A few weeks ago I joined the crew of the Missouri River Speed Record attempt in western South Dakota. The canoe had launched at the Three Forks on June 23, where three rivers come together to form the headwaters of the Missouri River. The four paddlers passed through the Gate of the Mountains, did an 18-mile portage in Great Falls, and rolled into western North Dakota, where I joined them at the start of Lake Sakakawea.

It was a great two weeks and fascinating to see how different the Missouri is from the Mississippi, with its massive dams and reservoirs. Paddling the Missouri is more like paddling the Great Lakes, if they were warm, shallow, full of stump fields and artificially made.

The first Missouri River record was set in 1980 by Verlen Krueger and Steve Landick, who paddled the entire river in 33 days, 18 hours, and 45 minutes.

In 2026, while our four-person canoe was on the water, solo kayaker Peter Larson set a new standard by paddling the entire Missouri unsupported in 32 days, 6 hours, and 7 minutes. This was an epic accomplishment.

Our target was 25 days. And on the morning of July 18, Scott Miller, Scott Duffus, Lada Zednik and Curt Leitz arrived at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

They paddled 2278.6 miles through violent storms, endless lakes, scorching heat and more in 24 days, 16 hours, 51 minutes and 11, setting a new overall Missouri River record.

Huge kudos to the padders, the support crew, and the fans. Our hats are also off to Peter Larson, Steve Landick and Verlen Krueger for their inspiring examples of endurance to fortitude on the water.

More here: https://www.missouririverspeedrecord.com