Mississippi National River & Recreation Area • Minnesota

Large canoes and crews paddle down the river amidst autumnal color.

Gray clouds over flowers growing on sand dunes.

A large canoe filled with paddlers on the river surrounded by autumnal color.

A large, long-necked, long-legged bird wades in the river.

Large trees are widely spaced in a grassland.

A canoeist paddles through a water channel between islands.

A canoeist reaches out and holds a large, yellow flower.

Water tumbles down layers of rock with an old stone spring house in the background.

A large, long-necked, long-legged bird flies overhead carrying a branch.

Gulls stand on a floating log while a canoe passes in the background.

Trees showing fall colors on their leaves along the river.

White clouds streak the blue sky over a river flanked by sandy shorelines and green trees.

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.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Storm clouds begin gathering over Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

A Voyageur canoe makes headway up a river while surrounded by autumnal color.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Wildlife is a common sight along the river.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Visitors can glimpse the past in the Coldwater Spring savanna restoration.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

The Vermillion River Bottoms are a tangle of waterways where the river meets the Mississippi River.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

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

The Spring House at Coldwater Spring provided water to Historic Fort Snelling and the Upper Post.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Blue herons are a common sight on the Mississippi River and its backwaters.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Canoeists find a wide variety of wildlife in the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Vibrant fall colors shown along the river in St. Paul, Minnesota.
NPS/Kyle Just

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
NPS photo/Gordon Dietzman

Group of kayakers paddle under Lowry Avenue Bridge.

Summer is a great time to go fishing, hiking, paddling, or biking along the Mississippi River.

People working with indoor exhibits.

Basic Information

Information about operating hours, weather, fees and pass, and visitor centers can be found here.

The limestone bluffs by Grey Cloud Island

Find places to go and interesting things to do along the Mississippi River.

A bridge made from stone.

History and Culture

Explore the history and culture of the park.

Two paddlers on the Mississippi River

Paddle the National Water Trail

Paddle Minnesota's longest and first National Water Trail.

A bald eagle flies past leafless trees.

Nature is all around us. Learn more about otters, fish, mussels, eagles and the many plants that inhabit this park.

Last updated: June 23, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

111 E. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 105
Saint Paul, MN 55101

Phone:

651-293-0200
This is the general phone line at the Mississippi River Visitor Center.

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