• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

    Mississippi

    National River & Recreation Area Minnesota

East Coon Rapids Dam

Anoka County Parks
9750 Egret Boulevard Coon Rapids, MN

 
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Water spills over the Coon Rapids dam beneath a blue sky and tree-lined shorelines.

Overview
The Coon Rapids dam was built in 1913 by the Northern Mississippi Power Company. It took 1,000 men just a little over 1 year to complete the entire dam system. During construction, a small town grew up on the Anoka County side of the river, complete with barracks, hospitals, fire stations and even dance halls.

Activities: Some of the best bird watching in the metro area can be found in this park. An extensive trail system offers skiing/snowshoeing, bicycle riding, and walking. There are ten kilometers of relatively level ski trails. Cross-country skis and snowshoe rentals are available at the visitor center; call for fee information.

There are also very good shore fishing locations here on the Mississippi River. Fishing from shore below the dam yields fish of several different species and is a very popular fishing spot. Cenaiko Lake holds fish of several species, including trout. A fishing license is required of those 16 years of age and older. A trout stamp is also needed when fishing Cenaiko Lake.

Hours: Please call for more information.

Contact Information: Call the East Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center at 763-757-4700.

 
 
Related Activities: Biking, Birds & Wildlife, Fishing & Hunting, Geocaching, Winter Recreation, Hiking & Walks, NPS Passport Program, Boating & Canoeing, Picnicking, and Visitor Center.
 

Sites Nearby: West Coon Rapids Regional Park

 
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Places to Go

Did You Know?

Lock and Dam Number 1 from a long distance.

At Lake Itasca, the elevation of the Mississippi River is 1,475 feet above sea level. It drops to sea level at the Gulf of Mexico. More than half of that drop occurs within the state of Minnesota.