Get up close with a heron rookery (nesting birds may or may not be present), spot bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife as you kayak down the Mississippi River.
Note: Nesting birds at the rookery typically leave by the end of July.
Arrival time: 15-20 minutes before scheduled program time
Program Times (vary by date):
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
*Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your program time to ensure parking and a safety talk. We will leave promptly at the program's listed start time.
On this guided tour with a National Park Service ranger, you will also pass by the Upper Harbor Terminal Project site, several industries on the river, the Lowry Avenue Bridge, and the iconic Boom Island lighthouse, with the Minneapolis skyline as your backdrop. This four-mile paddle from North Mississippi Regional Park to Boom Island Park includes a kayak, paddle, and personal flotation device rental from Paddle Share.
*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 Pickerel Lake Paddle Share station is a great alternative for beginners!
Please note when ordering tickets: double (tandem) kayaks are for 2 people from the same household only. "Household" is defined as people who feel safe being in close proximity to each other. You must purchase a ticket for EACH person.