The wide Missouri and its reservoirs open a quieter side of South Dakota by canoe and kayak. For South Dakotans, the outdoors is less a pastime than a birthright.

Four large dams turned much of the river into a chain of long reservoirs.

What sets it apart

The Lewis and Clark route followed this stretch of the Missouri in 1804. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

Paddlers share the water with pelicans, eagles and spawning fish each spring.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern plains and the people drawn to them. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.