A S T A T E WA T E R T R A I L G U I D E T O T H E M I S S I S S I P P I
RIVER (Anoka to Fort Snelling) Ham Lake
477 116
ve
r
875 Cloquet Island
116
Crooked Lake
Ri
18
Bunker Hills Regional Park
NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. RIVER MILE
10 MI
SS
ISS
78
Rum
12 IP
121
Welfare W.M.A.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
51 Upper nSt. d Anthony Lock closed permanently June a S 10, 2015. Exit the river at an access upstream of the lock. Do not approach the lock or the adjacent dam, which is extremely dangerous. Portage information 12 is available on the DNR’s website. The locks at Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam #1 (Ford Dam) may have reduced hours of operation. Call 651-290-5936 for more information. 12
10
ek Cre
1
Champlin
870
Point Park
12
Park
78
ER
Regional
RIV
Lemans Lake
Elm
on Co
Hayden Lake
169 Coon Rapids
Schmidt W.M.A.
47
1 Creek
Coon Rapids Dam
Carry-in Access
Dam
Trailer Access
Drinking Water
Mud
65 511
10
Portage 400 yds.
11
Dunn Island
Rest Area Lake
Outfitter
Watercraft Campsite
Fishing Pier
River Mile
Regional/State Parks
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
10
610 865
Rapids
10
Laddie Lake
610 Banfill Island
1
0
2
1
2
3 Miles
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Park
NORTH
3 Kilometers
k
Rice
0
Cr ee
Lak e
47 Osseo
Brooklyn Park
65 St. Paul Water Works
Brooklyn Park
94 130
152
Sh
Fish Lake
Maple Grove
ing
Rice
Locke Lake
252
le
169
Creek
14
Fish Lake Regional Park 1. Stay clear of moving barges. They Eagle have a blind area directly in front of the barge.
130 694
Moore Lake
I
ke La
Lake
Durnam Island
Brooklyn Center
ng Lo
Fridley
BARGE TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS
Cedar Island Lake
61
Mahnomen Park
Creek
47
ek
2. Stay clear of the stern of tow boats. They may suddenly turn on a burst of power 494 a canoe. and overturn Cre
3. Turn your bow into the wake of barges and boats. Bass
860
Lake
94 Sh
ing
le
Minneapolis Water Works
Kroenig Visitor Center
Twin
156
100
Lakes
10
Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park
ANOKA CO. RAMSEY CO.
4. The sides of the navigation channel are marked with red and green buoys. Where EagleRED LakeON RIGHT RETURNING UPSTREAM. possible, stay outside the channel. Regional Park 5. When meeting a barge at a bend in the river, move to the inside of the bend where Bass possible
Columbia Heights
North Mississippi Regional Park
9 Mississ
Broadway Ave.
Island Park
Crystal Lake
ippi
169
ve hA
65
out
Plym
Boom Island
Bassett Creek
Robbinsdale
Av e al
10
th
t
St
10th
La k
100
Boom Island
Broadway Ave. Island Park
855
ny
5
Av e.
1 Golden Valley
e
er
Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls (Locks on R)
hS
94
35W
2
ee
3
See inset at left
Plymouth Ave.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
Bohemian 55 Flats
394
35W
Nicollet Island
Sw
Av e
S.
Riv
Bassett
4
3r d 7t
5. Stone arch bridge
ek Cre
Portage to next access - 1.5 miles
47
4. Retail and Restaurants
ntr
t n He
Ce
lle
e
ne
e. Av Isl an d
Lowry Ave.
153
3. Main Street Station
.
ico
N k La
55
494
pin
ne
Portage access
St. Anthony
62
ici
St
HENNEPIN CO.
1. Father Hennepin Bluffs
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h
M
4t
65
k
North Mississippi Park
2. Pillsbury “A” Mill
CAUTION: Stay along west bank
Silver Lake
42nd Ave.
9
Clifton E. French Regional Park .
