Get out on the water this summer!
Learn paddling skills from experienced guides while exploring some of Minnesota's most stunning lakes and rivers. These programs are designed especially for first-time paddlers; no experience is necessary. Afterwards, you and your friends or family will be ready to launch your own paddling adventure.
- Variety of entry-level canoeing and kayaking programs.
- Learn the skills necessary to safely venture out onto Minnesota's lakes and rivers with ease.
- All equipment provided, use of a canoe or kayak, plus paddles and life jackets.
- Small group sizes—you'll get the attention you need to develop your skills.
- No experience necessary.
- Great for families!
- Advance registration is required.
Ready to sign up? Reserve your spot today
If you know the location of the program you want, select it using the "All places" dropdown.
Don't see your program? There are four pages of results. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Next." I Can Paddle! and I Can Mountain Bike! results are toward the end.
- I Can Paddle! Canoeing
- Perfect for people that want to paddle together in the same boat. These programs teach the basics of canoeing on lakes, from launching a canoe to paddling efficiently and planning a safe canoe outing.
- All programs last approximately two hours.
- $30 per canoe, with up to two people per canoe. Taxes not included.
- A third person may be permitted to sit in the middle of the canoe with two other paddlers at no extra cost. This would be ideal for two parents with a younger or smaller child. Note that there is no seat in the middle of the canoe.
- Participants must be at least five years old.
- Children may paddle in the bow of the canoe with a parent in the stern, or they may sit in the middle. Smaller, younger children often have a difficult time managing the bow, so we recommend children under seven years old sit in the middle.
- Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Advance registration is required.
- A vehicle permit is required to enter all Minnesota state parks ($7/day or $35/year). One-day vehicle permits ($7 value) are included with all I Can Paddle! programs where a permit is required.
- I Can Paddle! Kayaking
- These programs teach the basics of kayaking on lakes, from launching a kayak to paddling efficiently and planning a safe kayak outing.
- Programs last approximately two hours.
- Participants must be at least 8 years old.
- Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- $25 per adult, $12 per child, one person per kayak. Taxes not included.
- Advance registration is required.
- A vehicle permit is required to enter all Minnesota state parks ($7/day or $35/year). One-day vehicle permits ($7 value) are included with all I Can Paddle! programs where a permit is required.
- I Can Paddle! Sea Kayaking
- So you've paddled lakes and you've paddled rivers...but have you paddled a Great Lake? Try sea kayaking on the Lake Superior State Water Trail! You'll learn all the basics of sea kayaking while gliding past towering cliffs and the Split Rock Lighthouse.
- Programs last two hours.
- Participants must be at least 12 years old.
- Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- $55 per adult, $45 per child. Taxes not included.
- Advance registration is required.
- A vehicle permit is required to enter all Minnesota state parks ($7/day or $35/year). One-day vehicle permits ($7 value) are included with all I Can! programs where a permit is required.
Date
Time
Location
July 19 10 a.m. / 1 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park July 26 10 a.m. / 1 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park August 2 10 a.m. / 1 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park - I Can Paddle! Canoe Camping
- Our overnight canoe camping programs will help prepare you for future paddling trips to lakes and riverside campsites. We'll help you plan for your trip and make sure that you learn all of the necessary canoeing and camping skills as we paddle and camp along the St. Croix River through St. Croix State Park, or on Savanna Lake located in Savanna Portage State Park.
- $105 per canoe, with up to two people per canoe.
- Reservation includes meals and all canoeing and camping equipment. (Sleeping bag not included.) Taxes are not included.
- Participants must be at least 10 years old.
- Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Advance registration is required.
- Programs begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude by noon the following day.
- A vehicle permit is required to enter all Minnesota state parks ($7/day or $35/year). One-day vehicle permits ($7 value) are included with all I Can Paddle! programs where a permit is required.
Additional information
Participants will be provided with a pre-trip packet that includes additional program information, logistics and packing lists to help you prepare for your trip. These packets will be emailed out following your registration. Participants will also receive an email and/or phone call from program leaders regarding meal preferences.
Note that the participant experience differs slightly between the two locations:
St. Croix State Park: We'll meet at the park and then shuttle together up-river to the river access. We’ll spend the day paddling to a remote rustic group campsite along the St. Croix River, where we'll focus on camp skills and spend the night. The next day we'll break camp and paddle down-river, back to our vehicles at the park. These programs offer a more remote canoe camping experience, but you will need to shuttle up-river with us and you will not be near your vehicle overnight.
Savanna Portage State Park: We'll meet everyone at the group camp and paddle out directly from there. We'll spend the day paddling, and then return to the group camp to focus on canoe camping skills and spend the night. The next morning we'll break camp and offer some additional canoeing instruction before we end the day at the group camp where we began. These programs are a bit more convenient for participants, since you won't need to shuttle.
Date
Time
Location
June 21 9:30 a.m. St. Croix State Park August 9 9:30 a.m. St. Croix State Park August 23 9:30 a.m. Savanna Portage State Park September 20 9:30 a.m. St. Croix State Park
Cancellations
All programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or hazardous conditions. Cancellations for I Can! programs can be made up to one week prior to the program for a full refund minus the reservation fee.
Questions?
Still have questions? Please contact the DNR Information Center. You can also get more information by emailing [email protected].
