Great River Passage is kicking off summer with a calendar of over 300 activities happening at the river now until Labor Day. Featuring the unique offerings of 37 local organizations and businesses there is something for everyone along the Saint Paul stretch of the Mississippi. View the Calendar 

Highlights:

• Bdote Field Trip: Dakota in the Twin Cities, with Minnesota Humanities Center
  
• Daily Eats, with Red River Kitchen at City House
• Daily Sightseeing Cruises, with Padleford Packet Company
• Family Fun Mississippi River Paddle, with Wilderness Inquiry
• Fitness in the Parks, with Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
• Hidden Falls Summer Camp, with YMCA and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
• Restoration and Conservation Volunteer Events, with Friends of the Mississippi
• Take Aim at Summer Fun, with MN Department of Natural Resources
• Wakan Tipi Center Events, with Lower Phalen Creek Project

Check back! We will add new events throughout the season.

In addition to events there are 17 parks, 6 major trails, 5 historic and preserve sites, 2, dog parks, 4 lakes, 17 miles of river, and 3+ months of summer to experience the river in your own way. Explore and make it your own!

Goats. They’re Baaack! On April 25th we welcomed the goats back to Saint Paul. The herd from Goat Dispatch started their work munching invasive plants at Crosby Park. They will split their time between Crosby and Indian Mounds Park throughout the 2018 Season. Track their whereabouts.

Paddle Share Season Begins May 26th. Mississippi River Paddle Share is a self-service kayak rental program ideal for people with some kayaking experience looking to enjoy the river. This is a one of a kind partnership between National Park Service and metro area cities. Come out and experience your National Park! Saint Paul offers a 6.3 mile paddle from Hidden Falls to Harriet Island Regional Park. New in 2018 we will host Paddle Share at Pickerel Lake in Lilydale Regional Park for those who are looking for a riverside lake experience. The Pickerel Lake Station will also feature adaptive kayaks and gear by Creating Ability. The Pickerel station will launch mid-summer. Check back for updates.

Family Camping at the River Great River Passage, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation in partnership with Wilderness Inquiry offer camping at the river each month. Saint Paul families new to camping are invited to register for this free event. You will learn to set up a tent and cook over an open fire; participate in river related activities, hikes, art making, socializing and S'mores around the campfire. All camping gear and food is included for this free event! A few spaces are still available or sign up for the waitlist. We will accommodate as many families as we can. Register here by searching “family camping” and selecting your preferred dates.  See You At The River!

About Great River Passage

In 2013 the City of Saint Paul developed the Great River Passage Plan, a comprehensive framework for creating vibrancy in the city’s 3,500 acres of parkland along the river. The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department is now implementing the next phase of the Great River Passage – a bold, strategic vision to steward and tap into the potential of the 26 miles of riverfront in Saint Paul. By implementing the plan, the city will create places and activities that strengthen existing connections and create new ones along the Mississippi. Learn more at GreatRiverPassage.org.