SafetyTips
Welcometothe
Basic safety rules are important for enjoyable river
BigSiouxCanoeTrail
paddling. Use the following points as a guide for
The Big Sioux River, having always been a major
your float trip.
source of outdoor recreation, is one of the most
1 Be sure each passenger wears an approved
popular canoeing rivers in South Dakota. It has a
Personal Flotation Device that fits.
slow current whose channel wanders through a thin
2
belt of timber forming a serpentine course.
Don't overload with either passengers or gear.
Wildlife from whitetail deer to painted turtles can
Waterproof personal gear. Fasten all ropes so
be seen along its banks.
there is no entanglement danger.
It is popular with canoeists because they are
3 If paddling alone, let someone know your put-in able to paddle the lower section of the Big Sioux
and take-out points and estimated arrival time. throughout the season. Water levels most years
4 Stop, get out of your canoe and look over all
range from two to five feet and are adequate for
danger spots from shore. If in doubt, carry
canoeing.
your canoe around the difficulty.
CanoeTrips
5 Beware of overhanging tree, logjams, brush
The first phase of the Big
piles and other obstacles that the water flows
Sioux River Canoe Trail con-
through rather than around. You can be pinned
tains eleven canoe access
against them, possible under the water, by the
points from Sioux Falls to
force of the current. Pass them on the safe side
Oak Ridge. Big Sioux Rec.
Do not grab limbs or debris to control the boat’s
Area to Oak Ridge is 52
direction. That's a quick way to capsize!
miles. Camping is available at
6 Do not try to run the lowhead dams. You can
the Big Sioux Recreation Area
be trapped in the recirculating current at the
and Newton Hills State Park.
bottom. PORTAGEREQUIRED
The towns of Brandon and
7 If you overturn, stay on the upstream side of
Canton have motels. Access
the watercraft so you will not be crushed
points are several hours of
between it and a rock. In most cases, stay with
river mile paddling apart, however, this will vary
the boat since it won't sink. Don't try to stand in
depending upon type of watercraft, skill level, wind
a fast current. Float downstream on your back,
speed and direction, and water volume. These fac-
feet first, with your toes out of the water. This
tors need to be considered to have a good experi-
will keep your feet from catching on the bottom.
ence and to reach your destination well before sun-
8 Cold water can be paralyzing to both mind and
set. Keep in mind that the shoreline is privately
body. Get out of it quickly. Do not lose your
owned in most places and must be res-
life trying to save your boat or equipment.
pected. Permission is needed to trespass.
9 Be alert to changing weather conditions while
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
on the water. Get out of the water before a Cities: Parks:
storm hits.
Sioux Falls 605-336-1620 Falls Park 605-367-7430
Brandon 605-582-7461 Big Sioux Rec 605-582-7243
Canton 605-987-5728 Newton Hills 605-987-2263
For more information or additional brochures,
please call or write: Game, Fish & Parks, Outdoor Campus,
4500 S. Oxbow Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57106, 605-362-2777
or visit The Big Sioux Recreational Council at
http://www.bigsioux.org
Published by the S.D. Dept. of Game, Fish & Parks and the Big
Sioux Recreational Council in cooperation with the Iowa Dept. of
NaturalResources,theNationalParkService,RTCA,theMinnehaha
Canoeing Photos by South Dakota Tourism
County Historical Society and Southeast South Dakota Tourism.
BIGSIOUXRIVERVALLEYHERITAGECORRIDOR
The settlement of the Big Sioux River Valley, like the develop- sites known to contain circular mounds; it also contains what appeared to be an effigy
ment of most waterways in the prairie states, has its own unique mound.
history. Native Americans, explorers and trappers utilized the nat-
ural resources of the area for their survival. The area provided
Brandon
8. KlondikeBridge,Dam andKruegerMill -
habitat for all sorts of wildlife and waterfowl. Herds of buffalo
A German immigrant miller, Christian Krueger, hauled
roamed the valley and surrounding hills. Lewis and Clark’s journal
native field stone and rocks onto the ice in 1881 to build
makes reference to the falls of the Big Sioux River and the quar-
the dam. It was later reinforced by steel train rails and
ries of pipestone red rock used for ornaments and utensils.
concrete. A grist mill was built in 1883 on the Iowa side
As settlement progressed, the river’s resources were further
of the river. A dynamo converted the harnessed water
harnessed with the building of grist and saw mills. Ice houses
power into electricity for the community long before rural
were built to store blocks of ice used for cooling and preser-
electricity. The bridge was constructed in 1884. (Photo courtesy of Harold Aardema
vation. Bricks were made from the clay deposited in the river
S
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ioux
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East
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3
1
and Omar Peterson)
banks. Though the river was not navigable by steamboat,
9. HiawathaIndianInsaneAsylum -
road and railroad development lead to the exportation of
Falls Built in 1901 a mile east of Canton on hills
quartzite blocks, grains and livestock. The river was a major
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Sioux
Falls
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4
5
overlooking the Sioux River. It was the
focal point for recreational activities. Parks, baseball fields,
first and only institution for Indians in the
roller skating rinks and dance halls were built along the river.
