Register HERE!

Paddle the 4th annual Mississippi River 20 Canoe and Kayak Race/Relay & Tour (aka the “MR 20”). The MR 20 is a 20-mile paddling event from Otsego to Champlin in the state of Minnesota with competitive race divisions, a relay division and a non-competitive tour division. Beginning at 10am on Sunday, June 15th, 2025, paddlers (racing solo, tandem, as a team or a relay team) have until 5pm to make it to Mississippi Point Park in Champlin. Participants can use canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards or any kind of self-powered boat. To rent a canoe or kayak, contact our friends at Clearwaters Outfitting. They’ll even pick it up at the finish line! The recreational tour division is an option for those who favor being more relaxed, with a focus on the goal of finishing in the allowed time versus competing against other paddlers. The relay option allows a team of people to take turns paddling three sections of about 6 miles each. From the Norin Landing/Kadler Ave. ramp in Otsego (it’s called Norin Landing on Google maps and by the city of Otsego but is called the Kadler Ave. ramp on the DNR river route map), paddlers will paddle past dozens of islands and undeveloped, forested steep banks and small cliffs. The course continues past distinctive downtown Elk River and Dayton, then past Ramsey to Champlin.

The event divisions include: solo (men/women), tandem (men/women/mixed), SUP (men/women), Team and Relay. (for more details on divisions see the Event Rules page)

FOR ALL RELAY PARTICIPANTS: The relay course is divided into three sections. Paddlers must stop at each checkpoint and switch paddlers (paddlers cannot paddle two consecutive sections):

• Norin Landing/Kadler Ave. (event start) to Babcock (checkpoint 1): 7.6 miles

• Babcock to Mississippi West Regional Park (checkpoint 2): 7.5 miles

• Mississippi West Park to Mississippi Point Park (checkpoint 3): 4.5 miles Must arrive by 5pm

The entire route is part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) “Mississippi Water Trail.” The DNR has excellent river maps made for paddlers that show all ramps, campsites, bridges and other waypoints. The route can be found on Mississippi River maps 8 and 9 at: DNR maps. The final 13 miles are within the 72 mile Mississippi National River and Recreation area administered by the national park service.

A custom Google map shows the whole route and makes it easy to get directions to important landmarks, available at this link: MR 20 map

2025 MR 20 PER PERSON FEES:

A fee of 2.9% plus $1.30 will be added to all transactions (covers credit card processing and registration fee)

$75 (Relay $65) if you register by April 15th at 11:59pm. (you are guaranteed to get a race t-shirt)

$90 (Relay $80) if you register after April 15th and before May 21st at 11:59pm (you are guaranteed to get a race t-shirt)

$120 (Relay $110) if you register after May 21st before June 11th at 11:59pm (you will not receive an event t-shirt)

Refund Policy: Full refunds available for cancellations up until April 15th at 11:59pm. No refunds after April 15th for any reason.

Join us at the Minnesota Paddling Expo from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, June 15th at the finish line in Champlin. The Expo is open to everyone whether they paddled or not. There will be carnival games as part of Champlin’s Father Hennepin Festival, and you can watch all the boats paddle to the finish line! There will also be exhibitors from various river-related non-profits and paddling businesses.

All participants who register by May 21st will receive an event T-shirt. All finishers will receive a finisher medal. Top 3 winners in each division winners will receive a trophy.

All participants must check-in with their boat and required safety gear between 7:00am and 9am. If you are taking the shuttle you must check-in between 7 and 7:30am so you can leave by 7:45 to drive to Mississippi Crossings in Champlin to catch the shuttle. All participants must attend the entire pre-event meeting at 9:15am at the Norin Landing/Kadler Ave. ramp on the west side of the river in Otsego, MN.

When you register for the event you can also sign-up for a shuttle service that will bring paddlers from Mississippi Crossings to the event start (for more details see the Paddler’s Guide). All participants are required to read the Event Rules and the Paddler’s Guide

Experience a grand adventure on America’s most famous river! Join us for the Mississippi River 20 Canoe and Kayak Race, Tour & Relay. Please like and follow our Facebook page for the latest updates.

Register HERE.

Watch a recorded Zoom virtual info session about the MR 20 and the other events; here.

Watch a segment on the TV show “Minnesota Bound” about the Paddle Opener.