Paddle With A Ranger: Minneapolis (Heron Rookery)

Mississippi Park Connection and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

Kayak down the Mississippi River with a National Park Service ranger as your guide!

North Mississippi Regional Park

Paddling Events

Kayak or canoe events on the Mississippi River in Minnesota!

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Kick off the paddle season with a kayak past the Minneapolis skyline! We'll launch from North Mississippi Regional Park, view the site of the future Upper Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Project and see the great blue herons nesting on their island rookery before landing at Boom Island Regional Park. Enjoy your urban national park and America's greatest river from a whole new perspective.

This four-mile paddle begins at 6pm at Carl Kroening Interpretive Center / North Mississippi Regional Park and ends at 8pm at Boom Island Regional Park. It includes a kayak, paddle, and personal flotation device rental from Paddle Share. 

While some kayak skills will be covered, this program does not focus on skill development. This program is appropriate for newer kayakers ready to try the river or the intermediate/advanced kayaker interested in the social atmosphere of paddling with a park ranger. 

This event will happen rain or shine; be prepared for the weather and bring sunscreen, hat, bug spray, rain jacket, and water. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. Please do not leave valuable in your car.

Due to staffing limitations, we unfortunately can not accomodate people bringing their own personal boats. Thank you for understanding.*Please note: You will need to manage your own transportation. The paddle BEGINS at North Mississippi Regional Park and ENDS at Boom Island. We recommend bringing a friend and two cars, parking one car at Boom Island and driving together to North Mississippi Regional Park to start your paddle. You may also use rideshare apps like Lyft or Uber, take the bus, or rent a Nice Ride bike (there is a Nice Ride station at Boom Island). Attendees must be 18+ and must be able to maneuver a kayak on the Mississippi River. A person under 18 years old may attend if they are in a tandem kayak with an adult from the same household. We recommend that you have at least some paddling experience. The <a href="https://www.paddleshare.org/descriptions/pickerel-lake" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pickerel Lake Paddle Share station</a> is a great alternative for beginners!

COVID-19 Safety Protocol: <ul><li>Keep a distance of 6+ feet from anyone who is not a part of your household at the event, including the park ranger.</li><li>Mask: Participants may choose to wear a mask.</li><li>Avoid touching other participant’s equipment.</li><li>Sanitation: The kayak, paddle, and life jacket will be sanitized prior to the event, with CDC-approved cleaning agents. Staff will sanitize the equipment for you after the event so it is ready for the next user.</li></ul>

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Paddle With A Ranger: Minneapolis (Heron Rookery)

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