Paddle With A Ranger: Minneapolis (Heron Rookery)

On this guided tour with National Park Service rangers, you will pass by the Upper Harbor Terminal Project site, the famous heron rookery, several industries on the river, the Lowry Avenue Bridge, and the iconic Boom Island lighthouse, with the Minneapolis skyline as your backdrop. A National Park Service ranger will help interpret many of the sites on your journey. 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!

COVID-19 Safety Protocol:

• Keep a distance of 6+ feet from anyone who is not a part of your household at the event, including the park ranger.
• Mask: Participants may choose to wear a mask.
• Avoid touching other participant’s equipment.
• 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.

Host or Publisher Mississippi National River and Recreation Area