Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Saturday (July 14th) as State Water Trails Day and a large group of people, including DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, will be in Winona to help celebrate it.
               
An event will take place at Prairie Island that will feature about 80 paddlers in 50 canoes who take a ride on the Mississippi River backwaters to raise awareness of the outstanding paddling and boating opportunities in Minnesota.
   
Members of the news media have been invited to also take part with a kickoff set for 9:30 a.m......

Minnesota boasts the nation's oldest and largest system of water trails. Started in 1963, Minnesota's system is more than 20 years older than any other and now has 33 state water trails with 4-thousand-400 miles of recreational routes managed by the DNR's Parks and Trails Division for canoeing, kayaking, boating and camping.....