Agnostik
National River & Recreation Area · MN

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

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.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

Large canoes and crews paddle down the river amidst autumnal color.
The park often uses big, safe Voyageur canoes in our programs.
Gray clouds over flowers growing on sand dunes.
Storm clouds begin gathering over Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
A large canoe filled with paddlers on the river surrounded by autumnal color.
A Voyageur canoe makes headway up a river while surrounded by autumnal color.
A large, long-necked, long-legged bird wades in the river.
Wildlife is a common sight along the river.
Large trees are widely spaced in a grassland.
Visitors can glimpse the past in the Coldwater Spring savanna restoration.
A canoeist paddles through a water channel between islands.
The Vermillion River Bottoms are a tangle of waterways where the river meets the Mississippi River.
A canoeist reaches out and holds a large, yellow flower.
Lotus beds bloom in the backwaters of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and provide canoeists an unexpected visual treat.
Water tumbles down layers of rock with an old stone spring house in the background.
The Spring House at Coldwater Spring provided water to Historic Fort Snelling and the Upper Post.
A large, long-necked, long-legged bird flies overhead carrying a branch.
Blue herons are a common sight on the Mississippi River and its backwaters.
Gulls stand on a floating log while a canoe passes in the background.
Canoeists find a wide variety of wildlife in the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
Trees showing fall colors on their leaves along the river.
Vibrant fall colors shown along the river in St. Paul, Minnesota.
White clouds streak the blue sky over a river flanked by sandy shorelines and green trees.
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

Activities

  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Compass and GPS
  • Geocaching
  • Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Living History
  • Reenactments
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • First Person Interpretation
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snow Play
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Museum Exhibits