Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Kirsti Marohn

Mississippi River kayak-sharing program resumes for sixth summer

A kayak at the edge of a lake
A Paddle Share kayak is ready to go out on Pickerel Lake in July 2020, near the Mississippi River in Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul.
Andrew Krueger | MPR News 2020

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

No kayak? No worries.

You still have a chance to get out on the Mississippi River this summer and see the Twin Cities from a different vantage point.

Paddle Share, a self-serve kayak sharing service, is starting up Memorial Day weekend for its sixth season. The program, launched by the National Park Service, aims to encourage people to get out on the river without needing to own a boat.

“The Mississippi River is just a national treasure that we have right in our backyards,” said Katie Nyberg, executive director of the Mississippi Park Connection, the program's nonprofit partner. “But it can still be very difficult to access for people.”

Paddle Share lets people rent a kayak for several hours for a one-way paddle down the Mississippi, choosing from several different routes that range from 4 miles to 8.5 miles.

One new option this year goes through the river's only gorge, near the University of Minnesota from Bohemian Flats to the Lake Street Bridge.

"It's just totally gorgeous,” Nyberg said. “You go through a little bit of the U of M campus. There's great wildlife. And it's really central to many people who live in the Twin Cities."

The kayak-sharing program has been a popular option for safe outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nyberg said it's best to reserve a boat for weekend use on the website. Reservations can be made up to 21 days in advance.

Both single and tandem kayaks are available. The trips are one-way only, but many of the routes are paired up with Nice Ride shared bikes, so many people paddle downstream and bike back to where they started, Nyberg said. Others take a shuttle or leave a vehicle at their end destination.

Most of the program's routes are designed for experienced kayakers. Beginners are advised to try the Pickerel Lake station in St. Paul for a more predictable paddle, Nyberg said. There are also guided paddles available with National Park Service rangers. 

Nyberg said the program gives people a chance to see the Twin Cities from a totally different vantage point.

“I always like to say that you don't have to drive five hours to have a wilderness experience,” she said. “You can have one right in the heart of the Twin Cities.”

Elsewhere in Minnesota, canoe and kayak rentals are also available on the Red River in Moorhead starting June 1.