The Gorge route
Bohemian Flats Park to Minneapolis Rowing Club (Lake Street)
Distance: 3 miles
Paddle Time: ~1 hour
Rental Days and Times, Summer Schedule: Monday (Holidays), Friday, Saturday, or Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm Rental Days and Times, Post Labor Day Schedule: Saturday, or Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm
Memorial Day (5/29), Juneteenth (6/19), Independence Day (7/3 and 7/4), Labor Day (9/4):
11:00am to 5:00pm
Cost: $30/single, $45/double
Route Description
This new route brings paddlers through the only true gorge on the Mississippi River. This calm stretch was formed thousands of years ago, when a cascading waterfall slowly making its way upriver carved out a deep channel. The route begins at Bohemian Flats Park, north of the University of Minnesota west bank campus, and ends at the Minneapolis Rowing Club, just north of Lake Street Bridge. To complete the trip, refuel at a nearby restaurant or coffee shop, like the Longfellow Grill, Dairy Queen, The Bungalow Club, Hi-Lo Diner, Dogwood Coffee or El Norteño.
How To Get Back
This route will require you to either have two vehicles, one parked at the route’s start and end or use public transportation, ride share or micro mobility services like Bird, Lyft, and Lime. If you decide to use a micro mobility service or bike the approximate distance is 4.3 miles (40 minutes) between North Mississippi Regional Park and Boom Island Park. Paid parking is available at Boom Island, and free parking is available at North Mississippi. Please ensure valuables are out of sight in parked cars. Metro Transit busses can also get you back to where you started please double check transit schedules and walking distances before departing.
Please Note:
It is very important to exit the river at the Minneapolis Rowing Club. There is not another Paddle Share station beyond this point and it might be difficult to paddle upstream. The Minneapolis Rowing Club facilities are not open to the public.
Do not use the docks to exit your kayak. It is much easier and safer to exit on shore between the two docks.
The Minneapolis Rowing Club and the University of Minnesota rowing teams practice on this stretch of the river. To avoid rowers, please follow their traffic pattern by paddling downstream on the WEST side of the river (see map below).
You can pick up your kayak any time after 11:00AM. You must return the equipment by 5:00PM. Plan your trip to allow enough time to retrieve the equipment, paddle, and return the equipment by 5:00PM. If kayaks are returned after 5:00PM, the credit card that was used to purchase the reservation will be charged with an automatic $100 late fee. Please plan accordingly.
The orientation of the map below is similar to navigating on your car or phone's GPS. The cardinal direction is posted on the map, with SOUTH pointing downstream, which is the direction you will travel in the kayak.
