Paddle With A Ranger: Minneapolis (Heron Rookery) Dates:
6 -8 PM : June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 25, July 29, August 5, August 8, August 12
5 -7 PM: August 19 August 26
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.
*Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your program time to ensure parking and a safety talk. We will leave promptly at 6:00 PM.
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.
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!
Registration includes a kayak, paddle, and personal flotation device rental from Paddle Share.
More Details
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. 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). If you plan to bike, we recommend doing the bike portion first to avoid biking in waning daylight.
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 accommodate people bringing their own personal boats. Thank you for understanding.
Parking: Free parking at the Carl Kroening Nature Center parking lot. Free street parking near Boom Island Park or paid parking at the park's paid lot.