94
Cr ee
New Hope
47
875.9 (L) Mississippi West Regional Park trailer access. 875.6 Cloquet Island. 873.4 (R) Donnie Galloway Riverside Park rest area. 873.3 (L) Mississippi River Community Park rest area. 871.8 Anoka-Champlin (Hwy 47) bridge. 871.6 (L) Peninsula Point Park rest area. 871.1 (R) Point Park, there is a trailer access and rest area. 869.9 Powerline crossing. 866.3 (L) Coon Rapids Regional Park trailer access. 866.3(L) Coon Rapids Dam; portage left 400 yards. George 866.0 Dunn Island. Watch 865.0 Hwy 610 bridge. Lake 864.0 Banfill Island, it belongs to the University of Minnesota and is preserved as a natural area. No camping is permitted. Marshan Lake 862.9 (R) Trailer access at River Park. 862.8 (L) St. Paul Water Works. Machinery in this large white building pumps water to Lake Charles. It then is distributed by the McCarron pumping station to St. Paul, Roseville and West St. Paul. 861.9 (L) Mahnomen Park. Confluence of Rice Creek. Rest area. Next to the park and accessible by Lexington Rice foot trail is the Locke House, an Anoka County historical site. Lake 862.2-860.7 Islands of Peace, a recreational area on the left, upstream and across the Durnam Island. It has good nature trails. Rest area and small rapids on left of the island. 860.5 Class I Rapids. 860.3 (L) Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park trailer access. Baldwin Lake 857.6-860.4 North Mississippi Park river right. 860.3 (R) North Mississippi Regional Park rest area and fishing pier. 859.0 (L) Minneapolis Water Works. Three brown brick buildings on the left bank pump, soften, chlorinate and filter the water for a half million people. On a peak day in the summer the plant will pump 170 million gallons. 858.5(R) Kroenig Visitor Center carry-in access. 855.9 (R) Confluence of Shingle Creek. 855.8 42nd Avenue bridge. 855.6 Soo Line bridge. 856.5 Lowry Avenue bridge. 855.8 Railroad bridge. 855.5 Broadway Avenue bridge. Boom Island. On the left is the historic Grain Belt Brewery building with its fanciful towers and cupola dome. The brewery has been shut down since 1976. 855.5-854.5 The St. Anthony Historic District. (see inset) The major falls was harnessed to power saw mills, grist mills and hydro-electric plants. The settlement of what is now Minneapolis Mounds began here. View 855 Plymouth Avenue bridge. 854.9(L) Boom Island trailer access. Turtle e ak 854.8 (R) Bassett Creek carry-in access. Lake tL e c n i a R s 854.7(L) Bassett Creek Recreation Area. Bassett Creek goes underground about 200 yards upstream lea from its mouth. The creek flows through a concrete culvert underneath the city forP about two miles. Island Park trailer access on left. 854.6-854.1 Nicollet Island. The channel runs to the right and beneath a railroad bridge and the Hennepin Avenue bridge. There is a channel to the left, and you go under three railroad bridges. Hennepin Avenue forks to form the First Avenue bridge and the Hennepin Avenue bridge. CAUTION: The left channelRound takes you within 50 feet of the upper falls. STAY AWAY! Sucker Sn Lake Lakedam closures, 1.5 miles. 854.4 (R) Portage access around lock and ai lL ak Exit the river 854.0 Upper St. Anthony Falls lock and dam. CLOSED JUNE 10, 2015. e Arden Hills at an access upstream of the lock. 853.7 The Stone Arch Bridge. This is the second oldest railroad bridge on the Mississippi and the only one of stone arch construction. It is a National Engineering Landmark. 853.5 Lower St. Anthony Falls lock and dam. Lock is to the right. On the left are the University New Brighton of Minnesota Hydraulic Laboratory, the Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant, and the University of Minnesota Steam Plant. 853.4 Interstate 35W bridge. 853.4 Tenth Avenue bridge. Vadnais Island Lake right. 