Fort Snelling State Park

Situated near Historic Fort Snelling, the park is also adjacent to the Twin Cities International Airport and ranks as one of Minnesota's top 10 tourist attractions, with an average of over 400,000 annual visitors.

• Fort Snelling State Park is located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The Dakota called this place Ha-Ha Mdo-Te which translates to "junction of two rivers" and from which the town of Mendota got its name. This is a state park that has 18 miles of hiking trails, 5 miles of biking trails, snowshoe and canoe rentals, picnicking, fishing, boating, and swimming. Fishing licenses are not required for Minnesota residents fishing on Snelling Lake or from the shores of either the Minnesota or Mississippi Rivers. Non-resident park users need to purchase a license to fish at any site in the park. In the winter months, this park offers 12 miles of groomed ski trails, six miles of trails packed for multiple use, and ice fishing is allowed. Heated trail shelters are available at Picnic Shelter A and the park visitor center.

Hidden Falls Regional Park

This beautiful park is set just below Lock and Dam 1 (Ford Dam). The landscape ranges from manicured park to wilder slopes and forest. It's a great place for birding, fishing, picnicking, walking, and bicycling. Hidden Falls itself is a small waterfall off the beaten path. It may be dry in periods when we have little precipitation.

• This park is nestled below the limestone bluffs of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, MN. It offers opportunities for fishing, hiking, and biking.

Indian Mounds Regional Park

Sitting on top of a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown Saint Paul, Indian Mounds Regional Park is a sacred place of burial that has deep significance to the to living Indigenous Peoples as a cemetery where their ancestors are buried.

Minnehaha Falls Regional Park

This park takes its name after the beautiful stream and its spectacular falls that plunges 53 feet into a gorge before running out to the Mississippi River. Trails lead in all directions, including down the gorge to favorite river shorelines.

• The New England poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, gave this Minneapolis waterfall national fame in the Song of Hiawatha, although he never saw the 53-foot falls he wrote of in 1853. As you descend into the gorge below the falls via a staircase to get a great view of the waterfall from below. Park benches in the upper reaches of the gorge provide a cool and shady spot to watch the falls on hot summer days. For the more adventurous, take the trail down the gorge past lovely pools and photogenic stone bridges to a sandy beach at the confluence of Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River. This beach is a favorite of both the sun-loving and anglers that pursue their quarry in the Mississippi River. Picnicking is also a favorite past-time in the area above the gorge with numerous tables, grills, and pavilions available for renting for gatherings. (Call 612-230-6400 with questions.) The park has many other amenities including a wading pool for kids and a disc golf course.

Mississippi Gateway Regional Park

Spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife viewing, and more than two miles of trails define this unique park where there are many opportunities to see our nation's greatest river up close.

Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring)

Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring) is a sacred area for the Dakota and other Tribes. Mni Owe Sni’s primary feature is the spring which begins in the upland area of the site and flows down to the confluence with the Mississippi River. The lands of the Mni Owe Sni area are managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Tribes.

• A natural spring surrounded by a historic springhouse used by members of the Dakota Tribes, as well as soldiers that were stationed at Fort Snelling along the Mississippi River.

Mississippi River Visitor Center

• Mississippi River Visitor Center
• Located in downtown St. Paul, in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Mississippi River Visitor Center serves as a gateway to adventure along the mighty Mississippi. Find interactive exhibits and get advice from park rangers as to things to do and places to go. Admission is free.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!

• 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!