The Mississippi River Challenge is a 2-day, 44-mile paddling event to raise money for a cleaner, healthier river. This is the premier event for Friends of the Mississippi River and all funds raised go toward aiding the organization’s work on the Mississippi River in and around the Twin Cities. Each paddler over 18 is required to raise a minimum of $250 in pledges ($50 for those 16-18, and no minimum for those 15 and under) to participate in this event.

This event is fully supported, which means a shuttle is provided from your car (parked at the end point) to the starting point, your camping gear is transported for you (no need to bring it in your boat!), all meals, snacks, and beverages are provided, and SAG (safety and gear) support is available at all rest stops along the route. There are some additional perks for paddlers, including online registration and a personal fundraising page, a Mississippi River Challenge t-shirt, a rare opportunity to camp at Historic Fort Snelling, and a Saturday night celebration complete with live music from The Roe Family Singers and cold beverages. This is a family-friendly event and we encourage people of all ages and skill levels to participate!

There are several stopping points along the route where paddlers are required to take a break. Each day has rest stops and a lunch stop to allow paddlers to re-hydrate and re-energize. This is important to successfully completing the Mississippi River Challenge.

For more information on the event and how to register: http://www.mississippiriverchallenge.org/