In the inspiring words and spirit of Minnesota Whitewater Rafting, “Grab a paddle, it’s time for adventure“!
Since 2015, this family-run and operated unit has brought timeless adventure in Minnesota residents’ hearts and provided a unique chance for adventure seekers to experience the river in all its rawness in the hands of professionals who have a passion for safe whitewater rafting.
Your whitewater rafting adventure in Minnesota takes place on the St. Louis River — the largest river to flow into Lake Superior — in Scanlon, Minnesota (right next to Cloquet). Whether you’re an experienced whitewater rafter or you’re looking for a new adventure in Minnesota, booking a trip through Minnesota Whitewater Rafting may just leave you with a string of memories you’ll never forget.
Q&A with the Crew of Minnesota Whitewater Rafting
I had the pleasure of talking with Erin M. Engstrom, one of the proud owners of Minnesota Whitewater Rafting along with her husband, Colin Engstorm, about the origins and fun of Minnesota Whitewater Rafting. Folks, you’re in for a real treat — there are stories, lessons, and more in store with this Q&A!
Erin has had a wide range of adventure experiences from being a member of the Air National Guard to working in the medical field, to making Minnesota Whitewater Rafting the awesome experience it is. We’ll also be hearing from other staff members about their experiences with Minnesota Whitewater Rafting; there’s a lot of adventure to come.
Without further ado, let’s get into these questions and answers all about Minnesota Whitewater Rafting!
Whitewater Rafting is an incredible sport and adventure to partake in; how did it become a family interest and blossom into Minnesota Whitewater Rafting?
[Erin] Our goal as husband and wife was to find something we could work at together. We started as a team working at Air Shows and wanted to expand on that teamwork we had there.
Colin was a Boy Scout leader for several years and has shared his love of the outdoors with me. We purchased a well-established and well-reputed business from our extended family to keep the tradition going.
[MWR Staff]The entire experience working at MWR feels like family. We all have very different backgrounds and working as a team on the river brings everyone together.
They say that water holds memory, and I’m sure we can’t even fathom how many memories the St. Louis River is holding thanks to your incredible adventures! Does a particular memory come to mind when you think of one of your favorite experiences with Minnesota Whitewater Rafting?
[Erin] Watching someone’s first-time experience is fantastic. They are often nervous or even scared at the start of the trip; they usually come back beaming and laughing, ready to go again.
[MWR Staff] Watching families enjoy their vacation time together. They play-fight to be the first into or out of the raft, they have splashing fights together. They go home with great memories.
Are there any misconceptions about whitewater rafting that you’d like to shed some light on?
[MWR Staff] People often think that it isn’t something that they can do. Then they do it and love it.
It’s a totally great time for those without any experience!
[Erin] Years ago I fell in love with kayaking, but I have always done the more “lazy river” kayaking. My first time rafting was like seeing the river for the first time. I fell in love all over again!
From the experiences that Minnesota Whitewater Rafting offers, which would you recommend for someone who isn’t experienced and someone who has participated in whitewater rafting before?
[Erin] The river is always changing; it’s high and fast in the spring and lower in the late summer/early fall. People should be aware of that when they are booking their trips…the ride is much more tame in the fall.
[MWR Staff] People think that the lower water means that there is less “whitewater”; this is not always the case as the lower water creates different features as the rocks are revealed. This can be a challenging ride as well, and there is a lot more splashing.
Although we may be biased here at On Lake Superior, we love an adventure that takes us near its grand waters. Are there any water adventure recommendations you’d give for a Lake Superior traveler?
[Erin] Kayak to the sea caves! Or if you just want to watch something fun…Sailing club goes out every Wednesday evening in the summer; always fun to watch.
[MWR Staff] Check out the smelt run – always a good time.
Dragon boat festival!
Here’s a fun question for you: Does the crew have a pump-up song or routine to get them amped up for a new adventure?
[Erin] We do not…everyone always shows up excited to play at work. No one ever really needs any pumping up.
What’s one of your favorite things about being an expert guide with Minnesota Whitewater Rafting?
[Erin] The joy that families and friends have together; watching everyone gather around laughing over their photos is incredible.
[MWR Staff] Seeing people screaming in fear and then immediately start laughing is the best.
Seeing others share their memories on the [Minnesota Whitewater Rafting] FB page is great.
Remembering someone from the year before since they came back again and brought new friends!
Where is Minnesota Whitewater Rafting
Minnesota Whitewater Rafting is located in Scanlon, MN which is roughly a twenty-one-minute drive from Duluth, MN. There’s lots of adventure in Minnesota to experience and memories to collect for your adventuring heart’s little journey scrapbook. And adding Whitewater Rafting in Minnesota sounds like a pretty rad addition to any adventure-seekers memory bank!
Minnesota Whitewater Rafting Address:
3214 River Gate Ave, Cloquet, MN 55720
What Does Minnesota Whitewater Rafting Offer
When searching for the perfect place to experience whitewater rafting in Minnesota, look no further than Minnestoa Whitewater Rafting; you’re bound to have an adventure in Minnesota with these pros!
Rafting tours begin at $55 a person; adventurers must be 11 years old and older. Each tour takes place on a dam-controlled portion of the St. Louis River and has its very own pro whose main concern is the safety of the group and having an awesome experience.
There are a few different rafting tour options that vary on the experience levels of those in the group, which is a huge plus in ensuring that everyone is safe and experiencing whitewater rafting in Minnesota at a level they can enjoy.
Speaking of enjoyment, what I love about the Minnesota Whitewater Rafting experience is that you can truly be in the moment and immerse yourself in the process of navigating the waters, all the while knowing that after your tour you can see pictures highlighting the wild moments of the adventure that were taken along the way! That’s right, while you’re living it up having an adventure in Minnesota, there’s a photographer who’s snapping all of the cool moments so you can look back and remember for years to come. How incredible is that?
You can check out their website and book an incredible whitewater rafting experience through Minnesota Whitewater Rafting! Their whitewater rafting season runs through Summer, Spring, and Fall.
The Buzz About Minnesota Whitewater Rafting
Would you love to hear more about the incredibleness of Minnesota Whitewater Rafting? Take a look at what these adventurers had to say about their unique experiences while riding the waters with the MN Whitewater Rafting crew!
“My daughters and I had a fantastic time whitewater rafting! Excellent professional guides made it feel safe and adventurous, and the river is beautiful!”
“Loved this experience and can’t wait to go back! I would recommend this company to anyone. The staff is professional and friendly and safety is their number one concern. We had whitewater rafted in Colorado and got thrown from our raft twice. We were leery to try it again but read the reviews and decided to give it a try with MN Whitewater Rafting. We are so glad we did! Our guide, Craig, did an excellent job of instructing us and the rapids were impressive. It was just right for our family!”
“We had a really amazing trip, the staff are super knowledgeable and help you feel safe as you go down the river through the rapids! I would definitely recommend you give it a try! It was the perfect way to cool off!”
“We had a great time! The instructor team communicated well with each other and to us to facilitate a fun and safe experience.”
From all of us here at On Lake Superior, we sure hope that you get to experience the stupendous, safe, and budget-friendly adventures that can be created with the one and only Minnesota Whitewater Rafting. And be sure to follow both Minnesota Whitewater Rafting and On Lake Superior on Facebook to be a part of the community that loves all things Lake Superior!
