ST. PAUL — Paddling enthusiasts are trying to get a huge number of canoes and kayaks onto the Minnesota River Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day.

Alex Watson, a regional naturalist for the Department of Natural Resources, said the goal is to get people to paddle every navigable mile of the Minnesota River. Since it runs 318 miles from Minnesota’s western border to its confluence with the Mississippi River at Fort Snelling, they need as many paddlers as they can get.

The DNR said participants can paddle a river section on their own that day or join one of the organized paddles that will take place all along the river, from the headwaters at Big Stone Lake State Park in Ortonville to Fort Snelling State Park.

Information is available on the DNR website.