Russian-born kayaker Ilia Smirnov has set a new fastest known time for solo paddling the Mississippi River from source to sea. The 42-year-old covered the 3,700km in just 34 days — 22 days faster than the previous benchmark.
Smirnov, who moved to the U.S. at the age of 16, started out on May 1 from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, a small glacial lake that is commonly recognized as the start of the Mississippi. He finished on June 3 in Louisiana at Mile Zero in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fifteen-hour days
The Russian, a kayaking outfitter in North Carolina, paddled for up to 15 hours per day and camped beside the river each night, except for the occasional night in a bed. Most nights, he slept just four to five hours. Smirnov kayaked solo but was not unsupported, receiving logistical help and provisions from a team of helpers.
“It was just on one side of my mind all the time,” he said, according to The News & Observer. “Holy crap, I cannot hold myself emotionally from all the pressures, all that’s happening, and this absurd physical demand, and all this exhaustion. And then my mind was like, ‘You can do whatever you want to do, and we’ll keep paddling.’”
Ilia Smirnov paddles beneath a bridge along the Mississippi River during his 3,700km source‑to‑sea paddle. Photo: Ilia Smirnov
The Mississippi is one of the world’s great waterways, running from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico and draining a vast portion of the central United States. Its character changes dramatically along the way: the narrow, winding upper stretches contrast with the broad, powerful lower river, where currents strengthen, and commercial traffic intensifies.
For paddlers, this means contending not only with the vast distance, but also with constantly shifting conditions, busy shipping lanes, engineered sections controlled by locks and dams, and exposure to weather ranging from cold northern winds to intense southern heat and storms.
Smirnov passed through 26 locks and dams, and paddled alongside hundreds of barges on the river, which caused sizeable waves. In New Orleans, storms forced Smirnov to spend a night beneath a canvas covering his canoe.
“This adventure was a test of mental depth and resilience to overcome every obstacle while staying in complete focus mentally, physically, and emotionally, and accepting the brutal reality of the journey,” said Smirnov.
Previous record times
The record for the fastest journey paddling the Mississippi River belongs to a four-person canoe team in 2023, who rotated in near-continuous shifts. Supported by a crew of 20, they completed the route to Mile Zero in 16 days, 20 hours, and 16 minutes.
Smirnov’s completed route
In 2021, a four-person canoe team covered 3,500km before being forced to stop because of heavy waves north of New Orleans. They were evacuated moments before their canoe capsized.
Smirnov’s time of 33 days, 14 hours, and 50 minutes is a big improvement on the Guinness-recognized solo record of 55 days, set by Traci Lynn Martin in 2021.
He estimates that he paddled a total of 528 hours, completing around 1.7 million strokes. According to his calculations, he burned approximately 160,000 kcal, averaging 14.5 hours of paddling and 112km per day, with a peak daily distance of 169 km.
