Dismal River Canoeing Challenge

Ah, the Sandhills. No other landscape captivates me quite like the open, grass-covered hills of Nebraska. Imprinted on its windswept dunes and treeless miles is a tangible mystery, a quiet elegance.

Although sand dunes and hardy short grasses dominate the landscape, there are trees in the Sandhills, as my fellow canoers and I discovered as we coursed down the Dismal River in central Nebraska. Ours was not some casual observance of cottonwoods and cedars randomly dropped onto the grassy scapes; our encounter was of blood and sweat, skill and. . .well, splashes.

Falling in was par for the course among the 21 canoers of my group. A couple of canoes birdied, and so would my partner and I have done, if it weren't for one large tree, fast water, and a deep conversation. We found ourselves struggling to keep our heads above the water, catch all our gear, fight against the current, and drag the teeming canoe to a nearby sand bar. After finally dumping the water out of the canoe, we were grateful to be unhurt - and to have all our clothes and food in a secure dry bag.

There are so many tight turns and fallen trees in this river, that it's difficult for even experienced canoers to travel down without a bit of challenge. I rejoiced in my exposure to sun, sand, and water. Winding swiftly through sand dunes and fallen cedars, the river can be very tough, but I think that's the idea. For a more leisurely float, try the Middle Loup River.

Tips:
Check out the Dismal River link above for more in-depth info about the river and other canoe trails in Nebraska. If you're interested in traveling down a river without getting food or extra clothing wet, you might want to get a dry bag. For extended trips, get a large dry bag, like the NRS 3.8 Bill's Bag Dry Bag from Northwest River Supplies. For day trips, you can probably get by with just a small stow bag, like the NRS Dri-Stow Dry Bag.

Just remember, though, to keep the bag vertical while open - not lying on the bottom of your canoe - to prevent water from slipping inside unexpectedly!

NRS 3.8 Bill's Bag Dry Bag