RiverFest 2013: Kayak and Canoe Adventure on the St. Croix River

The following was written by Paul Bourget, who serves on the board of the St. Croix River Association and is the chair for the 2013 River Awareness Week:

You are invited to join us for a family friendly kayaking and canoe adventure in celebration of Riverfest, a “Party with a Purpose!”

Two separate kayak and canoe flotillas are scheduled to occur during Hudson’s RiverFest this year.  Kayaks will be available to rent at a deep discount rate for early registrants, and you might also be lucky enough to get a seat on an historic Voyageur canoe if you register early. The flotillas will take place on Monday, July 15 at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, July 16 at 4 p.m. 

Paddling will begin at Hudson Lakefront Park with a stop at YMCA Camp St. Croix and ending at Troy Beach. Not a seasoned kayaker? No worries! A power boat from St. Croix Marina will shadow all paddlers headed downstream. Anyone is invited to paddle along with their own non-motorized craft. 

Pre-registrants renting kayaks may park near the Beach House. Shuttle service will be provided from the landing site at Troy Beach back to the Hudson launch site. Non-renters may park at the Beach House Parking lot, but return shuttle service will not be provided. They have the option of paddling back, which should not be too difficult for seasoned kayakers, or arranging for their own return transportation. 

The paddle trips will be followed by a grilled lunch/supper at Troy Beach and brief educational presentations (St. Croix 101) on both days. The Army Corps of Engineers will showcase underwater mussels, the St. Croix County Historical Society will discuss early logging/railroading and the Carpenter Nature Center will offer live birding demonstrations while presenting facts about life in the air over the St. Croix basin. 

There are twenty kayaks available for rent at a reduced rate of $10.00 for each of the two events.  Kayaks will still be available for later registrants but at a $25.00 rate. The kayaks are being supplied by Kinni Creek Outfitters of River Falls. Also, eight spaces are available for Camp St. Croix’s Voyageur Canoe, which will be part of the flotilla.

The canoe rate for the first eight registrants on both days is also $10. So, you would be wise to sign up early for a good and reasonably priced spot on the flotilla. 

Reservations for kayak rentals, meals and parking passes at Troy Beach can now be made at: www.riverfestpaddles.eventbrite.com. 

The flotilla is just one of many events that will take place during RiverFest. To learn more about RiverFest and other River Awareness Week events, visit www.riverawarenessweek.org.