Join us in the floodplain forest to learn about trees and how they impact community health! Mississippi Park Connection will be giving FREE hour-long guided tours at Crosby Farm Regional Park.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Half the park is after dark! Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Mississippi Park Connection invite you to explore Crosby Farm Regional Park at night. The NPS and partners are hosting activities that engage the natural world through science and culture. Tap in to your nocturnal side to discover the magic in a floodplain forest and along the Mississippi River.

Experience the Mississippi River on a ranger-led riverboat cruise departing from Watergate Marina in Saint Paul. Guided by a National Park Service ranger, this program highlights the natural, cultural, and historical stories that have shaped the iconic Mississippi River. Because each ranger brings their own background and interpretive approach, the themes and stories shared will vary, offering a unique experience on each cruise.

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided canoe and kayak paddle from Hazen P. Mooers Park along the scenic Grey Cloud Channel to Settlers Island. As we explore this quiet stretch of the Mississippi River, we’ll discover the area’s rich cultural heritage and remarkable natural history. Learn about the river’s role in Indigenous lifeways, early settlement, navigation, and conservation while enjoying diverse wildlife, forested shorelines, and peaceful backwaters. This relaxed paddle offers a unique opportunity to experience the stories and landscapes that have shaped one of the Mississippi’s hidden gems.

This event has been canceled.

Join us in the floodplain forest to learn about trees and how they impact community health! Mississippi Park Connection will be giving FREE hour-long guided tours at Crosby Farm Regional Park.

Third Space Thursday is a community gathering in the park to share food, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the river. Join us for roller skating, art, and other outdoor activities while learning about Mississippi Park Connection programs and the importance of preserving river access.

Join Mississippi Park Connection and national park partners from across Minnesota for a special screening of Out There: A National Parks Story, a feature-length documentary exploring the people who love, protect, and find connection in America’s national parks.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Explore a unique portion of this national park that’s reminiscent of a Louisiana bayou, with a National Park Service ranger as your guide.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Kayak down the Mississippi River with a National Park Service ranger as your guide! Enjoy your urban national park and America's greatest river from a new perspective. Participants start their four-mile paddle from the Carl W. Kroening Nature Center (North Mississippi Regional Park). Along the route, you’ll view the site of the future Upper Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Project and see great blue herons nesting on their island rookery before landing at Graco Park. Nesting birds at the rookery typically leave around late July.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Explore a unique portion of this national park that’s reminiscent of a Louisiana bayou, with a National Park Service ranger as your guide.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Get ready for wild discoveries at Reading with a Ranger! Join a real National Park Service ranger for a storytime where animals, rivers, and big park adventures leap off the page. Kids can dive into our Discovery Table—a hands‑on activity station packed with fun props and curious objects that invite young explorers to touch, wonder, and learn.

Discover the place where the story of Minneapolis begins. Dakota people call the Mississippi River “Haha Wakpa,” the river of the falls, and refer to St. Anthony Falls as Owámniyomni. This guided walking tour explores the cultural, historical, and natural significance of the only true waterfall along the 2,350‑mile Mississippi River. You’ll visit key archaeological and historic sites and enjoy expansive views of the falls from the Stone Arch Bridge.

Join a National Park Service ranger for a guided canoe and kayak paddle from Hazen P. Mooers Park along the scenic Grey Cloud Channel to Settlers Island. As we explore this quiet stretch of the Mississippi River, we’ll discover the area’s rich cultural heritage and remarkable natural history. Learn about the river’s role in Indigenous lifeways, early settlement, navigation, and conservation while enjoying diverse wildlife, forested shorelines, and peaceful backwaters. This relaxed paddle offers a unique opportunity to experience the stories and landscapes that have shaped one of the Mississippi’s hidden gems.

Pickerel Lake offers an ideal environment for beginners learning paddling skills and for returning paddlers sharpening their techniques. A National Park Service ranger will guide you across this calm lake surrounded by floodplain forest and scenic bluffs. Bald eagles, river otters, and abundant mid‑summer lily pads are commonly seen.