Minnesota Canoe and Kayak Study

Recreational boating—which includes fishing from a boat—is one of the largest outdoor activities in Minnesota. It is ranked second only to walking as an outdoor pursuit among Minnesota adults. Most of Minnesota boating is motorized, but an important segment of the boating market is human-powered. Currently, one-in-five registered boats in Minnesota is a canoe or kayak, and canoes and kayaks have maintained their share of all boats during the sizable increase in boat numbers over the last 25 years. The number of registered canoes and kayaks reached 172,442 in 2004. Paddlers of canoes and kayaks are a common sight on Minnesota lakes and streams.

To gain a better understanding of canoeing and kayaking in Minnesota, the DNR conducted this study, which has two major goals. One goal is to provide a general understanding of the nature and direction of canoeing/kayaking in Minnesota, and the second goal is to provide information to help guide Minnesota's Canoe and Boating Route (CBR) Program. A primary target market of the CBR Program is canoers and kayakers. The CBR Program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1963. To date, 26 rivers, totaling 3400 river miles, have been designated as part of the CBR Program.

Boat registration and boating-use trends are examined as part of this first goal. For both goals, Minnesota canoe and kayak owners are queried in a statewide survey about many aspects of their paddling activity, including reasons for canoeing/kayaking, barriers to river paddling, opinions on potential paddling-related management actions, evaluations of the importance and performance of river facilities and services for paddlers, and boating-safety issues.

The canoe and kayak study was a cooperative research project of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Trails and Waterways Division, and Boating Safety Program.

Download the report on study findings