Mississippi River, South St. Paul Public Water Access Site

On Mississippi River

The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows 2,350 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) calls it the largest river on the continent. Within Minnesota it passes through valleys, bluffs, prairies and woodlands, and its flow rate and width vary along the way. Parts of the river are designated a Wild and Scenic river. The name Mississippi means "Great River" in Ojibwe. Below Minneapolis the river is held back by a series of locks and dams, which create pools. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, maintains a 9-foot navigation channel and 13 locks and dams between Minneapolis and Guttenberg, Iowa. Pool 2 runs from the Ford Dam down to the dam at Hastings. More about Mississippi River.

Boating rules on Mississippi River

• Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and Lock and Dam 1 close to all recreational traffic when flows exceed 30,000 cfs source
• No fee to lock through source
• Upper Mississippi River NWFR: designated slow, no-wake areas and areas closed to all motors except electric source
• Upper Mississippi River NWFR: seasonal closed or restricted areas, usually fall to spring, marked with orange-topped signs source
• Upper Mississippi River NWFR: no mooring within 200 feet of refuge boat landings; boats may not be left unused more than 24 hours source
• Pool 2: walleye, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass are catch-and-release only source

Community

Where people who use Mississippi River talk about it.

• Mississippi River State Water Trail (Minnesota DNR, includes trail alerts) Agency
• Paddle the National Water Trail - Mississippi National River & Recreation Area Agency
• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge - Boating Agency
• Friends of the Mississippi River Association
• Mississippi River Pool 2, 3, 4-Lake Pepin (Pools 5-9) Fishing Reports - FishingMinnesota Forum
• Mississippi River North Fishing Reports - FishingMinnesota (active 2025) Forum
• Search Reddit: r/minnesota Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Mississippi River, Minnesota Reddit

Nearby launches

• Mississippi R (S.st. · 0.0 mi · Mississippi River
• Mississippi River Carry-in Access · 0.4 mi · Mississippi River
• Mississippi River, Lion Levee Park Public Water Access Site · 2.5 mi · Mississippi River
• Lions Levee · 2.5 mi · Mississippi River
• Battle Creek Lake Public Water Access Site · 4.7 mi · Battle Creek Lake
• Tanners Lake Public Water Access Site · 5.2 mi · Tanners Lake