Address: 10360 West River Road, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55444
Upcoming Events: Jump to Mississippi Gateway Regional Park Events
Website: Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
Phone: 763-694-7790
Park Hours: 5am-10pm
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park sits along the west side of the Coon Rapids Dam, across the river from Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. You get a two-in-one deal here; two parks to explore packed with ways to learn about and explore the Mississippi River as it travels south towards Minneapolis & Paul. The brand-new Gateway Center welcomes families to enjoy hands-on exhibits indoors and a beautiful Treetop Trail and nature playground outside. Don’t miss the chance to cross the rushing river via the Coon Rapids Dam observation walkway.
Recreation at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
This 160-acre park has family-friendly amenities that include the smart new Gateway Center with hands-on exhibits, a stunning nature playground area and Treetop Trail observation walk, a fishing pier and bike paths. Families may be able to spot a variety of wildlife including river mammals like mink, beaver, and otters. They may also see waterfowl, turtles and birds of prey.
The park hosts Free Family Fun Days select Sundays with no-cost nature programming. Outdoor recreation is also robust here, so you’ll want to watch our FAMILY FUN CALENDAR for ideas.
Archery at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
The Three Rivers Parks District portion of this park offers occasional family archery programs. At these events, experts instruct families in the basics of shooting safely and accurately. The program offers fun games for testing skills. Equipment provided.
Mississippi River Paddle Share program
During the summer months, experienced kayakers can rent a one-way kayak through Paddle Share, a self-serve program. Users choose a route, make a reservation and receive an access code, then they can unlock their kayak (with paddle and life jacket) and return the kayak on the other end of their route. Prices range from $30-$50. Learn more at the Paddle Share website.
Winter at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
In winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular activities at this park. The primitive nature play area can be fun year round and the visitors center offers a place to warm up. Families can also geocache and hike year round.
More information
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Registration links: Mississippi Gateway Regional Park via Three Rivers Parks event calendar.
Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Young Birders Club – Waterfowl - 03/28/2026 - 9:00 am - 11:00 am
- Mississippi Gateway FREE Family Fun Day - 03/29/2026 - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- The Fiendish Fungus: An Escape Room Without Walls - 09/20/2025 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Mississippi Gateway Trick-or-Treat Geocaching - 10/25/2025 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Mississippi Gateway Family Snowshoe Hike - 01/17/2026 - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Embrace the North Festival (FREE) - 02/14/2026 - 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Big Year of Rivers: The Immortal Plastic Bottle (FREE) - 02/22/2026 - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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