July 11-13-25 Lake Wappapello Multi-Sport Family Weekend

Maura,

Yes, I am in Asher Creek, # 80.

Look forward to seeing you and Debbie there.

• This reply was modified 8 months ago by Eileen Lenkman.

As of mid-day Tuesday, there were still campsites available. People are contacting me to say they are making reservations but if you go to the reservation site (see above) and they’re gone, post here and ask if anyone would mind sharing a site.

Paddlers,

We might go for an evening paddle on Friday or Saturday evening. Be sure to bring a headlamp, flashlight or other device to illuminate your kayak.

I would appreciate if everyone swung by my campsite, Asher 80, to let me know you’ve arrived. I am pretty sure we’ll have cell phone connectivity and I have all your phone numb3es (so far) but if not, I’ll get them then.

We will decide on Friday and Saturday evenings what we will do the next day depending on the weather forecast. I think to keep things simple, let’s plan on exploring the lake on Saturday and checking out that island campsite. There are three different boat ramps so we have several options. Please feel free to examine the lake map and tell us what interests YOU. Maybe on Sunday we can do a section of the St Francis River either above or below the lake.

Eileen
636-922-3663

Looks like we’re going to have a great time! Forecast is for thunderstorms in the area Saturday and Sunday afternoon but we’ll adjust. Could end up paddling on the lake Saturday morning and evening.

Here is everyone I know who is coming
me
Matt Miller
Karla & Gary
Debbie
Kathy (Friday/Saturday only)
Maura

Plan on touching base with me at Asher #80

I have everyone’s phone number, so I am going to start a group text later this afternoon. I am pretty sure that we’ll have cell phone access at the campsite and maybe the lake.

For Saturday night, there is an alternative camping option: primitive camping on an island in the lake. For safety’s sake, I think at least two people minimum should do it, even if you have solo camped itself. No storms forecasted for overnight.

Seven members participated in this event. It’s July in Missouri so we had some very hot temperatures, humidity and thunderstorms, but also blue skies, fluffy white clouds and an amazingly almost continuous cool breeze in the morning, evening and night. Several people went out for a relaxing evening paddle on Friday evening, then the group went out on Saturday to inspect some islands on which we could primitive camp. We all agreed that this was this thing to do. They are forested so there are plenty of trees from which people can hang hammocks. They are about a mile from the nearest ramp and looked really nice. With those as a base camp, people could explore the island, kayak around the island and nearby shore, or go on longer paddles.

This is a BIG lake and you can have the corresponding big waves and wind. 14′ kayaks are the minimum recommended and while you can easily get to the islands with those, you need to be honest with your paddling strength and stamina if you want to go further. Two of us paddled a ten mile round trip on Sunday and while we did it, we both wishes many times we had our sea kayaks. It was still a beautiful day, even though we encountered some periods of heavy rain and wind. I did discover that the area we camped in this weekend around Lake Wappapello State Park was called the “Chocolate Drop” and I am pretty sure it was because of the muddy water. I think other areas of the lake are better and we saw people swimming everywhere.

We also went to the St. Francis River Visitor Center which was very interesting. I knew about the Mississippi River Flood of 1927 but did not know that there were also major floods on the Black and the St Francis (which flows into the Mississippi) at the same time. That I believe resulted in the creation of the dam and lake although there were several other floods. We explored a BEAUTIFUL campsite east of the dam called People’s Creek. Spread out, deeply shaded sites, most with at least water and many with water and electricity. There were a couple sites along the lake but actually the others looked better. There was a paved pedestrian/bike trail that ran along this part of the lake across the dam to the Visitor Center. There were also close by gas stations, convenience stores and a seafood restaurant. I’d recommend this if we were to come back and camp on the lakeshore.

Everyone agreed that the island campsites looked appealing so I would like to schedule another trip in the Fall or Spring (although I will be gone all of September.) It would be great for first time hammock users. I would recommend sea kayaks and again, while people can bring 14′ kayaks, they need to be realistic about paddling those on a BIG lake. This weekend, one woman had a 10′ boat and while she performed amazingly, she’d be the first to say, “You need a bigger boat”. Let me know if you have any questions. If anyone is interested in taking a group in September, contact me and I’ll forward all the information I have.

Oh, and forgot to mention. In the Fall when the trees have turned color, the views from the islands and while padding will be awesome! That would be one trip where I’d bring my Nikon camera and accessories.