Parks / Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area · MN
In the middle of a bustling urban setting, this 72 mile river park offers quiet stretches for fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking. And there are plenty of visitor centers and trails that highlight the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river.
Official NPS page →Entrance Fees
This park is fee-free.
Upcoming Events
Paddle with a Ranger: Heron Rookery
Sep 2, 2026 · Start: Carl Kroening Nature Center @ North Mississippi Regional Park, 4900 N Mississippi Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55430 End: Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Discovery Table
Sep 2, 2026 · Mississippi River Visitor Center, 120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102
Paddle with a Ranger: Paddle 101
Sep 3, 2026 · Pickerel Lake (Lilydale Regional Park), 1800 Lilydale Rd, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 near the Lilydale Regional Park Picnic Shelter
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 3, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Paddle with a Ranger: Paddle 101
Sep 4, 2026 · Pickerel Lake (Lilydale Regional Park), 1800 Lilydale Rd, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 near the Lilydale Regional Park Picnic Shelter
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 4, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Paddle with a Ranger: Vermillion River Bottoms
Sep 5, 2026 · Vermillion River North Public Water Access, approx. 17208 Ravenna Trail, Hastings, MN 55033, 44°42'12.9"N 92°45'43.8"W, 44.703595, -92.762165
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 5, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Discovery Table
Sep 5, 2026 · Mississippi River Visitor Center, 120 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102
Paddle with a Ranger: Vermillion River Bottoms
Sep 6, 2026 · Vermillion River North Public Water Access, approx. 17208 Ravenna Trail, Hastings, MN 55033, 44°42'12.9"N 92°45'43.8"W, 44.703595, -92.762165
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 6, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Ramsey Farmers Market
Sep 8, 2026 · The Draw, 7401 E Ramsey Pkwy, Ramsey, MN 55303
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 9, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Paddle with a Ranger: Paddle 101
Sep 9, 2026 · Pickerel Lake (Lilydale Regional Park), 1800 Lilydale Rd, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 near the Lilydale Regional Park Picnic Shelter
Paddle with a Ranger: Paddle 101
Sep 10, 2026 · Pickerel Lake (Lilydale Regional Park), 1800 Lilydale Rd, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 near the Lilydale Regional Park Picnic Shelter
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 11, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Minneapolis Monarch Festival
Sep 12, 2026 · Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Guided Riverfront Walk
Sep 13, 2026 · Stone Arch Bridge, Meet at the bandstand in Father Hennepin Bluff Park northwest of the public restrooms (approximate cross-streets are SE Main St and 6th Ave SE), 44.981849, -93.250990
Paddle with a Ranger: Paddle 101
Sep 13, 2026 · Pickerel Lake (Lilydale Regional Park), 1800 Lilydale Rd, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 near the Lilydale Regional Park Picnic Shelter
Paddle with a Ranger and the City of Cottage Grove
Sep 18, 2026 · Hazen P. Mooers Park, 10865 Grey Cloud Trail S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Things to Do
Earn a Junior Ranger Badge
Becoming a Junior Ranger means learning more about the history, resources, and communities within the 72 mile stretch of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Junior Rangers help our park rangers by learning about the park and sharing what they’ve learned with others, exploring the park, and by helping to protect its resources.
Enjoy a Coffee with a Ranger!
Start every Friday right with Coffee With a Ranger! Each week brings a different subject, and park ranger, exploring the wonderful world of birds, beers, mushrooms, geology and more within the park!
Go on a Day Hike at Coldwater Spring
Enjoy a nice day hike and many opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, and reflection at Coldwater Spring! Trails surround a restored prairie oak savannah and wetlands in this culturally and historically significant gem that is open year-round.
Kayak in the park with Paddle Share
Paddle the park with Paddle Share, self-serve kayak sharing system in the Twin Cities metro area that lets you rent a boat and paddle to a destination downriver!
Visit the Mississippi River Visitor Center
The Mississippi River Visitor Center provides fun activities for people of all ages as well as highlighting the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river!
Visitor Centers
- Mississippi River Visitor Center
Source: National Park Service.