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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaCraggy branches of an old oak tree surrounded by green leaves.
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Vento View Overlook
From high on a bluff, one can see views of the Mississippi River and wooded shorelines.

History
Bruce Vento held Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives for over 23 years before his death from lung cancer in 2000. The Vento View Overlook and the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary commemorate his dedication to the environment.

General Information
The overlook is located in Cherokee Park on a forested bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. There is a rather informal but relatively flat trail that leads to the overlook. For the more adventurous a hiking trail leads steeply downhill from the overlook into the Lilydale Regional Park. This trail skirts along the edges of several mine pits and past the ruins of a brick kiln once used by the Twin City Brick Company (an area known as The Brickyards).

Activities: Hiking; views of the Mississippi River valley, Pickerel Lake, and surrounding area, birdwatching.

Hours: Sunrise to 11:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

Location: The trail to the Overlook starts near the intersection of Sibley Memorial Highway, Cherokee Heights Boulevard, and Annapolis Street West in St. Paul. Google Maps.

Contact Information: Call Saint Paul Parks and Recreation at (651) 632-5111.

Headwaters of the Mississippi  

Did You Know?
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.

Last Updated: September 23, 2008 at 13:01 EST