Mississippi River County Park, located near Rice, Minnesota is a place filled with nostalgia and memory making possibilities. I grew up a just 6 miles south of this park in Sartell, Minnesota and found myself here often in my teens and early 20s and now again with my own child. This is where I first learned to drive, had girl scout events, walked with friends, went on nature dates, and spent hours in solitude on their wide paths through the woods.
This park welcomes visitors in every season. In the warm months you can enjoy activities like walking, disc golfing, 80-person picnic shelter area for rent, boating and canoe access points, fishing and much more! In the winter, the hiking and disc golf trails are used for cross country skiing or snowshoeing and you can easily access the river to enjoy how beautiful it is frozen over. With 230 acres total and over 5 miles of trails this park is accessible but full of options. From personal experience this is also a fantastic place to stargaze or view planets when they are accessible with a telescope!
In addition to fun things to do, as of 2018 Mississippi River County Park has received help from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) to work towards conservation of native prairie land. Prior to colonizers coming to Minnesota, there was an estimated 18 million acres of prairie land compared to less than 00,000 in 2010. With the initiative of restoring 500 or more acres of land annually they hope to maintain 300,000 acres of state park and trail systems by 2040.
Mississippi County River Park is a family friendly park that is perfect for the everyday person and seasoned outdoor connoisseurs alike. This park really had something for everyone! With the nature preservation efforts we can use this park and respect the land for our children and beyond. Are parks the same as you remember growing up? What are your favorite places to go in central Minnesota?
Author: Melissa Foy
Photos by Rachel Skaj