Canoe and kayak rack permits open for the Lake of the Isles season

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board rents seasonal space on watercraft racks at Lake of the Isles and a dozen other locations, letting paddlers store a canoe or kayak near the water rather than hauling one from home each trip. Lake of the Isles has rack sites at both its north and south ends.

For 2026 the permit costs $325 for Minneapolis residents and $425 for non-residents, with an added $100 for a second watercraft on the same rack, according to the Park Board (minneapolisparks.org/rentals-permits/watercraft_storage__rentals/canoekayak_rack_rentals/). The permit term runs roughly 50 weeks, from May 1 to April 15.

Registration opens Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. and closes Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Because the racks are a fixed, limited resource on one of the busiest paddling lakes on the Chain of Lakes, demand at the Isles routinely outstrips supply, so paddlers who want a spot should apply during the winter window rather than wait for summer.

The permit comes with rules. Boats must be tagged and stored on the assigned rack, and they must be off the rack by April 30 so spaces can be cleared and reassigned; new permit holders place their boats between April 15 and 30. Unregistered or abandoned boats take space from neighbors on the waiting list.

Paddlers who miss the window can still launch from public access points on the Isles or rent boats on the larger lakes nearby. The Park Board lists current racks, fees and deadlines on its website, and questions can go to 612-230-6400 or [email protected].