UWCA: Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures
on the Mississippi River

Paddling the Mississippi River toward downtown Saint Paul in voyageur canoes

Paddling voyageur canoes under the Lake Street Bridge the Mississippi River in Minneapolis Minnesota

Paddle a Voyageur Canoe through the heart of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

The UWCA program is all about getting students from the Twin Cities outdoors to learn new skills and discover the National Park that exists right in their backyard. We can accommodate groups of up to 150 on the river for half day or full day paddles.

Flowing through the heart of the Twin Cities Metro region, the Mississippi River is within a 30 minute drive from almost everyone who lives in the Twin Cities. It offers unparalleled opportunities for viewing wildlife, learning about nature, and seeing the Twin Cities from an entirely new perspective—the way people saw it 200 years ago! Most events take place between the U of MN Campus and downtown St. Paul.

Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures is intended to:

Build a stronger connection between urban youth and the environment
Increase community integration by youth with disabilities
Instill an understanding and respect for the environment, specifically the unique Mississippi River watershed
Improve personal health by charting a path to a more active lifestyle

The UWCA is a partnership of the National Park Service, the Mississippi River Fund, and Wilderness Inquiry, as well as dozens of other agencies such as the MN DNR, Minneapolis Public Schools, and more (click here to see a list).

To learn more about Mississippi River Day Trips click here.
To learn more about community events click here.
To learn about other trips and events for schools click here.

National Park Service Ranger David Wiggins interprets the river for students in canoes Paddling the Mississippi River under the high bridge in Saint Paul

UWCA in the Media:

Minnesota Bound: Canoe trip down Mississippi River
Kare11 News: Mpls kids trade pencils for paddles
Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered
Minneapolis Star Tribune video documentary
2010 UWCA in Pictures

Information for Teachers:

Are you going on a UWCA trip with your students? Click Here to download an introduction to your experience, including an itinerary and map.

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Please email us or call our office for more information on the UWCA. 612-676-9400

Funding for the UWCA is provided, in part, by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

UWCA: Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures on the Mississippi River

UWCA: Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures
on the Mississippi River