)Cheyenne & Belle Fourche Rivers "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Rugged Northern Prairies & Breaks |
| Best time | May-July |
| Wilderness | Very remote |
| Water Flow | Seasonal, gets lower late summer |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | On the banks (private; see below) |
| Hazards | Minimal |
| Logistics | Canoe rentals available |
| Trip Length | 110 miles |
| Recommendation | Regional favorite |
General Description & Characteristics -- The Cheyenne and Belle Fourche Rivers rise in the high plains of northeastern Wyoming. The Belle Fourche is the more northerly of these two streams. The two rivers come together northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, where the name "Cheyenne" prevails. The lands of this region are rugged and sparsely vegetated badlands, some of the most remote areas of this region.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- Our recommended float trip is 110 miles (7-8 days), putting in on the Belle Fourche River near the town of Elm Springs, and taking out at the highway 63 bridge (backwaters of Lake Oahe, one of the giant impoundments of the Missouri River). There is a mid-point access at highway 34, just short of the halfway point of this trip, if you prefer a shorter run. The flow of this river is highly seasonal -- generally it is runnable only in the months of May through late July.
Interesting Features -- Here is a description of the river provided by Caleb Gilkerson of Dakota Adventures (see link below): "The Cheyenne River will take you through areas of vast unspoiled prairie to extremely rough river breaks. The hills are littered with pine trees and oak trees. The truly outstanding quality of the Cheyenne River is its remoteness. There are very few ranches located along it shores and no real towns. As you pass through the areas where the river breaks meet the rivers banks you will feel as if you are consumed by their cliffs. As you look up at these areas you will notice a lot of very shiny objects, these are all fossils. There are no real rapids and no portages. If you catch the river in a low stage you made need to pull your boat over a few bars. There is wildlife around nearly every corner, mostly beavers, pelicans, blue herons, deer, and small birds. You could get lucky and see some buffalo that a few ranchers raise."
Camping -- More from Caleb on camping along the river: "All the camping along the way is as primitive as it gets. Be prepared for anything. Never camp on the sand bars, this could be dangerous. (flash floods) Few people paddle this river, but is understood that we all must practice 'leave no trace' principles. We have spoken with most of the land owners and the Tribal Council, all have said that as long as we pick up after ourselves then they welcome us to camp on their land. They are pretty easy going folks."
The tribal council referred to would be the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, which runs along the north bank of the Cheyenne River for over half of this run. The remainder of the riverside property is private ranchland.
Additional Information:
Canoeing Information .
Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service Dakota Adventures (www.adventuresd.com email: paddle@adventuresd.com)
River Flow Data
- Belle Fourche River: Elm Springs
- Cheyenne River: Plainview (Highway 34)
- If you have difficulty obtaining data from these links, CLICK HERE.
Parks on/near the River Towns/Other Locales on/near the River Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation Books
- Spirit Beings and Sun Dancers: Black Hawk's Vision of the Lakota World (a book about the native Americans of this region)
- Les's life : a prairie boyhood, 1914-1929 (story of growing up on a ranch, Belle Fourche area)
More Pictures . Environmental Issues/Organizations . Acknowledgments/Contributors Caleb Gilkerson, Dakota Adventures Miscellaneous .