United States. In 1933 the Asylum was
The river was not always so generous in the benefits it
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6
closed. (Courtesy of the Lincoln County History Committee)
provided. It was an obstacle that had to be crossed. Fording the
10. CantonSkiHill - A scaffold and ski jump was built east
river where there was a quartzite bottom kept the wagons from sinking in, however, water levels
of Canton on a hill over-looking the Big Sioux River in 1912.
did not always cooperate. Wagon and railroad bridges were built Floods and ice jams damaged
7
The National 1932 tournament had an attendance of 15,000 to
or destroyed many of these bridges and harmed some of the grist mills.
20,000. Rapid cost increases and lack of snow ended the hill’s
short but exciting life. Wind blew the ski tower down in 1944.
1. TheQueenBeeMill - Built between 1879-1881, the huge seven
(Courtesy of the Lincoln County History Committee)
story flour mill made of quartzite was known as the most ambitious
attempt ever made to use waterpower west of the Mississippi River.
11. AugustanaCollege - In 1881, Augustana College and
Sitting beside the falls of the Big Sioux River, a special channel diverted
Seminary moved from Wisconsin to
water to propel its turbine capable of generating 800 horse power. The Queen
Bee failed to make a profit. (Courtesy of the Minnehaha Co. Historical Society)
2. FortifiedVillage - Located on top of a narrow ridge on the west side of the
Big Sioux River, this documented prehistoric fortified village was built by people of the Plains Village
culture occupying the site for a short time between 1000 to 1200 A.D. (Courtesy of the Minnehaha
County Historical Society)
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Beloit, IA, in order to be near a
“flood” of Norwegian immigrants. Outgrowing
facilities in 1884, the college moved to
Canton, and then to Sioux Falls in 1918.
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(Courtesy of the Lincoln County History
Committee)
12. TheBeloitDamand
3. TheEminijaMounds - The largest and most numerous burial mound group in South Dakota. The
Mill, mid 1880’s - Halvor
original group consisted of at least 38 dome-shaped mounds, scatted irregularly for nearly a mile along the
Nelson purchased 4635 acres
Big Sioux River flood plain, above and to the west of Split Rock Creek, south of present day Brandon.
of land in 1867 south of
(Courtesy of the Minnehaha County Historical Society)
Canton on the river. Nelson
4. IversonCrossing - 1897 Bridge - Before bridges spanned
the river, travelers and settlers forded the river at this location
Can
because of the quartzite bottom. The first bridge was built in 1889
but washed out in a flood in 1895. (From the Bill Webster collections
and courtesy of the Minnehaha County Historical Society.)
5.EastSiouxFalls - Quarry town founded in the late 1880’s because of the area’s rich supply of a35
to
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n
built a dam and sawmill.
Within a few years he sold to
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J.A. Carpenter. He renamed Nelsonville, a colony of Norwegian immi-
grants, Beloit. The town flourished and a bridge was constructed in
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quartzite, a very desirable construction material for buildings and paving blocks. The Illinois Central
Railroad constructed a bridge over the Big Sioux in 1887. (Courtesy of the Minnehaha County
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1874. (Courtesy of the Lincoln Co. History Committee)
13. TheBeloitChildren’s
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Beloit
Home 1890-1945 - Founded
in 1890 by the Evangelical
Historical Society.)
Lutheran Church, the
6. GitchieManitou - Named after Gitchie Manitou, meaning “Great Spirit”, this 153 acre preserve
“orphanage” was locat-
has numerous archaeological sites. In the late 1800’s, the Gibraltar post office and a land office was
ed on the grounds
located here. A shallow rocky area was used as a crossing, called Rock Ford Crossing. The site has
formerly occupied by Augustana College (1881-1884) and the
dramatic quartzite outcroppings, the oldest exposed in Iowa, and the remains of a WPA workers shelter.
Augustana Theological Seminary (1884-1890). A 444 acre
farm was operated in conjunction with the home, the children
7. BloodRunNationalHistoricLandmark - Represents the largest recorded site of the Oneota cultural performing the farm chores. (Courtesy of the Lincoln County
tradition. Evidence suggests the area was occupied circa AD 1500-1700. It is one of only three Oneota History Committee)
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