mississippi | MN | Find park

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

Physical Address:

Park Headquarters

111 E. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 105

Saint Paul, MN 55101

Mailing Address:

111 E. Kellogg Blvd., Suite 105

Saint Paul, MN 55101

contact-details

Phone Number: 651-293-0200 Voice

Email Address: miss_info@nps.gov
Description: This is the e-mail address for all Park-related questions. This account is checked daily with responses sent out within two days.

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

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.

park designation:National River & Recreation Area

Directions:

Limited metered street parking is available on nearby streets near park headquarters. Several parking ramps are available nearby including the Kellogg Square parking ramp. Visitor Centers are located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 Kellogg Blvd East, St. Paul, MN) and at the Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam (1 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, MN).

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

We are a partnership park that overlaps many parks (regional, city, state), other public lands, museums, and historical sites. Check with the specific park site you plan on visiting for their hours. See http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm for more information. The National Park Service does not control the visiting hours for the partner sites. Coldwater Spring (NPS) is open from 6:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m., 365 days a year.

Coldwater Spring (NPS)

Coldwater Spring is open from 6 am to 10 pm daily, 365 days per year.

Weather Information:

Minnesota has a continental climate characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Spring brings moderate temperatures and low humidity. Summer days may reach temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C), but are usually pleasant with temperatures in the low to mid-80°F (25-30°C). Autumn brings dry, warm days, cool nights and gorgeous fall colors. Winter daytime highs are around 25°F (-3°C). Rarely, winter daytime high temperatures may not get above -10°F (-23°C), sometimes with strong winds.