A 3-hour tour on the Mississippi’s only gorge, this route showcases both natural splendor and impressive engineering. Perfect for paddlers with a little more experience or those seeking a bigger adventure.

The Gorge: a canyon-like stretch of river with 150-foot-high sandstone cliffs, carved out over 11,000 years by same waterfall that landed Minneapolis on the map!

This trip starts with a shuttle pickup outside Sea Salt Eatery at Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. After a short drive up to Bohemian Flats Park, our experienced guides will give a short safety and paddling demo before setting off with you on a 6.5-mile journey through the beautiful Mississippi River Gorge.

Before the end, you will descend through Lock and Dam Number 1, the largest active lock on the whole river. A quick-flowing mile later, we’ll get off the river at Hidden Falls Regional Park, before shuttling you back to Sea Salt Eatery.

This 2-3-hour downriver paddle on the Mississippi River features a dramatic range of scenery from wild to urban.

It may be called the City of Lakes, but lakes aren’t the end of our local treasures. For this tour, we’ll meet you at Boom Island and shuttle up to Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park in our bus. After a paddle skill introduction on land, we’ll wind downriver past islands and under bridges, toward the old Port of Minneapolis. We’ll pause to gawk at the squawking residents of two special islands that make up the great blue heron rookery - or as we like to call it, the City of Birds - also home to great egrets and cormorants and turtles.

You’ll enjoy the river’s current and one of the most distinctive skyline views from anywhere in town. Depending on conditions, we wrap up with either a visit to the Bassett Creek lagoon or a straight shot back into the Boom Island marina.

Take the wild and scenic route to Saint Paul, paddling where two great rivers collide, on this 3.5-4 hour kayak experience.

This downriver tour will begin from a sandy park beach in Saint Paul and end on shore across from downtown, with shuttle service on the return.

After a short paddle skill introduction on land, you’ll embark on a kayak experience around the backside of Pike Island in Fort Snelling State Park to the confluence of Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, through the sacred area the Dakota call Bdote. Pass eagles’ nests and travel under the historic swing train bridge, before ending with an impressive view of the River Capital’s downtown skyline.

This 2.5-hour out-and-back tour explores the historic heart of the city from the Mississippi River.

Find out what puts “Minne” in Minneapolis. After a paddle skill introduction on Boom Island, we’ll head upriver toward the old industrial Port of Minneapolis on the Northside. On the way back down, enjoy the river’s current and a close-up skyline view.

Depending on conditions, the tour will wrap up with either a visit to the Bassett Creek lagoon, or a stretch down to the spot to which Minneapolis owes its existence: above the falls of St. Anthony, or Owámniyomni in the Dakota language. Our guides each have their own style and stories to tell, but all will share in pulling back the veil of time and pointing out various histories written, washed away, and sometimes still visible on the banks of the Mississippi.

At 1.5 hours, this is a great option for the whole family, a date night, or solo escape on a budget.

A lite version of the Heart of Minneapolis tour, this paddle begins in the magic hour and ends as darkness falls, in and out of the Boom Island marina. Catch long shadows and soft orange glows on the downtown skyline and learn some of the history that makes this spot special.

A serene evening paddle on the most scenic lakes in the city. Approximately 2 hours depending on the light and time of season, this is perfect for relative beginners and night adventurers alike!

Come for the twilight, stay for the moonlight. This monthly special tour will start in the golden hours of the day, as other boaters and beachgoers begin to head home. Working our way from Thomas Beach on the south shore of Bde Maka Ska, we'll navigate the channel to Lake of the Isles as the moon takes over the sky and get opportunities to view the nocturnal wildlife.

Glow it up: Guests are encouraged to bring headlamps for visibility and general festivity at the end of the paddle - bonus points for any fun colored lights or camping lanterns (water-resistant advised)

In addition to our regular tours, we can customize private outings to meet the needs of your group.

Seeking something special for your company team-building outing, birthday, anniversary, retirement… and/or the filming of your standup comedy special performed on a lake? Yes, we actually did that. Book it with Paddle Bridge! Special rates apply for larger groups.

To set up your custom experience:

• Write us an email at info@paddlebridge.com

• Tell us about your paddle needs, along with any applicable details (organization, possible dates, etc).

• We’ll work with you to create your ideal experience!

Things to know for all our experiences: 

• We’ve got you covered for boats, paddles and life preservers!

• The only things you’ll need are:

  • Lightweight clothing and footwear that you wouldn’t mind getting wet. Hot tip! Have a dry layer in your car to change into after.

  • Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare off of the water

  • Snacks and a water bottle to stay energized and hydrated. Our guides have extra, but we encourage the use of reusable water bottles to lessen the reliance on single-use plastics.

• Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and consider leaving any precious items that can’t get wet or lost in your vehicle. We also have a dry bag and some cell phone cases for things that you would like to have with you.

• Tipping is customary for service industry professions. You can show your guide(s) appreciation with a gratuity. Cash is generally easiest and many guides also accept Venmo.

• The route and duration of all our tours are subject to flexibility depending on weather conditions, water level, flow-rate, and group dynamics. Our guides take all of these elements into account in order to make everyone’s experience enjoyable and safe.