrees at the elbow is the most comfortable position in a kayak.

Book A Stay Along Elk River in Missouri

Looking for an ideal location along the Elk River? Contact Lazy Days in Noel, MO, the premier rental site for river float trips. They offer prime Elk River RVing, tent campsites, and recently upgraded cabin rentals. So book your stay today at Lazy Days Resort and Campground!

Getting to Lazy Days Campground is a one-minute drive southwest of Interstate 49. Take exit 5 at mile marker 6. The resort location sits between the charming towns of Noel and Pineville, Missouri.

Read what past guests had to say about Lazy Days Resort.

Craig SandersCabins, Campsites, Canoes, Kayaks, Noel MO, Pineville MO, River Rafts, RVing

Choosing A River Float Craft for You and Your Fellow Floaters

Whether you’re a novice river rafter or an expert river kayaker, knowing which river float craft is suitable can be a big decision for yourself and your fellow floaters. That’s where this helpful tool can help you make the best selection when booking your next Elk River or Big Sugar float trip.

You’ll discover the specific differences between three float vessel options commonly available to choose from when you book your stay at a Noel, MO, campground on Elk River.

  • River raft
  • Individual kayak
  • Tandem kayak
  • Multi-person canoe

Elk River and Big Sugar Creek

There are some distinct differences between Elk River and Big Sugar Creek.

The Elk River is an ideal family-friendly river with few rapids and fewer river obstacles. Presently running at a depth of 4.28 feet, making its flow rate suitable and manageable for river floaters seeking to cool off. On the other hand, the Big Sugar Creek categorizes below a class I rapid, and at certain times of the year, it ranks as a class II.

The Big Sugar is running at a depth between 3.90 and 5.88 feet. Although considered low in some areas, the chances of a watercraft dragging the river bottom or having to portage are low.

River Raft

There are two standard river rafts for any Elk River float trip. There is a 12-13 foot raft that seats six people comfortably. You can also select a 14-15 foot raft for 8-people. Both crafts are well suited for a gentle float down Elk River with little paddling and negotiating required. 

Individual Kayak

If you are one for individual sports, a personal kayak is ideal for you or anyone paddling alongside you down the Elk River or the Big Sugar Creek. Bound to deliver a unique kayaking experience to test your reflexes and challenge you with a good cardio workout.

Tandem Kayak

Two-person kayaks, also known as tandem kayaks, are an excellent choice for those who play well on a team. You’ll work together to paddle to increase or slow your speed as a team. The perfect watercraft for any couples weekend in a Noel, Missouri, campground.

Tandem kayaks perform well on Elk River and Big Sugar Creek this time of year.

Multi-Person Canoe

Most canoes can be paddled down river easily by one or two people. But most canoes can hold up to three people comfortably. These river vessels are superior in lightweight aluminum construction that shine in paddle control down Elk River or the Big Sugar Creek.

Book Your Elk River RVing Campsite

If you’re ready for a relaxing weekend stay, Lazy Days Resort and Campground is a one-minute drive southwest of Interstate 49. Take exit 5 at mile marker 6. The resort is conveniently nestled between the towns of Noel and Pineville, Missouri.

Lazy Days in Noel, MO, is the premier rental for river float trips. Call Lazy Days to book your Elk River RVing site now! 

Discover what other guests had to say about Lazy Days Resort.

Craig SandersCampsites, Canoes, Float Trips, Kayaks, Noel MO, River Rafts, RVing