853.1 Railroad bridge. Bohemian Flats carry-in access, river 852.6 Washington Avenue bridge. Lakes 852.5 (L) University of Minnesota flats. Shoreview 851.7 Interstate 94 bridge. Lake 851.5 Franklin Avenue bridge. Johanna Lake 851.5-850 Mississippi River sand flats on the left, aJosephine popular sunning beach run by Minneapolis. Lake 850.6 Railroad bridge. Owasso 850.5 (R) Meeker Locks remnants. Little Canada 850.0(R) Minneapolis Rowing Club, a river access for non-motorized craft. 849.9 Lake Street bridge. 847.6 Ford Parkway bridge. 847.5 Lock and Dam 1 (Ford). Lock is on right. Stay away from the dam on the left. 847.5-846.5 Minnehaha Park. You can beach at the mouth of Minnehaha Creek. 847-845.7 Hidden Falls Park. On the left there are picnic tables and a trailer access. 845.6 State Highway 5 bridge. 845.5 Old Fort Snelling sits on the bluffs to the right. You can pull out at the low point of land across from Pike Island. A trail leads up to the fort. 846.5-844 Fort Snelling State Park. You can paddle around Pike Island. Confluence with the Minnesota River on river right. 847-844.3 Crosby Park, run by St. Paul. Many trails lead through the floodplain. There is a public trailer access, rest area and drinking water river left. Fee Charged. McCarron’s 843.2 I-35E bridge. Lake 842.1 (R) Trailer access in Lilydale Park. 841.5 Railroad bridge. 840.3 Hwy 149 (High) Bridge. 840.1 (R) Harriet Island Park, carry-in access and drinking water. Re s La hana ke u
121
14
2422
Anoka
47
Elm
McKay Lake
14
PI
Anoka
Creek
Route Description of the Mississippi River
65
55
Roseville 10th Ave.
Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park
Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls (locks on R)
East River Flats
394 94
94
PROCEDURE FOR USING NAVIGATIONAL LOCKS
Minneapolis
St. Louis Park 3. Locking Through
1. Lockage Signals Signal Device (pull signal cord)
Traffic Signals
Lake of the Isles
35W
ha
neha
Min
169
Lake Calhoun
35E
55 49
Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park
94
850
Mississippi Gorge Regional Park
Lake St.
MISSISSIPPI
Lake Street
35E
46 5
149
k
4. Departing the Lock
Shady Oak Lake - Approach lock under full control YELLOW GREEN - Enter lock Glen Lake
*NO LIGHT - Lock not in use, approach guide wall and signal for lockage
Edina
NokomisHiawatha Regional Park
Lake Harriet
Upon completion of the lock filling or emptying operation, and when the gates are fully open, a signal will be given by the lock operator that it is safe to depart the lock. The signal will be either one short toot of the signal horn or a hand signal by the lock operator. Leave the lock at a slow speed assuring that you are well clear of the lock structure before gaining speed. The approaches to the locks are considered no-wake zones.
35W W
Creek
Lock and Dam #1 (lock on R)
ha
neha
Min
Minnehaha Regional Park 55
St. Paul Ford Pkwy.
L
RED - Stand clear, do not approach
er el
494
Hidden Falls Park
RI
Bryant Lake RegionalPark
62
Richfield 35W W
77
55
845 Min
International Airport
5
DAKOTA CO.
35E
5
Hidden FallsCrosby Farm Regional Park
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Harriet Island
13 Regional Parks
Lilydale Park
62 62
Harriet Island Park
. CO EY S M RA Lilydale-
Mississippi Gorge Regional Park
Lake Hiawatha
Pi ck
Hopkins
No Lake ko mi s
7 2. Traffic Signals
840
51
ee Cr
Upon receiving green light,7 proceed slowly into lock and observe mooring lines spaced along lock wall. The lines should be held by hand and not tied to the boat while in the lock chamber. Do not tie a line to a recessed ladder. Insure that passengers remain seated at all times and keep hands inside the boat to avoid the chance of crushed fingers. If construction of craft requires handling lines while on deck, a life jacket should be worn. Do not leave motor of craft running during lockage, do not climb ladders 100 of lock structure.
