Canoe Rental & Shuttle Service

Outdoor Endeavors provides rentals, shuttles and outfitting service for our campus community and the general public. Additionally, we provide canoeing and kayaking instructional programs and clinics scheduled throughout the year and will customize instructional boating programs to meet your needs. Outdoor Endeavors is sanctioned by the American Canoe Association to provide nationally recognized paddlesports curriculum and instruction.

Outdoor Endeavors is more than willing to put together paddling
workshops, safety clinics or basic water rescue programs for groups of 4 or more participants that want to develop and refine their skills or want to prepare for a paddling trip.  These programs are scheduled by demand and can occur from May through September at the Lake George Boathouse or in the Halenbeck Hall Pool from October through April.  Call us at 320-308-3772 for more information.

In addition to the above services, we also operate under a special use permit, to provide adventure trips, from the National Park Service to provide guided trips in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and on the St. Croix National Scenic River.

Canoeing/Kayaking Essential Information

For the safety of our clients & program we have established the following restrictions regarding canoeing and kayaking that correlate with up to date river level information.

Outdoor Endeavors does not run shuttles or offer rentals when the Mississippi River, below the St. Cloud dam is running above 10,000 cubic feet per second or more. The river is moving fast at the put in and inexperienced boaters are at risk of capsize at the start of their trip. Outdoor Endeavors reserves sole discretion and the right to refuse rental of canoes & kayaks if the conditions are deemed unsafe or the renter has insufficient experience for the conditions. Current water levels can be found at the bottom of the Rental & Shuttle Rates page.

Education & Paddlesports Safety Information

Wear It! Life Jackets Matter
VIDEO - Life Jackets Float. Do You?
Your PFD (personal floatation device) is your first line of defense against drowning.  Proper PFD selection and fit is critical.  Remember that a life jacket does you no good if you don't wear it. 

Fitting a Child Life Jacket
VIDEO - Fitting Kids for Life Jackets
Kids need to wear life jackets too!  Proper life jacket fit and selection is even more important with children since they vary so much in size. The Boat US Foundation and National Safe Boating Campaign both have excellent resources for adults who want to take kids boating. 

Cold Water Survival
VIDEO - Hypothermia PSA
Most of the year, the water in Minnesota is just plain cold.  Be prepared for the cold and understand the basic signs & symptoms of hypothermia.  Proper preparation is key in preventing hypothermia. The Minnesota DNR does an outstanding job in educating the public on the hazards of cold water and hypothermia. 

Whitewater Safety Code
The American Whitewater is a great resource for planning a river trip and considering the risk management involved.  While much of it is designed for avid whitewater paddlers it transfers to recreational boaters equally well.

Paddlesports Safety Affiliations

Outdoor Endeavors is dedicated to the safety of our customers and is committed to promoting safe paddlesports activities through outreach and education efforts. We are proud to be professionally affiliated with the following organizations and support their unique missions and services.