The Mississippi River National Park

My new summer gig!

Did anyone know there is a National Park dedicated to the Mississippi River? I didn’t until a few years ago. More surprising, is that this little-known park is hidden in plain sight, right in the middle of the largest metro area in Minnesota!

This is a short update to share that this summer, I am working for this park and sharing the wonder and majesty of the Mississippi River with local youth and adult visitors every day! Even better still, I am out on the water most days, working in either on a canoe or a paddleboat, delivering presentations and Ranger Talks on America’s River.

MNRRA

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area—that’s the official title of the place I work. Most staff here just call it the Mississippi River National Park, which is more understandable to visitors, and just easier to say.

The reason the park is so little known is—simply put—it’s a weird park. The Park Service owns hardly any of the land itself, rather it’s made up of a patchwork of city and county parks along the Mississippi, totaling 72 miles of shoreline. So it gets confusing fast.

The park covers 72 miles of the Mississippi River as it passes through Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN,

I work on the education team in the park. I run field trips for students during the spring and fall, and during the summer I am often in a canoe, giving Ranger Talks to youth groups and adults. It’s a fun gig, and I love sharing my passion for the Mississippi River, officially!

Canoeing field trip. Photo by Nora West

Photo by Nora West

4th Grade field trip. Mississippi River trivia. Photo by Edwige Moses

Have a great summer, everyone. And if you’d like to see the park where I work, please get in touch!

May the River be with you!

J-C aka Ranger Stephen