Labor Day Expedition
Send off summer with a bang! Join us for a three day, two night full service guided adventure trip over Labor Day weekend.
The Summer Holidays Expedition Series offers a pair of sweet 3 Day/2 Night canoe camping trips coinciding with the Memorial Day Holiday and the Labor Day Holiday. They are separate expeditions, easily paired with the difference in experience being the two different rivers and routes.
The Mississippi River reach planned for Labor Day dives deep into the indigenous peoples connection to the mother river. Since the earliest time, the Middle MS has collected the stories of travelers by canoe. This expedition touches them from the mud to the mocha waters to the endless sky. Add the expertise and native knowledge touches of BMA’s professional staff, voyageur canoes and gear and your adventure is world class.
Setting off from Chester and passing the famous Tower Rock, ending at Moccasin Springs, Trail of Tears State Park, we will find the best islands to camp, and deliver ourselves into the heart - breaking reach of the Trail of Tears crossing. No denying it, there are voices as loud as eagle, owl, coyote and frog out there. They can be heard at the morning and evening fire, in the cool willow forests, and by diving beneath the mocha surface of eddy pools. Mostly its by joining in expedition style comaraderie, oh and via ghosts.
Our trip will start with a morning meetup at the BMA warehouse where our expert guides will assist in packing up your gear into our 29 foot voyageur canoes and then we’ll shuttle to the put-in. The price includes all meals, snacks, canoes, paddling gear and transportation. Guests will need to provide their own tent and sleeping bag.
Trip Information:
How often does this trip run? - Once a year
What are the dates for the Labor Day Expedition in 2024?
Saturday, August 31st - Monday, September 2nd
Who is this trip best for? - This trip is family friendly (must be at least 10 years old and have adult supervision) and best for anyone who enjoys paddling, unique outdoor experiences, camping, history, adventure and campfire fine dining!
Where and when does this trip start and end? - This trip starts at 9 am on Saturday and ends around 5pm on Monday. The meet-up location will be the BMA warehouse, located in Midtown St. Louis. Paddlers will be shuttled from the warehouse to the put-in location and from the takeout location back to the warehouse.
What is included in this trip? - We provide all necessary safety and paddling gear including life jackets, paddles, and dry bags. Our experienced river guides will be available to you the entire trip to assist you and answer all of your questions. No need to worry about transportation as our crew will take care of shuttling you to and from the river. We’ll provide seven meals (lunch and dinner on Day One, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Day 2 and breakfast and lunch on Day 3) and we are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. We will supply a cooler for any BYO beverages.
What do I need to bring? - Please make sure you bring the following items with you on your trip:
Required Gear:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Weather appropriate clothing
River shoes/sandals with a backstrap, waterproof boots, or old sneakers that you don’t mind getting muddy or wet (NO FLIP FLOPS)
Reusable water bottle
Headlamp/flashlight
Suggested Gear:
Sleeping pad
Personal items
Change of clothes
Camera
Sunscreen/bug spray
Swimsuit and towel
Any adult beverages you’d like to enjoy on the island
Cash to tip your awesome guides
How much does this trip cost? - $350 for adults, $300 for kids (under 18yo)