Find out what made Minneapolis!

Duration

• Approx. 2.5 hours

About

This tour begins and ends at the Boom Island marina, a railroad tie factory-turned green space northeast of downtown Minneapolis.

After a short paddle skill introduction on land, you’ll head upriver, under bridges old and new to the former industrial Port of Minneapolis in Northside. On the way back down, enjoy the current and one of the most distinctive skyline views from anywhere in town, a customary photo-op. Depending on conditions, the tour will wrap up with either a visit to the Bassett Creek lagoon, or a final 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.

As with all PBGC tours, the route and duration is subject to flexibility depending on weather conditions, water level & flow-rate, and group dynamics. Distance will be reflected accordingly, but averages 3-4 miles on this stretch.

Additional Info

What to bring:

• Dress for water! Wear lightweight clothing that you wouldn’t mind getting wet - hot tip, have a dry layer in your car to change into after just in case.
• Hats and sunglasses for the glare off the water
• Sunscreen/Water bottle - guides should have extra, but we encourage use of a reusable water bottle to lessen reliance on single-use plastics.
• Snacks for your guide - just kidding, but never a bad idea for yourself
• We will have a dry bag for anything small that you don't want to get wet; we take pictures with a waterproof camera, so you don't have to risk yours!

Note: Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the tour start time.