St. Paul relaunching Paddle Share program Thursday

July 4, 2019 at 2:45AM
Kayakers prepared for water to drain in the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock on the Mississippi river in Minneapolis in 2015. While this section of the river is now closed, a new "paddle share" would allow visitors to paddle a 4-mile corridor of the Mississippi that winds through the Twin Cities from Dayton to Hastings.
Kayakers prepared for water to drain in the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock on the Mississippi river in Minneapolis in 2015. On Thursday, St. Paul relaunches Paddle Share, its self-serve kayak rental program. (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Want to get out and paddle the Mississippi, but you're lacking a kayak? On Thursday, St. Paul relaunches Paddle Share, its self-serve kayak rental program.

Solo and tandem kayaks will be available at Hidden Falls Regional Park for $25 (solo) or $40 (tandem) for three hours of paddling. Rentals include paddles, life jackets and maps. Kayaks can be rented Fridays through Sundays and holidays in July and August and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in September, weather permitting.

To rent, customers should reserve a kayak online at paddleshare.org. Renters will receive a code to unlock their kayak during their reserved time. The 6-mile route goes from Hidden Falls to Harriet Island downtown. At the end of the paddle, equipment will be returned to Kelly's Landing in Harriet Island Regional Park.

For those seeking a lake paddling experience, there is a Paddle Share location at Pickerel Lake in Lilydale Regional Park. That station is now closed because of flooding but is expected to reopen in the next few weeks.

The Mississippi River Paddle Share season in St. Paul runs through Sept. 29.

James Walsh

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