Address: 101 Snelling Lake Road, Saint Paul, MN , 55111
Upcoming Events: Jump to Fort Snelling State Park Events
Website Fort Snelling State Park
Phone 612-279-3559
Hours 8am-10pm
Admission $7 vehicle permit
Fort Snelling State Park is the only Minnesota State Park located in the heart of the Twin Cities. As a state park, it is managed by the Minnesota DNR. However, the Minnesota Historical Society runs Historic Fort Snelling (with additional entrance fees) and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages the golf course. The park has two lakes within it – Snelling Lake and Gun Club Lake. Families will find a visitors center, a beach, hiking and walking paths, a disc golf course and space to picnic. As with any Minnesota State Park, park patrons will need a vehicle pass – either for one day use or an annual permit – to enter the park, currently priced at $7.
Families can hike, bike and ski trails that link to Minnehaha Park and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In the summer months they can also canoe and swim.
Ideas for family fun at Fort Snelling Park
Whether its our very first visit or you are a regular to this park, Fort Snelling offers plenty of park amenities to keep a family busy on any visit.
- Attend a naturalist program or family-designed event Participants can pre-register to attend a variety of events at most Minnesota State Parks, but this park – in the middle of an urban area – is convenient to visit even with busy family schedules. Past events have included maple syruping, nature education and story strolls.
- Borrow GPS units, birding packs or fishing kits Stop at the park office on your way into the park to borrow free kits. Fishing is free for Minnesota residents at this park – no fishing license required.
- Explore the shores of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers Pike Island, within Fort Snelling park, is located at Bdote or confluence of the Minnesota River & Mississippi. This is the spot where the two rivers meet and become one. This spot has particular spiritual meaning to the Mdewakanton Dakota.
- Play a round of disc golf This is a pay course run by MPRB. Learn more below.
- Hit the beach on Snelling Lake. If it is too chilly to swim, there is plenty of found to be found on the beach any time.
- Look for animal tracks
- Watch airplanes
- Study water plants
- Play on the playground
- Hike There are lots of trails for every level. There are even beginner hiking paths that are less than a mile long. Learn more in our kid-friendly hikes article. If its snowy, you can snowshoe or ski (skiing requires a MN Ski Pass)
- Bike through the park Some of the paths through the park are multi-use trails and allow biking. The trails are well labeled and the bike trails are paved. If you are up for it, you can bike the Minnehaha Falls and back.
- Investigate the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center The DNR offers this nice visitor center where families can learn about the history of the area and the natural resources found within the park – not to mention warm up on a cooler day or cool down on a warmer day. There are indoor restrooms at this location as well.
- Â Visit Wokiksuye K’a Woyuonihan (Remembering & Honoring) Memorial. Learn about the Dakota prisoners, some of whom were children, kept at Fort Snelling.
- Look for wildlife The park is open until 10pm, so you can time your visit for dusk if you want a better chance of running into wildlife (or not, if you don’t). A dusk walk might offer a glimpse of a fox, racoons, and deer (visit in the spring and you might see a mother and fawn). Daytime visits to the rivers and lakes may offer views of water fowl (maybe a trumpeter swan) and turtles.
Visitor Center at Fort Snelling State Park
The Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center has films and and exhibits where families can learn about Minnesota history and natural resources. Kids can check out Kids Discovery Kits to explore the park.
Airplane viewing at Fort Snelling Park
By now most people know about the Aircraft Viewing Area set up by the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. While this is a really awesome place to see aircraft take off up close, it does have some downsides – like no restrooms, no shade and it’s crowded at times. The beach at Fort Snelling is another option. While you won’t see the actual take-off, the aircraft take off directly over the beach, so you will see plenty of up close planes. The beach has restrooms, shade, and a play area. If the beach is crowded, families could hike a little further away to watch planes. The curious can find a photo guide to the various aircraft near the beach buildings.
Outdoor activities at Fort Snelling State Park
Swimming at Fort Snelling State Park beach
This may not be on everyone’s favorite beach list because of its close proximity to the airport and the sand wasn’t particularly clean. The positives are the nearby play structure, the shallow entry, the nice beach buildings, and the outdoor shower. Also, at least during our spring visit, we saw an amazing variety of animal tracks in the sand — several deer, raccoons, ducks and geese, coyote? (maybe a dog?). That may have been my favorite part of our visit.
Fishing for freeÂ
Because this is a state park, adults and children can fish for free without license. Even better, loaner fishing kits can be checked out, so you don’t even need to own your own tackle.
Birding and geocaching
This park also has free birding kits and GPS units for patrons to borrow. Park Rangers are happy to give pointers and assistance. Birding Kits include binoculars, guide books and bird lists that are unique to each state park.
Disc golf at Fort Snelling
While Fort Snelling is a State Park with a St. Paul address, the City of Minneapolis operates The Fort Snelling Golf Club within the park. Families may enjoy playing the 18-hole Disc Golf course during warm months. This is one of two pay disc golf courses that the City of Minneapolis operates. Adults cost $5.00 and children are $2.50. Season passes can also be purchased. Pay at the clubhouse.
Cross-country skiing
In the winter trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. Adult and older teen skiers are required to have a Minnesota Ski Pass.
More information
- Learn more: Bdote (confluence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers) from the Minnesota Historical Society
- Purchase: Minnesota State Parks vehicle permit
- Register: Upcoming Minnesota State Park events
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Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- Maple Syruping In Your Backyard - 03/29/2026 - 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Snowshoeing for Beginners - 12/20/2025 - 12:30 pm - 2:00 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.
No. 182
Please why is their a choice by the administration to allow a public noise nuisance of protestors more important over the public being able to enjoy our important park and fort Even the upkeep will suffer as $ won’t be coming in fr visitors and even the janitors are Leaving and quitting in droves so the place itseif will become a public nuisance of weeds overgrowth dirt and unmended fences etc etc
Gross noise making is NOT a right if it’s hindering the freedom of movement of the people that are INTENDED to be visiting the fort and park. It’s no different than BLOCKING THE FREEWAYS. thst blocks freedom of movement for freeway access and traffic and you’re allowing people to be blocked outcif the public’s fort and grounds. From disagreeable people who will yell just to be noticed but don’t care if thru block a freeway. A church service or our beautiful public parks and historic places
Thank you for your thoughts, Jesse.
To report issues with Fort Snelling State Park maintenance, contact the Minnesota DNR. The Minnesota Historical Society manages Historic Fort Snelling and can help you with maintenance issues there.
To lobby for an amendment to the Constitution to limit First Amendment rights to agreeable people who stay off freeways and public grounds, you can write to your House and Senate representatives.
In the meantime, if you have some constructive advice for parents who are bringing kids to visit these wonderful public resources, this is the place to share that information.