Como Lake
Central Mississippi Riverfront 55 Regional Park
Mooring Lines
Flow Upon approach to lock, signals are provided. Small boat operators may signal for a lockage by pulling signal cord located at midpoint on upper and lower guide walls as shown above.
Franklin Ave.
51
280
10
Como Lake Regional Park
HENNEPIN CO. RAMSEY CO.
Mississippi West Regional Park
VE
R
13 149
r nd Isla Rive Piketa
nes
o
Fort Snelling State Park fee charged
110
Mendota Heights
© 2016 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources
STATE WATER TRAIL MAP
A STATE
Mississippi River
WATER TRAIL
GUIDE TO THE
MISSISSIPPI
RIVER
(Anoka
to
Fort
Snelling)
Anoka to Fort Snelling - Map 8 of 9
The river holds a variety of secrets just waiting for you to explore. Bring your binoculars, a field guide or just your curiosity and enjoy the river’s magic.
Ket tle
Snake St
ppi
r Rive
.C
23
i ro x
St. Cloud 35
169
12
(N. F
ork)
94
River
Crow
St. Paul
12 71
nn
eso
This stretch of the Mississippi River is “young.” A series of seas covered the region until 400 million years ago, when the Ordovician Sea retreated from this area. Each of these seas left behind the deposits that now form the sedimentary layers of limestone, sandstone and shale through which the river has cut. These layers are clearly exposed in the river gorge from St. Anthony Falls to Fort Snelling.
ta
on
Mi
Minneapolis
W I S C O N S I N
Ca
nn
61
er
52
Straight
Riv
169
35 90
90
The river is silty and, in places, contaminated with sewage and industrial chemicals. Unless it is extensively treated, the water is undrinkable. According to the most recent Minnesota Department of Health Advisory, children under 6 and women of childbearing years should eat no fish, except panfish from above St. Anthony Falls. Below St. Anthony Falls, no fish species should be eaten by the above group. Others may eat one meal a month.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
This information is available in alternative format upon request.
Minnesota State Parks and Trails Regional Unit 1200 Warner Road St. Paul, MN 55106 651-259-5841
DNR Information Center
The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota.
The DNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 651-296-6157 Metro Area 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free
mndnr.gov
All photos: MN DNR Cover Photo: Marshall Terrace Park view of Lowry Avenue © 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Some paddling skills are required to avoid snags, sweepers and boulders. The rapids are all Class I or riffles. Motorboats and barges often throw large wakes that can swamp unsuspecting canoeists. These wakes should not be taken broadside. Because the river is so wide, the current can be deceptively swift. Use caution in approaching shore.
Planning A Safe River Trip
Paddlers should watch for dams and know which side portage or lock through. Stay close to shore as you prepare to get out or enter a lock. Do not cross the river directly above dams. The construction of Fort Snelling began in 1819, and soon white men displaced the Dakota and Ojibway Indians. European technology quickly harnessed St. Anthony Falls for milling textiles and flour. Steamboats brought goods, settlers and tourists to the blossoming towns of St. Anthony Falls and Pig’s Eye, which later became parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Fishing Popular game fish in this stretch are smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleyes, saugers, northern pike, muskies and panfish. The DNR is not stocking the river. All of the species currently present are maintained by natural reproduction. Reproduction and survival of smallmouth bass is especially good during
• Register your watercraft. All watercraft more than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized canoes and kayaks, must be registered in Minnesota or your state of residence. •
•
• • •
Wildlife All along this route it is possible to spot species of wildlife that are able to coexist with man. Mallards, coots, muskrats, beavers and several species of turtles often are sighted. Along the shore you may see racoons, deer, or fox; you certainly will see their tracks. During spring and fall migrations many species of birds follow the river, including bald eagles, ospreys, warblers and kinglets.
