Boom Island Park
This 25-acre riverfront park was once a holding place for logs on their
way to the sawmill. The park was named after the Mississippi and Rum
River Boom Company, which operated floating booms during the sawmill
days. Facilities
include a playground, picnic areas, a boat launch and dock, walking/biking
paths and the Minneapolis Queen excursion boat landing. Read more
Father Hennepin Bluff Park
An 18-acre park located along the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail. Visitors
will
find
a breathtaking view of the river, St. Anthony Falls and the downtown skyline.
Amenities include trail and picnic facilities with direct access to the Mississippi
River. Read
more
First Bridge Park
Site of the first permanent bridge to span the Mississippi. This interpretive
area focuses on the structural aspects of historic bridge construction
and showcases excavated footings of the 1855 and 1876 Hennepin Avenue
bridges. Read more Grand Rounds Scenic Byway
A continuous course of paved pathways encompassing more than 50 miles of parks,
parkways, bike paths and pedestrian paths that circle the city. Read
more
Great River Birding Trail
A system of accessible bird observation sites that follow the Mississippi River
along the Great River Road. Read
more
Great River Road
Described as America's most scenic drive. Stretches along the Mississippi River
from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. Amenities include historical
markers, jogging trails, biking paths and picnic areas. Read
more
Main Street
Once the main street for the historic Village of St. Anthony, this
cobblestone road was restored in 1976. It was once part of the Red
River oxcart trail.
Today it is home to many restored historic buildings. Mill Ruins Park
The centerpiece of the historic West Side Milling District, this "crown
jewel" of the Minneapolis riverfront is a unique area of 19th
century mill foundation walls, canals, tailraces and other historic
resources. Read
more
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The recreation area consists of 72 miles of riverfront in the Twin Cities, including
Minneapolis Riverfront District. In 1988 Congress added the Mississippi National
River and Recreational
Area to the National Park System. Read
more Nicollet IslandPark
Named after the mapmaker Joseph Nicollet, the island features the Nicollet
Island Pavilion (built in 1893 as the William Bros. Boiler Works),
a picnic area, restrooms and drinking fountain. The island's upper
end is a 19th
century residential district with many architectural styles dating
from the 1860s to the 1890s. Read more Gold MedalPark
Gold Medal Park sits along West River Parkway next to the new Guthrie Theater in the rapidly growing Mill District. The 7.5-acre park includes a 32-foot-high viewing mound that provides great views of the Mississippi River. The new park was created through a first-of-its-kind partnership between Minneapolis and the McGuire Park Foundation.. Read more
