Rafting in Minnesota

MN White Water Rafting

Yes, we have whitewater rafting in Minnesota!! Yes, right here in Sandstone, Minnesota on the clean and beautiful Kettle River.

Local raft guide company, Hard Water Sports, is in their 5th year of giving whitewater rafting tours on the Hell's Gate section of the Kettle River.

Every Kettle River rafting tour includes real adventure and truly beautiful scenery.
Sign up for a river tour at https://hardwatersports.com

Rafting Near Minneapolis

Plan your next adventure in Sandstone, Minnesota - located just an hour north of Minneapolis it's an easy day trip for visitors.  Beside the amazing white water rafting Sandstone has access to rock climbing and the trails of Banning State Park.

Hell's Gate on the Kettle River

This is the section of the Kettle River everyone talks about.  Make sure your tour goes through the rapids of Banning State park including Blueberry Slide, Dragon's Tooth, and Hell's Gate. 

for more information on the white water rafting in Minnesota 

https://visitsandstonemn.com/mn-white-water-rafting/

Sandstone, Minnesota - Ice Climbing in the News

Wow - Sandstone Minnesota has been in the news lately. Here's a couple links to news stories about the ice climbing in Sandstone.

Ice climbing festival draws enthusiasts from Midwest and beyond

https://duluthnewstribune.com/sports/outdoors/4554637-ice-climbing-festival-draws-enthusiasts-midwest-and-beyond

Sandstone Aspiring to Be an Ice Climbing Mecca in Minnesota

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/minnesota/articles/2019-01-19/sandstone-aspiring-to-be-an-ice-climbing-mecca-in-minnesota

That's So Minnesota: Ice climbing in Sandstone

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/thats-so-minnesota-ice-climbing-in-sandstone/89-89657a0d-defb-4921-b434-ae796684f0cb


Learn more at
https://visitsandstonemn.com/ice-climbing-sandstone-mn/


The Sandstone Tourism Board is available to provide media access to all events.
320 372 0756
or email
visitsandstone@gmail.com

Sandstone MN Festivals

Supporting Festivals in Sandstone MN

One of the core functions of the Sandstone Tourism Development Committee is supporting the festivals in Sandstone and to encourage additional events in the city.
We have a few established festivals including the Sandstone Ice Festival and the Kettle River Paddle Fest, and more recently an end of summer rock climbing festival.

Bringing Your Event to Sandstone MN

Contacting the Sandstone Visitors Board is a first step in getting your event plans to move forward in Sandstone MN.  We can help with the city level redtape and guide you through the "local" process of starting an event.

Additionally we are available to help with your marketing plan and all the logistical details that go into putting together a successful event.  

Email VisitSandstone@gmail.com

Sandstone Ice Festival

Now in its 14th year, the Sandstone Ice Festival ranks as one of the major ice climbing events across the country.  Nationally known, the festival draws in climbers from across the midwest and into Canada.
Started back in 2004, the Sandstone Ice Festival put our small town on the map for ice climbing as well as opening the door to additional festivals.
This yearly ice climbing festival happens the first weekend of January, find out more at Sandstone Ice Fest

Kettle River Paddle Fest

Sandstone, Minnesota hosts a yearly whitewater paddling festival.  On the first weekend in May padders gather for the trills of running the rapids on the Kettle River.

Challenge yourself on the class III whitewater of Banning State Park, on enjoy an easy float on the flat water sections on the Kettle River.

This event includes a down river race and a whitewater rodeo - participate or just show up to see what's happening. Get the details at website Kettle River Paddle Festival

Bring it to Sandstone

Do you think your event would be a good fit to the family friendly small town of Sandstone, MN ??  Maybe it's a triathlon or a obstacle course, how about a fly fishing "workshop."   contact the Visitors Board for our input.

Email VisitSandstone@gmail.com

Sandstone Visitors Board

The Sandstone Visitors Board is the local organization working on the daily and short term tourism goals for Sandstone, Minnesota.  Think of us as your welcoming committee and a first contact for visitors and the media.  

Find out more about Sandstone, Minnesota and the Sandstone Tourism Development Committee at VisitSandstoneMN.com

Minnesota White Water Rafting

Minnesota White Water Rafting

Sandstone, Minnesota is getting a reputation as a Minnesota White Water Rafting town.

Located on the Kettle River and butting up against Banning State Park, Sandstone is perfectly placed for white water rafting adventures.  Paddlers have been playing on the class III whitewater for years, but just within the past 4 years has there been a white water rafting company right here in Sandstone, MN

Minnesota White Water Rafting Guide

If you're looking for guided white water rafting in Minnesota, local Sandstone guide company, Hard Water Sports, has tours on the Kettle River from May to September.

