Boat Ramps Nearby

Kayak & canoe launches in Minnesota

We list 56 kayak launches in 21 towns across Minnesota. Most are low docks, sandy put-ins or ramp edges you can use without a trailer.

Ely 19

Burntside Lake (NE) Public Water Access Site · Burntside Lake
Burntside Lake (S) Public Water Access Site · Burntside Lake
City of Winton Boat Ramp · Fall Lake
Crane Lake (E) Public Water Access Site · Crane Lake
Fall Lake (S) Public Water Access Site · Fall Lake
Farm Lake Public Water Access Site · Farm Lake
Fenske Lake Public Water Access Site · Fenske Lake
Jeanette Lake Public Water Access Site · Jeanette Lake
Little Long Lake Public Water Access Site · Little Long Lake
Low Lake Public Water Access Site · Low Lake
Nels Lake Public Water Access Site · Nels Lake
Shagawa Lake (NW) Public Water Access Site · Shagawa Lake
Shagawa Lake (S) Public Water Access Site · Shagawa Lake
Shagawa Lake (SE) Public Water Access Site · Shagawa Lake
South Fork Kawishiwi River (S) Public Water Access Site · Fork Kawishiwi River
Tofte Boat Launch · Tofte Lake
U.S. Forest Service Boat Ramp · Fall Lake
Waters Edge Boat Ramp · Crane Lake
White Iron Lake Public Water Access Site · White Iron Lake

International Falls 7

Big Fork River, Reedy Flats Public Water Access Site · Big Fork River
Elm Street Public Water Access Site · Little Fork River
Ericsburg Public Water Access Site · Rat Root River
Kuttes Public Water Access Site · Rainy River
Lofgren Park Public Water Access Site · Little Fork River
Pat Roche Senior Public Water Access Site · Rainy River
Rat Root River Public Water Access Site · Rat Root River

Grand Marais 4

Homer Lake Public Water Access Site · Homer Lake
MN DNR Boat Ramp · Little John Lake
Swamp River Public Water Access Site · Swamp River
Tom Lake Public Water Access Site · Tom Lake

Babbitt 3

Birch Lake (NE) Public Water Access Site · Birch Lake
Birch Lake (S) Public Water Access Site · Birch Lake
Birch Lake (W) Public Water Access Site · Birch Lake

Cohasset 3

County Road 14 Public Water Access Site · Big Fork River
Dora Lake Public Water Access Site · Dora Lake
Harrison Landing Public Water Access · Big Fork River

Detroit Lakes 3

Big Cormorant Lake Public Water Access · Big Cormorant Lake
Leaf Lake Public Water Access · Leaf Lake
Little Cormorant Lake Public Water Access · Little Cormorant Lake

Caledonia 2

Millstone Landing · Ice Haul Slough
New Albin Landing · Minnesota Slough

Cannon Falls 2

Lake Byllesby Regional Park Kayak Launch · Lake Byllesby Regional
Miesville Ravine Park Reserve Kayak Launch · Cannon River

Annandale 1

Clearwater River Canoe Access · Clearwater River

Baudette 1

Birchdale Lake, #3 Public Water Access Site · Birchdale Lake

Coleraine 1

Big Fork Public Water Access Site · Big Fork

Duluth 1

Chambers Grove Park Boat Ramp · Saint Louis River

Grand Rapids 1

McAvity Lake Public Water Access · McAvity Lake

Hinckley 1

Maple Island · Kettle River

Lake Elmo 1

Lake Elmo Park Reserve Kayak Launch · Lake Elmo

Oronoco 1

Allis Park Canoe Launch · Middle Fork Zumbro River

Pelican Rapids 1

Maplewood State Park Canoe Access · Beers Lake

Rushford 1

Rushford Canoe launch · Root River

Saint Francis 1

Rum River North County Park Kayak Launch · Rum River

Silver Bay 1

USFS Boat Ramp · Whitefish Lake

Wyoming 1

Comfort Lake Public Water Access · Comfort Lake

Illustration: a paddler in a life jacket stepping from a low dock into a kayak — Illustration, not a photo of a specific place in Minnesota

Minnesota rules to know

In Minnesota, paddle craft longer than 10 feet need a registration.
Minnesota law requires you to pull the drain plug and drain bilge and livewell before you leave the water, and to keep the plug out while trailering.

Kayak & canoe launches by city in Minnesota

Kayak & canoe launches in Minnesota: questions and answers

How many kayak launches are in Minnesota?

We list 56 kayak launches in Minnesota, most of them around Ely (19), International Falls (7), Grand Marais (4) and Babbitt (3).

Which lakes and rivers have kayak launches in Minnesota?

Among others Birch Lake, Big Fork River, Fall Lake, Shagawa Lake and Burntside Lake.

Do kayaks need to be registered in Minnesota?

Minnesota registers kayaks and canoes over 10 feet long.

Do you need a life jacket to kayak in Minnesota?

Every paddler in Minnesota needs an approved life jacket on board, and kids have to wear theirs.

Are there free kayak launches in Minnesota?

7 of the 56 are marked free in the map data, including Big Cormorant Lake Public Water Access, Leaf Lake Public Water Access and Little Cormorant Lake Public Water Access.

Other states

Guide: How to launch a kayak or canoe · All boat ramps in Minnesota