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Area Voices: Headwaters Canoe Club

Frannie Tjader
Members of the Headwaters Canoe Club doing their thing!

Canoeing has long been part of the culture in northern Minnesota and continues to attract paddlers young and old. With summer just around the corner enthusiasts are looking forward to their next adventure on the water.   In  this segment of Area Voices we speak with Harvey Tjader from the Headwaters Canoe Club.  The club kicks off their season of Tuesday night cruises April 24th at Knutson Dam with Jack Gustafson hosting the paddle.

This year's cruise schedule is as follows.  If you intend to paddle, make sure to connect with the cruise host listed along with that particular cruse:

  • Tues. April 24 – 5:30 PM - Knutson (Dam area) to Smiling Joe’s – Easy, but long -Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Tues. May 1 – 5:30 PM – Necktie River, Hart Lake to Jack’s Tree Farm – Moderate+ - Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Sat. May 5 – Snake River Canoe Race
  • Tues. May 8 – 5:30 PM - Turtle River, 3 Culverts to Sugar Bush Town Hall – Moderate -Lee Scotland - 218-444-8847
  • Tues. May 15 – 6:00 PM - Schoolcraft River, Quill Rd to Co. Rd. 9 – Moderate to Difficult - Lee Scotland - 218-444-8847
  • Tues. May 22 – 6:00 PM - Shingobee River, Anaway Lake to Leech Lake – Moderate - Steve Bilben – 218-547-1818
  • Tues. May 29 – 6:00 PM – Kabekona River, Co. Rd. 39 to Benedict Lake Access – Moderate - Brad Barker – 218-224-3565
  • Tues. June 5 – 5:00 PM – Pike Bay Connection – Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Sat. June 9 – Chippewa Triathlon – Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Sun. June 10 – Citizen Race – Knutson (Dam area) to Burned Out Bridge and back – Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Mon. June 11 – Race the Red – Fargo, ND
  • Tues. June 12 – 6:00 PM – Mississippi River, Itasca (boat rental) to Wanagan – Moderate - Tony McKeown – 218-699-3219
  • Tues. June 19 – 5:30 PM – Boy River, Anchor Inn to County Rd 53 – Easy, but long - Greg Proper – 218-547-3420
  • Tues. June 26 – 6:00 PM – Long Lost Lake – Easy - Eric Haugland – 218-732-3910
  • Tues. July 10 – 6:00 PM - Little Sand to Shallow Lake – Moderate, possible bogs - Tony McKeown – 218-699-3219
  • Tues. July 17 – 5:30 PM – Biking the Pyrenees – Walker City Park – 23 miles – Greg Proper – 218-547-3420
  • Tues. July 24 – 6:00 PM – Fifth Lake to Lake May – Easy to Moderate, beaver dams - Greg Proper - 218-547-3420
  • Tues. July 31 – 5:30 PM – Power Dam to Wolf Lake – Difficult - Peter Moberg – 218-444-7532
  • Tues. August 7 – 5:00 PM - Star Island. Cass Lake – Difficult - Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689
  • Tues. August 14 – 6:00 PM - Straight River, Co. Rd. 115 to Hwy 87 – Moderate - Tony McKeown – 218-699-3219
  • Tues. August 21 – 6:00 PM – Mantrap Lake – DNR Campground access – Easy - Eric Haugland – 218-732-3910
  • Tues. August 28 – 6:00 PM – Bike the Migizi Trail – Meet at South Pike Bay Campground – 14 miles – Jack Gustafson – 218-335-2689

As always, please call the listed host to let them know that you will be paddling, or for directions and/or further information. We can always add some cruises, so if you have any ideas please let Frannie know at 218-444-5477, or email at headwaterscanoeclub@gmail.com. For directions to the above cruises, please call the cruise host for specifics. See you on the water!

Katie Carter started at Northern Community Radio in 2008 as Managing Editor of the station's grant-funded, online news experiment Northern Community Internet. She returned for a second stint in 2016-23. She produced Area Voices showcasing the arts, culture, and history stories of northern Minnesota.