Book your Minnesota White Water Rafting Adventure

The "clean and beautiful" Kettle River

Robinson Park - Existing Conditions Summary

Robinson Park in Sandstone Minnesota - Existing Conditions Summary 

Purpose 

• Identify needs and document changes 

  – Update recommendations 

  – Implementation strategy, projects and funding 

• Direction and Design Concept for Park and Waterfront 

Condition Assessment 

• Dangerous remnants of dam need removal
• No pedestrian access to Robinson Park
• No access to drinking water 
• Public restrooms in need of improvements/redesign
• River bank stabilization
• Boat access above dam eroded and in need of redesign 
• Boat access below dam eroded, redesign needed for safe river access
• Inadequate parking at Big Spring Falls
• No in town signage directing visitors to Sandstone’s parks

2018 Robinson Park Redevelopment Goals 

• Goal 1: Provide a safe park for local families and visitors
• Goal 2: Expand and develop the recreation opportunities for all ages 
• Goal 3: Develop and improve pedestrian connections between Robinson Park and the community
• Goal 4: Make upgrades to meet the needs of existing and future population of Sandstone, MN  

Community Concerns 

Park safety for visitors

Cost of Robinson Park Improvement Plan

Level of maintenance required for plan

“Safe access connecting the town to Robinson Park for bikes and pedestrians would be a huge improvement”

“Removing the old dan should have been done years ago, it’s a very dangerous place”

“The bathrooms are disgusting”

“It’s very dangerous, we’ve always told our kids to never swim there.”

“Public water access above and below the dam rapids need repairs.”

https://visitsandstonemn.com/robinson-park-sandstone_mn/

Kettle River Whitewater Park

Conceptual Design and Feasibility Investigation Study for the Kettle River Surf Park.

or "Kill the Killer Dam" project

Scott Shipley from S2O Design and Engineering has been contacted to find out if the dangerous remnants of the Robinson Park dam can be removed and replaced with a design that will allow safe passage and be a tourist attraction to Sandstone, Minnesota.

This is from Scott:

S2O recommends that the proposed whitewater park project on the Kettle River in Sandstone, MN. begins with a short Conceptual Design and Feasibility Investigation. The Conceptual Design and Feasibility Investigation is intentionally brief and short in scope, and is designed to accomplish three tasks: 
(1) determine the feasibility of the project; (2) create conceptual design layouts that meet your objectives; and (3) define the project costs and steps to completion on a conceptual level for the selected design solution.

To complete the Conceptual Design and Feasibility Investigation, S2O will work with your team to understand its specific objectives and desires for the completed project. We will also work with you to determine the best design solution to achieve the goal of creating a whitewater park on a bypass channel. 

To accomplish this task, we will conduct a site inspection to determine the constraints and opportunities associated with the project site.
S2O will then create up to two conceptual designs for the desired site, and provide conceptual-level costs estimates. These designs and costs estimates will be shared with your team such that you can make an informed design decision and select the most appealing option.

for more information on the proposal please visit https://visitsandstonemn.com/conceptual-design-feasibility-investigation-study/

Sandstone MN Tourism Development Council

Sandstone MN Tourism Development Council

The Sandstone Tourism Development Council encourages visitors and residents to develop long-term emotional bonds with Sandstone.

The future vision marketing work the Development Council is doing will shape the future of Sandstone, Minnesota permanently. The mission is to make Sandstone, Minnesota one of the Midwest’s top visitor destinations while maintaining our family friendly - small town roots. 

Sandstone Tourism Development Council (STDC)

The STDC works on a long term basis with the marketing and development of Sandstone, Minnesota as a travel destination.   
Sandstone MN Business Development - business opportunities in Sandstone, MN
For matters regarding marketing and business development, please contact us by sending an e-mail to visitsandstone@gmail.com

Sandstone Visitors Board

The visitors board is made up of a couple select volunteers, dedicated to bringing out the best in Sandstone, Minnesota.  Think of us as the welcoming committee for Sandstone’s visitor and media needs.
Our work includes maintaining the

• VisitSandstoneMN.com website. 
• Assisting with event logistics and production.
• Media liaisons
• The digital and "on the ground" welcoming committee

https://VisitSandstone.com website is maintained by the Sandstone Visitors Board

Sandstone Event Promotion Committee

Looking for an awesome location for your festival or event ?? Sandstone's Event Promotion Committee can help.  We have a couple of key events in Sandstone and we're looking to add more.

• Sandstone Ice Festival  
• Kettle River Paddling Festival
• Quarry Days -
• Peter Fest
• Canoe U -graduation weekend