Explore a unique portion of this national park that’s reminiscent of a Louisiana bayou, with a National Park Service ranger as your guide. This area in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is great for wildlife observation—come see bald eagles, great blue herons, we might even be able to sneak up on a muskrat! Canoes, kayaks, paddles and life-jackets will be provided by the National Park Service and Mississippi River Paddle Share.
Attendees must be able to maneuver a kayak or canoe on the Mississippi River. We recommend that you have at least some paddling experience. The Pickerel Lake Paddle Share station is a great alternative for beginners!
Pricing:
$35 per person
$30 for members of Mississippi Park Connection
Learn how to become a member here to support the park and receive program discounts. Memberships are valid for 365 days after your last donation of $35 or more, or $60 or more for households. If you are unsure of your membership status, email info@parkconnection.org or call 651-291-8164.
Cancellations: We only cancel if the weather is dangerous (thunder and lightning), and we do so very last minute in the hopes of finding a gap in the weather. If you have questions regarding weather conditions, please email sharon_stiteler@nps.gov. If we cancel the event due to weather, we will issue a full refund.
We will honor your own cancellations with a partial refund (minus the fees) up to 7 days prior to the event. Please let us know if you are unable to attend so that as many people as possible may have the opportunity to attend.
COVID-19 Safety Protocol:
Social Distance: Keep a distance of 6+ feet from anyone who is not a part of your household at the event, including the park ranger.
Mask: Wear a mask upon arrival and when around other participants and the park ranger, even when you are 6 feet apart. You may remove your mask when you are out on the river at a safe distance from others. Wear your mask when taking your kayak out of the water and at any time that you are near other participants or the park ranger.
Avoid touching other participant’s equipment. We encourage you to bring your own hand sanitizer.
Sanitation: The kayak, paddle, and life jacket will be sanitized by Paddle Share staff 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. All Paddle Share equipment has a 36-hour break in between uses.
We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave who intentionally does not adhere to these safety guidelines. This is in the best interest and safety of other participants and the park ranger. Paddle Share is a great option for those who would like to paddle the Mississippi River without the restrictions of a group setting.