The Friends of Pool 9 were awarded a challenge grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help create a canoe trail in the Reno Bottoms. This area is designated a Research Natural Area due to the diverse floodplain forest habitat that exists there. It is one of the best examples of what the River looked like prior to impoundment.
Working with the Minnesota DNR, we secured permission to place a trailhead at their parking lot on the western edge of the Lock and Dam 8 spillway/dike.
Refuge staff built and installed an offical notice board at the parking lot and put in a nice launch site on the southwest corner of the first spillway on the dike. In order to access this launch you must carry your canoes/kayaks about 100 yards.
For complete information on the trail please click on the Reno Bottoms Canoe Trail Leaflet. We are still working on a detailed map and hope to have that available soon. The trail is well marked with blue/reflective canoe trail signs.
If you would like further information about the trail, please contact Ann Blankenship at ann_blankenship@fws.gov or call her at 563-873-3423 ext 14.
