Whitewater Kayaking Skunk Creek by Hartford South Dakota

A place I paddle about 5 to 10 times a year is Skunk Creek by Hartford South Dakota. When the water reaches higher than 600 CFS on Skunk it makes a fun whitewater trip. Starting at 257^th Street northeast of Hartford just east of County Highway 149/464^th Avenue. We park on the side of the gravel road or we park in the field driveway if not planting/harvest season. This stretch last anywhere from 1.5 to 5 hours depending how much we mess around and the water levels. The first set of rapids is about .25 miles from the starting point. If you get there when water is at a good level higher than 600 CFS this stretch makes great waves from the jasper rock river floor. We have gone over 6 foot swells before. The river is mainly calm but there are a few sets of class I-II rapids. In the middle of the stretch there is even a manmade rock dam which makes it a fun trip if we stop for a swim. We end our trip usually on Benton Street straight East of Hartford. This stretch is a good starter for newer kayakers and new to the whitewater world. Fast enough not to be boring but not crazy enough to ever be frightened by big waves. With all these suggestions the number one suggest is to be safe. Always wear a life jacket and go with a buddy. A good plus is a helmet, throw bag, and first aid kit.