Boating B I Information
A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe journey, you should be prepared by doing the following:
• ENTRANCE AT FORT SNELLING
Online water trail information and maps can be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails
As the vast forests of white and red pine were cut along the upper reaches of the Mississippi and its tributaries, rafts of logs arrived at local mills. In the 1900s the river again changed as man built locks and dams for barges. This stretch of the river has two locks at St. Anthony Falls and one at the Ford Dam above Fort Snelling. Navigating these locks can be an exciting experience for canoeists and small-boat operators. It can also be dangerous. Use caution.
The river holds a variety of secrets just waiting for you to explore. Bring your binoculars, a field guide or just your curiosity and enjoy the river’s magic.
• • • •
Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip with a map before you depart and advise someone of your plans including planned departure and arrival times. Travel with a companion or group. Choose a distance that is comfortable for you, most people paddle two to three river miles per hour. Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device that state law requires be on board the boat for each person. Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof matches. Bring an extra paddle in your canoe. Be cautious of river obstructions, such as overhanging and dead trees in the river. You must pack out all trash. Leave only footprints; take only photographs!
STONE ARCH BRIDGE, IN MINNEAPOLIS
Rum
i siss Mis
94
IN BROOKLYN CENTER
The beginning of this stretch of the Mississippi is bounded by rolling, sparsely wooded farmland, though houses, other buildings and bridges become more numerous as the river approaches downtown Minneapolis. Nonetheless, many of the city’s buildings are set high on bluffs so that a strip of natural land survives along the river.
MINNEAPOLIS WATER WORKS
23
71
regional DNR office, or check the DNR website, or the DNR Information Center. Remember that much of the shorelands are privately owned. Respect and protect the water and shorelands.
years of low spring flows in the river, which happens 3 to 4 years out of 10. The smallmouth bass in the Mississippi River grow to 12 inches by age four and 17 inches by age seven. Regulations allow anglers who are fishing smallmouth bass between the St. Cloud Dam and the confluence of the Crow River to possess three fish. The limit can only include fish under 12 inches, except that one fish over 20 inches may be taken.
•
• •
Camp only in designated campsites, which are available on a first-come, first-serve basis Bring drinking water. It is only available at a limited number of rest areas. Drinking river water is not recommended, but if you do it must be treated. Respect private property. Stop only at designated sites; much of the shoreland is private property Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or bury human waste away from the river.
Canoeing on Large Rivers The wide variety of waters can provide an equally wide variety of hazards to canoeists. Although the Mississippi is often very placid, the current can be quick and powerful when the river is near or at flood stage. But most dangers can be anticipated and avoided. Start your trip with the proper safety equipment. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices (PFD) should be worn at all times. The wind can often be deceiving. The bluffs often "tunnel" the wind, increasing its velocity. Waves on open stretches can easily fill or flip an open canoe. Hypothermia, a rapid loss of body heat, has killed many people who have swamped or tipped. Swimming soon becomes impossible in freezing water. Wear a PFD and stay close to shore if there is a possibility that your craft will swamp. Don't overload your canoe. Snag-ridden waters often are trickier to negotiate than whitewater. Underwater obstacles can easily tip a canoe. Watch carefully.
Sustainable Ecosystems Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy and attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the outdoors without negative impacts on the environment. Communities working together can improve water resources by promoting environmentally sensitive land use practices along rivers and throughout watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant communities are attractive and provide important shoreline habitat for birds and wildlife
Natural Shorelands 40% evaporation 10% runoff
50% infiltration
Altered Shorelands 30% evaporation 55% runoff 15% infiltration
Rest Areas and Camping Sites •
Water levels can speed or slow you down. You can get information about water levels from the
Not all portions of this water trail are suitable for motor use.
•
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BOTTOMS, BELOW ST. THOMAS
The Mississippi River Mille Lacs Lake
Public rest areas are available along the route to rest, picnic and explore.
