Explore the Mississippi River with a National Park Ranger this summer during a variety of free guided walks. This summer, park rangers will lead guided walks at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, Meeker Lock and Dam, Lilydale Regional Park, and along the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul every Sunday from mid-June through the end of August.
All walks leave their starting location at 1:00 p.m. and end an hour later. Please be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions. Bring sunblock, water, hats, comfortable walking shoes and other gear as needed. No reservations are required.
For more information, please call our visitor center at 651-293-0200.
2010 Dates & Locations
Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
June 13th, July 11th, and August 8th
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This 29 acre park is being restored to its native plant communities and the wildlife is returning. During the walk, rangers will interpret the natural and cultural history of the old rail yard turned nature sanctuary.
Downtown Saint Paul
June 20th, July 18th, and August 15th
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Meet at the Mississippi River Visitor Center in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Your guide will lead you on a fascinating walk through the history of the Mississippi River.
Meeker Lock and Dam
June 27th, July 25th, and August 22nd
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The Meeker Lock and Dam helped shape the national discussion on who owns and gets to use rivers during a voltile time in our history. Explore the area and visit the ruins of this dam whose useful life spanned only five years before emerging technology and a changing vision for the river led to its flooding and partial demolition.
Lilydale Regional Park
July 4th, August 1st and 29th
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Meet at the Brickyard parking lot. Lilydale Regional Park is a wonderful place to experience all the nature the Mississippi has to offer. Forests, a backwater lake, bald eagles and ancient fossils are all found here. Learn too about devastating urban fires that led to demands for fire-resistant brick construction and how this area's natural resources made this area an important location in the Twin Cities' history.
If you would like to explore the river on your own, check out our self-guided walking tour pamphlet and the Healthy River Healthy You podcast. The self-guided walking tour pamphlet is available at the Mississippi River Visitor Center and starts there. The Healthy River Healthy You podcast can be downloaded from our website or you can check out an iPod that is preloaded with the guided walk at the visitor center.
