• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

    Mississippi

    National River & Recreation Area Minnesota

Things to Do in an Afternoon

Healthy River Healthy You
Take a podcast walking tour of your National Park along 4 miles of the Mississippi River in Downtown Saint Paul. The tour helps take steps towards building a healthier lifestyle and river by offering health and environment tips and fun river facts and history while you walk alongside the Mississippi River.
more...

Explore the Minneapolis Riverfront
Whether it’s exploring the remnants of abandoned flour mills, walking the Stone Arch Bridge, enjoying the decks and patios at St. Anthony Main, visiting the Mill City Museum or strolling through the area's many parks, the Minneapolis riverfront provides a wide range of experiences.
more...

Stroll Around Minnehaha Park
Located at the intersection of Hiawatha Ave. and Minnehaha Parkway, Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks. Home to the 53-foot Minnehaha Falls and the Minnehaha Creek, the park offers a river experience unlike any other. Minnehaha Park also provides visitors with numerous trails, scenic overlooks, eateries and park accommodations for all types of gatherings.
more...

Hop on a Riverboat
Take a riverboat ride on the Mississippi River and experience its unparalleled beauty. Spot bald eagles, herons, egrets, falcons and other wildlife as you travel back in time from St. Paul’s bustling downtown harbor through the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
more...

Step Back in Time at Historic Fort Snelling
A former military outpost, Fort Snelling now offers historic reenactments tours and other programs showcasing the rich history of the fort. Take part in the fort’s everday life as it was back in the 1820’s. Shoulder a musket, mend clothes, smell the stew, scrape a hide or sing along with the soldiers.
more...

Tour Mounds Park
Situated atop Dayton's Bluff, east of downtown St. Paul, Mounds Park is a burial site for at least two American Indian cultures and is upstream from where the first historic Kaposia village site was located.The park has paved trails that traverse the bluffs. There is an outstanding view of the Mississippi River and of the St. Paul and Minneapolis skylines. Picnic tables and a large pavilion are also available.
more...

Did You Know?

Headwaters of the Mississippi

The Mississippi River is approximately three feet deep at its headwaters at Lake Itasca and has an average surface speed of 1.2 miles per hour.