Paddling Toward the Ice | 3-Day Solo Canoe Trip

I set out on a 3-day solo canoe trip down the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota, chasing ice-out as winter slowly gave way to spring. This 45-mile journey begins on the Prairie River and follows the early thaw as the river starts to open, with cold water, strong winds, wildlife, and lingering shoreline ice shaping the route. With sections near the destination still frozen, the goal was simple: see how far the river had come—and what was waiting at the end. Paddling alongside my dog Juniper, this trip captures the challenge and beauty of early-season river travel in the Northwoods. Watch more solo canoe trips, river explorations, and backcountry paddling adventures here:    • Solo Canoe Expeditions