Paddle, restore and learn in the Minneapolis River Gorge [WAITLIST]

Please note this event is now full, but a waitlist is being taken. 

Join FMR to paddle through the Mississippi River Gorge, restore habitat and learn about the past, present and future of locks and dams in the Twin Cities.

Twin Cities Kayaking will provide outfitting, a safety orientation and river guiding, all free of charge to participants. Paddling experience is encouraged but not required. 

We'll launch kayaks from Bohemian Flats Park in Minneapolis, then take a lunch break at the Gorge sand flats (also known as Longfellow Beach). After a short educational talk about the gorge, we'll get our hands dirty planting native shrubs to help restore habitat in the sand flats area. Next, participants will continue to kayak downstream, travel through Lock and Dam 1 and paddle toward our destination of Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul. 

What's provided

• Free use of single-person kayaks, paddles and personal flotation vests
• Professional outfitting, orientation and river guiding
• Free bus shuttle to the launch site from Hidden Falls Regional Park
• Snacks and drinking water
• Habitat restoration supplies and training

All participants must use kayaks provided by Twin Cities Kayaking. We cannot accommodate people using their own kayaks, except for select, trained volunteers who have been chosen by FMR staff to serve as safety boaters.

Lunch options

Participants can either bring their own lunch or order a black bean wild rice bowl from the local Indigenous-owned catering company Native Harvest when registering. FMR will provide coolers for those who bring their own meals. The black bean wild rice bowls are vegan and gluten-free. To purchase a meal from Native Harvest, please be sure to scroll down on the registration form to see lunch order options.

About the Mississippi River Gorge

The Mississippi River Gorge in the Twin Cities is the only true gorge along the entire 2,350-mile length of the Mississippi, a spectacular natural wonder with a fascinating geological history. It spans from Owamniyomni (St. Anthony Falls) in downtown Minneapolis to Bdote, the confluence with the Minnesota River in St. Paul. Over the course of roughly 10,000 years, a massive waterfall that once cascaded near present-day downtown St. Paul eroded and receded, forming the gorge, an oasis of steep limestone and sandstone bluffs, rugged ravines and natural springs.

Today, the protected parkland and habitat along the Mississippi River Gorge is vital for wildlife and people. Millions of locals hike and bike miles of trails in and near the gorge, connecting with the urban river. The gorge is also a favorite spot for birdwatching, home to over 180 species. Each spring, ephemeral wildflowers bloom in the forest before trees fully leaf out. 

The river has always been dynamic, but the gorge looks very different than it did just a few centuries ago. Starting a little less than 200 years ago, European settlers began making major engineering changes to the river to harness it for industry and eventually for commercial shipping. These changes included the addition of three locks and dams in the Twin Cities. Now, with the locks and dams no longer serving their original purpose, the Army Corps of Engineers is currently studying the pros and cons of dam removal. Learn more about the disposition study here and FMR's work to support robust community engagement and strong scientific inquiry on the lock and dam issue.

This Paddle, Restore and Learn event offers a rare opportunity to experience the Mississippi gorge on the water, contribute to its restoration and learn more about the pressing issues facing this unique section of the river.

Ready to join the waitlist? (Sorry, walkups are not allowed.)

All participants must be at least 16 years of age. Participants under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian. Parents and guardians of participants who are under 18 must fill out this minor permission form.

Each potential participant must be entered individually using the registration form so that we can request the correct number of seats in kayaks and on the shuttle bus.

Please use the form below to join the waitlist, but watch for an email from Eventbrite for your next steps:

• You must open the message and follow the steps to sign up within 24 hours of receipt. 

• It is a rolling waitlist. If you do not open the email and complete the registration form within 24 hours, the spot will automatically be offered to the next party on the list.

• You may also want to add Eventbrite to your preferred contacts list to ensure the invitation lands in your Inbox rather than your promotions or spam folders.  

If you have questions or concerns, contact us at volunteer@fmr.org or 651.477.0925.

For event notices

To receive notices of future volunteer events, contact us at volunteer@fmr.org or 651.477.0925. Or, visit our events calendar for our most up-to-date listing of upcoming events. To receive a twice-a-month e-newsletter including all FMR activities and news, sign up for Mississippi Messages.