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St. Marys River

Rising Waters & High Stakes: The Morning After

September 11, 2025 · Last updated: July 10, 2026
Rising Waters & High Stakes: The Morning After

Overnight rain can raise the St. Marys River fast — on this trip, water that covered two feet of the canoe at sunset had fully submerged the hull by 8:30 the next morning, so BWJ's rule now is to tie off higher than you think necessary whenever a storm is in the forecast.

"I'm glad Mama pulled the canoe up, or we wouldn't have one today."

The rain that lulled us to sleep for ten hours transformed the St. Marys overnight. We woke up to a river that had risen significantly—what was only two feet of canoe in the water at sunset was a fully submerged hull by 8:30 AM. It was a stark lesson in river dynamics: always secure your craft higher than you think necessary when a storm is in the forecast.

The Morning Ritual: Sand, Grit, and Corned BeefDespite the muddy water and rising levels, camp life continued in stride.

  • The Coffee: 16 oz of fresh coffee in the "cow cup," served hot enough to burn—and maybe with a little river sand grit for texture.
  • The Breakfast: I didn't forget the eggs this time. We scrambled them right into the trusty cast iron skillet with corned beef hash—a high-energy meal that left us with more than we could finish.
  • The Transport: Carrying eggs in a pre-cracked container proved to be a masterstroke for easy river travel.

    • A River of MemoriesAs we paddled the narrow, shallow bends toward the takeout, every landmark told a story.

  • The Cypress Jump: Passing a towering cypress tree brought back memories of a group tubing trip where "Billy from Baldwin" got stuck in the canopy, too scared to jump.
  • The Price of Progress: We passed the old "Creek Landing" in St. George. It's now closed to the public because people didn't respect the private property—a reminder to always leave a place better than you found it.
  • The Ankle-Breaker: The spot where a rope swing once stood 26 years ago—the same spot where a jump into three feet of water broke one ankle and tore the ligaments in the other.

    • The Final StretchThe water turned muddy from the runoff, and the technical navigation through tight turns was made easier by a cool late-August breeze. We were met at the landing by the whole crew—Boogie, Nana, and even my 83-year-old mother.

  • Hydrology: Rapid river rise (approx. 1-2 feet) documented overnight following local heavy rainfall.
  • River Safety: Canoe was almost lost due to rising water; always tie off to a fixed point above the high-water mark.
  • Navigation: River becomes narrow and shallow near the St. George takeout; requires careful reading of the muddy water to avoid grounding.
  • Ethics: Respect private property to ensure river access remains open for future generations.

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    How fast can the St. Marys River rise after rain?

    Fast — on this trip the canoe went from having about two feet of hull in the water at sunset to being fully submerged by 8:30 AM after overnight rain.

    How should you secure a canoe before a storm?

    Tie it off higher than you think necessary — BWJ nearly lost their canoe to rising water overnight and treats this as a hard rule now.

    How do you transport eggs safely on a river trip?

    Carry them pre-cracked in a sealed container — it made cooking easier and avoided the risk of broken shells in transit.

    Is there public access at "Creek Landing" in St. George?

    No — it's now closed to the public because past visitors didn't respect the private property, which BWJ cites as a reason to always leave a place better than you found it.

    What are river conditions like approaching the St. George takeout?

    Narrow, shallow, and technical, with muddy water from runoff that requires careful reading to avoid grounding the canoe.