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.

The park often uses big, safe Voyageur canoes in our programs.

Voyageur Canoes

Vibrant fall colors shown along the river in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Fall Colors

The Spring House at Coldwater Spring provided water to Historic Fort Snelling and the Upper Post.

Water Source for a Fort

Canoeists find a wide variety of wildlife in the backwaters of the Mississippi River.

Canoeing Past Gulls

Our park rangers often use boats, bikes, and hikes to help visitors understand the historical and cultural significance of our park.

Boating on the Mississippi River

Storm clouds begin gathering over Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area

Storms over Grey Cloud Dunes

Visitors can glimpse the past in the Coldwater Spring savanna restoration.

Savanna at Coldwater Spring

Wildlife is a common sight along the river.

Great Egret Fishes the Mississippi River

Lotus beds bloom in the backwaters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and provide canoeists an unexpected visual treat.

Canoeing through Lotus Blossoms

The upper stretch of the Mississippi River in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is often referred to as the "Prairie River" due to its gentle banks. Further downstream is the Mississippi River gorge and below that is the floodplain river

Clouds Over the Mississippi River

Blue herons are a common sight on the Mississippi River and its backwaters.

Building a Nest

A Voyageur canoe makes headway up a river while surrounded by autumnal color.

Modern day Voyageurs Paddle the Mississippi River

The Vermillion River Bottoms are a tangle of waterways where the river meets the Mississippi River.

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Mississippi River - Pool 1

Mississippi River - St. Anthony Falls Pool

Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Mississippi River - Pool 2