Caution. I strongly suggest that you take at least one river trip
on a small river, before trying the Missouri.
Rookies in a canoe tend to tip it over.
All boats should stay in the channel. There are trees that are
buried in the sand, that can puncture boat hauls or bend them.
Currently I have a Canoe for rent. I would prefer to just
shuttle people up and down the river. I will only put people in my
canoe on the Missouri River if they have current experience on
another river.
I have listed the distence between boat ramps so you can plan
how far you wish to go.
Plan to go 10 miles a day if you cook breakfast on a fire and
get off the river in time to gather fire wood for the evening.
If you get up in the morning eat granola bars and take off,
with only a few stops during the day, you can travel 25 to 30
miles a day, if you go until almost dark. Some boyscouts in kayaks
made 60 to 70 miles a day. They had a pontoon boat to carry their
supplies. They went from the east edge of Kansas City at the La Benite
ramp to the Blanchette Landing in St Charles by St Loius.
Someday I will get the Simple Captains license and give tours on a
pontoon boat.
I have a friend who also plans to rent a canoe in this area.
And another who has a small campground on the river.
There is no public camping around Kansas City where I live. Except
at the La Benite Ramp. However the Missouri Department of Conservation
is going to allow camping on their land that a car can not get to
until the fall of 2006.
Most people think of Missouri lakes when they think of
recreational water use. Today more people are thinking of the
Missouri River. I for one prefer to sit on the bank and
watch the water flow by. And when ever possible in a canoe
watching the river banks go by.