Mom and Seven Kids Paddling 2,350 Miles Down Mississippi River Through St. Cloud Area

(KNSI) — Twenty-four days into what may be the adventure of a lifetime, Nikki Bettis and her seven children are paddling their way down the Mississippi River, aiming to complete the 2,350-mile Mississippi River trek by Thanksgiving.

The Danville, Virginia, family launched their expedition from Lake Bemidji in early August after storm damage prevented them from starting at the traditional headwaters in Itasca State Park. Now 400 miles into their journey, they’re making their way toward Minneapolis with hopes of reaching the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana within 120 days. “We take a little longer at anything we do,” Bettis tells KNSI News. “My hope is about probably 120 days, which would be mid-November. But we may go till Thanksgiving.”

The ambitious expedition follows the family’s successful 2,200-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2023 with Bettis’s eight oldest children. That journey, she described as “a journey of healing and just coming back together as a family,” inspired them to try paddling the Mississippi.

“We had so much fun on that and it was such an epic experience that we knew we just wanted to start adventuring,” Bettis explained. But with her eight oldest children now working, she decided to take the seven youngest, ranging from six to teenage years, on this new challenge.

The family started their journey with all seven children in individual kayaks, plus Bettis and their “trail grandpa” Smokey in canoes carrying supplies. However, practical considerations have forced adaptations along the way.

“Part of this process of any trail is if you get set and it’s only going to be one way, you will never ever be successful,” Bettis noted. The group has now consolidated to three canoes and two kayaks, with plans to reduce to four canoes total by Minneapolis.

A support vehicle follows their progress, resupplying approximately every seven days. This approach, Bettis learned from their Appalachian Trail experience, is more cost-effective than hiring shuttle services and provides a solid safety backup.

The expedition hasn’t been without obstacles. “That was one thing I was unprepared for was the headwind on the Mississippi.” However, the family has discovered the kindness of “river angels” – strangers who offer meals, shelter, and encouragement along the route. Recent stops have included celebrations with fellow campers and birthday parties featuring Little Caesars pizza in riverside towns.

As a homeschooling family, the Bettis children continue their education on the trail, though not in traditional fashion. “I don’t really school on trail,” Bettis explained. “What the trails teach you, so far, exceeds what you can learn in books and sitting at a desk.”

The family schools year-round at home, providing the flexibility for extended adventures.

Beyond what the family is personally getting out if it, Bettis hopes their journey encourages other families to embrace outdoor challenges. “As a single mom, I was so afraid to get out with my kids. If there’s nothing else I personally accomplished other than giving my kids experiences, it’s to encourage other families to get outside.”

The full Mississippi River paddle is far less traveled than famous routes like the Appalachian Trail, with relatively few people attempting the journey annually. Most who do complete it require about 90 days, making the Bettis family’s timeline ambitious but achievable. “We’re just out here having fun,” Bettis said. “The most fun part is when there’s awareness for it, so it inspires other families. You can get outside and you can go live your best life. It’s absolutely possible.”

The family documents their progress through social media and YouTube, despite the technical challenges of uploading content from remote river locations using Starlink internet and various cameras.

Follow along at the 32 Feet Up Facebook page. They also have a YouTube Channel here.

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