I Can Paddle!


Smiling paddler in the front of a canoe

Get out on the water this summer!

 

 

Registration for the 2025 season opens April 1! Subscribe to the I Can! email list for an alert when registration opens

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.
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 child. Note that there is no seat in the middle of the canoe.
  • Participants must be at least 5 years old.
  • 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.

Date 

Time 

Location 

June 125 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 1410 a.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 1510 a.m.Sakatah Lake State Park
June 195 p.m.William O'Brien Park
June 2110 a.m.Sakatah Lake State Park
June 2210 a.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 265 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 2810 a.m. / 1 p.m.Itasca State Park
June 2910 a.m.Itasca State Park
July 105 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
July 1210 a.m. / 1 p.m.Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
July 1310 a.m. / 1 p.m.Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
July 175 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
July 1910 a.m. / 1 p.m.Jay Cooke State Park
July 2010 a.m. / 1 p.m.St. Croix State Park
July 245 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
July 2610 a.m. / 1 p.m.Sibley State Park
July 2710 a.m. / 1 p.m.Lake Maria State Park
July 315 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
August 210 a.m.Moose Lake State Park
August 21 p.m.Moose Lake State Park
August 310 a.m. / 1 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 75 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 910 a.m. / 1 p.m.Maplewood State Park
August 1010 a.m.Maplewood State Park
August 145 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
August 1610 a.m. / 1 p.m.Lake Maria State Park
August 1710 a.m. / 1 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 215 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
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.

Date 

Time 

Location 

June 125 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
June 141 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 1510:30 a.m.Sakatah Lake State Park
June 195 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 211 p.m.Sakatah Lake State Park
June 221 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
June 265 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
June 2810 a.m. / 1 p.m.Maplewood State Park
June 2910 a.m.Maplewood State Park
July 105 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
July 1210 a.m. / 1 p.m.Sibley State Park
July 1310 a.m.Lake Maria State Park
July 131 p.m.Lake Maria State Park
July 175 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
July 1910 a.m. / 1 p.mMoose Lake State Park
July 2010 a.m. / 1 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
July 245 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
July 2610 a.m. / 1 p.mCuyuna Country State Recreation Area
July 2710 a.m. / 1 p.m.Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
July 315 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 210 a.m. / 1 p.m.Jay Cooke State Park
August 310 a.m. / 1 p.m.St. Croix State Park
August 75 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
August 910 a.m. / 1 p.mItasca State Park
August 1010 a.m.Itasca State Park
August 145 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 1610 a.m. / 1 p.m.William O'Brien State Park
August 1710 a.m. / 1 p.m.Lake Maria State Park
August 215 p.m.Fort Snelling State Park
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 1910 a.m. / 1 p.m.Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
July 2610 a.m. / 1 p.m.Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
August 210 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 219:30 a.m.St. Croix State Park
August 99:30 a.m.St. Croix State Park
August 239:30 a.m.Savanna Portage State Park
September 209:30 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].

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