Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Paddling the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers – Our Big River Water Trails
The Missouri River, which means "River of Big Canoes", is named for the historical boat of choice on this massive river. After a couple of centuries of trying out steamboats and barges, paddlecraft is making a comeback on our Great Rivers.
Bryan Hopkins, a self-proclaimed paddling addict who funds his need for boating gear by working on interstate river issues for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, will discuss the growth of large river water trails on the Missouri and Mississippi River
He'll explore this substantial increase in paddling recreation, highlighting the newly redesigned Missouri River Water Trail which covers 550 miles of the lower river. When you add the rapid development of water trails on the lower and upper Mississippi River, things are looking up for the Great River State turning into an internationally acclaimed destination for unique paddling adventures.
A photo of "Blue Moon", Janet Moreland's boat during her source-to-sea "Love Your Big Muddy Expedition" in 2013. photo copyright by Janet Moreland.
Bryan will share some tips on getting started paddling these majestic rivers as well introduce the exciting race scene that has expanded in recent years
Meet Your Presenter
Bryan Hopkins
, MO. Dept. of Natural Resources
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Missouri & Mississippi River Water Trail information
- Missouri River Water Trail website (Missouri River in the state of Missouri - managed by Mo. DNR)
- Missouri National Recreation River Water Trail (unchannelized river in South Dakota and Nebraska - managed by Missouri River Institute)
- River-Gator interactive water trail map and guide for the Lower Mississippi River, St. Louis to Baton Rouge (created by John Ruskey of Quapaw Canoe Company)
- Mississippi River Water Trail for the Upper Mississippi River, from Saverton to St. Louis (created by American Canoe Association)
Some Big River Paddling reading - articles and books
- Book - The Complete Paddler - A guidebook for paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, MO - by David Miller
- Book - Exploring Lewis and Clark's Missouri - by Brett Dufur
- Book - Guide to Canoeing the Missouri River - by Keith Drury
- Article - "Finding Flow on the Mighty Mo" - by Brett Dufur, Missouri Conservationist
- Article - "57 feet and Rising" - Outside Magazine article of John Ruskey's canoe adventure riding the crest of the 2011 Mississippi River flood.
- Blog - Love Your Big Muddy Expedition - a chronicle of Janet Moreland's Source to Sea expedition on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
- Facebo0k - Missouri River Paddlers Facebook group - an engaged community of local and long distance Missouri River paddlers hosted by Norm Miller, who kayaked the entire Missouri River - upstream in 2004.
Missouri River Paddling guides and outfitters
- Big Muddy Adventures (St. Louis area and beyond)
- Mighty Mo Canoe Rentals (Rocheport)
- Missouri River Rafting and Canoe (St. Joseph)
- Missouri River Excursions (St. Charles & St. Louis areas)
- River Run Rentals (Kansas City area)
Canoe and Kayak Races on the Missouri River
- Race for the Dome (Providence to Jefferson City - benefit for Missouri River Relief)
- Missouri American Water MR340 (hosted by Rivermiles - Kansas City to St. Charles) - the granddaddy of them all!
- Race for the Rivers (Washington to St. Charles - benefit for Greenway Network)
- South Dakota Kayak Challenge (Yankton to Sioux City)
- Freedom Race and Missouri River Shootout (hosted by Midwest Paddle Racing - Jeff City and KC areas)
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by these wonderful partners:
- Greenway Network
- Missouri River Relief
- Friends of Big Muddy
- Big Muddy Adventures
- Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
- Big A’s Restaurant
All speakers are presenting for free and Big A’s is sharing the space for free! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Rocheport and Kansas City.
A special thank you to Greg Poleski of Greenway Network and Mike Clark of Big Muddy Adventures for making this happen!
Upcoming Presentations
Leave No Trace Training on the Barge
October 14, 2026St. Louis, MO
Join us for a special Big Muddy Speaker Series on the Living Lands & Waters Barge where Perry Whitaker will lead us in a Leave No Trace Training.
See Event
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