Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
“Paddle Strokes through History: A Big Muddy Adventure on the Lewis and Clark Water Trail”
Original presentation by “Big Muddy” Mike Clark (no relation), Big Muddy Adventures
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
308 N Main St. – St Charles, MO
Dipping your paddle in the Missouri River is a direct, visceral connection to the history of past explorers and inhabitants along the river. Highlighting this connection between the past and present, the Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources has created the Lewis and Clark Water Trail.
If you are looking for a guide to this experience, you could do no better than “Big Muddy” Mike Clark, the owner of professional river outfitter service Big Muddy Adventures. Mike has paddled the Missouri River upstream and down following the Lewis and Clark trail, reliving its history and sharing it with others.
Meet Your Presenter
Mike Clark
Mike shared some of his experiences on this historical “highway”, including stories from the 2004 Corps of Discovery re-inactment, the Circumnavigation of St. Louis and his work guiding newbies and river pros alike on this magnificient waterway. He also shared Missouri River paddling tips as well as how to make a dugout canoe out of a massive cottonwood log.
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Resources and Links
- Lewis and Clark Water Trail website (with lots of Missouri River travel info, links, maps and more- Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources)
- Big Muddy Adventures • website (www.2muddy.com) • Facebook
- Mike just finished an expedition on the Lower Mississippi called the Circumnavigation of Big Island, exploring the Confluence of the Arkansas, White and Mississippi Rivers. It was an educational project tied in with several local schools. Check out photos, stories and a lot more here: www.2muddy.com/schoolhouse
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by Missouri River Relief, Friends of Big Muddy, Greenway Network, the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS) with the following list of partners. All speakers are presenting for free. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place in Rocheport and Kansas City. Click here for the series homepage»
A special thank you to Greg Poleski of Greenway Network for making this happen!
Series Partners
Missouri River Relief
Friends of Big Muddy
Greenway Network
Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Big A’s Restaurant
Upcoming Presentations
Missouri River Relief: 25 Years on the Big Muddy
November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
See Event
Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality
November 11, 2026St Charles, MO
Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.
See Event