Beginner? Seasoned veteran? Plan your trip with confidence.

Prairie Paddling has an extensive primer on prairie canoeing. Topics covered include:

• Styles of trips
• The paddling season
• River access rights
• Responsible travel
• Difficulty ratings
• Obstacles such as sweepers, channel rocks, bridge abutments, and cable ferries
• Things that bite and sting, such as rattlesnakes, cacti, and mosquitoes
• Weather-related concerns
• Trip duration estimation
• River flow levels
• Gear needed
• Canoes, and other river vessels
• Places to buy or rent a canoe
• Gear checklist
• Canoe Transport
• Car shuttle
• Basic paddling skills, including basic forward strokes, dealing with wind, landing a canoe, and dunking and recovery
• GPS navigation
• When nature calls (toilet etiquette)
• Campfires