Metro Mississippi
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Ramsey, a Mississippi River Trail Community

Metro Mississippi, also, Ramsey, a Mississippi River Trail Community. Local Playground, Continental River. , The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a 72-mile river park that has opportunities for fishing, boating, and canoeing. On its banks are excellent locations for birding, bicycling, and hiking. Although annually millions of people from around the globe come to see the Mississippi River, they are not the only visitors, 40 percent of all North American waterfowl use the river as a migratory flyway, and 326 bird species (more than one-third of all species in North America) follow the flyway in their spring and fall migrations., In Between Twin Cities , While St. Paul was developing around shipping and transportation, Minneapolis, with its lumber and flour mills fueled by St. Anthony Falls, became an industrial giant. The social differences and destinies of the two cities were firmly established by the mid-19ᵗʰ century. Today, you can discover the unique and diverse cultural and recreational opportunities that Minnesota's two largest and most vibrant urban communities offer., John H. Stevens Interpretive House, Historic Fort Snelling,

. Use abundant parkland and trails to connect to interesting places and events in the Twin Cities. You'll enjoy world-class theaters, major and minor league sports, modern and classic museums, a wide range of concerts, dining and shopping., St. Anthony Falls , . Discover the Falls of St. Anthony in downtown Minneapolis, the second largest potential source of water power (after Niagara Falls) in the continental United States., Lock and Dam No. 1 , . Natural rapids previously made navigating the Mississippi River to Minneapolis nearly impossible. The installation of locks and dams along the river made this a feasible option.

, Ramsey, a Mississippi River Trail Community, Named for Minnesota's first territorial governor, Alexander Ramsey, this dynamic city embraces the value of its natural resources. Half of the city borders the Mississippi and Rum Rivers, and more than 15 percent of the land is protected wetlands. Several hundred acres of parks, greenways and public open space offer numerous opportunities for recreation, while supporting water conservation and enhancing wildlife habitat., River Facts , The 72-mile Mississippi National River and Recreation Area begins at the confluence of the Crow River in Ramsey/Dayton in the north and flows to the confluence with the St. Croix River south of Hastings. This makes Ramsey a northern gateway to this national park, the MRT and the Metro Mississippi Great River Road Destination Area. Enrich your National Park exploration at the Mississippi River Visitor Center located at 120 W. Kellogg Blvd in St. Paul, 32 miles southeast., Did you know? , The wild and scenic Rum River, bordering Ramsey on the east, was well known to the Dakota people who called it Watpa waķaŋ or "Spirit River." While they revered the stream as the "Great or mystical spirit," European settlers translated the sentiment as alcohol and called the rum-colored stream, the Rum River. The River flows 150 miles south from Mille Lacs Lake to enter the Mississippi 5.5 miles southeast and was an important fur trade route in the 17ᵗʰ and 18ᵗʰ centuries. By the late 19ᵗʰ century, the River carried millions of logs to sawmills in the Twin Cities, providing lumber for buildings, flour mills, barrels, and railroad ties.,

Biking on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). , Cyclists along the MRT in Ramsey , . Ramsey welcomes bicyclists to explore their community and the river! The MRT offers opportunities for visitors to bicycle short loops of an hour or less as well as trips along the full length of the Mississippi River., Route Profile. , . The MRT has something for everyone within Minnesota, but not all segments are appropriate for all types of users., . The on-road segments are suitable for experienced bicyclists comfortable sharing the road with traffic., . The off-road segments on paths and trails are generally suitable for bicyclists of all abilities., . As of 2015, all Clearwater Co., some Hennepin Co., and all Minneapolis park segments are not signed. Please refer to Dept. of Transportation route maps., Basic Equipment. , . The Minnesota MRT travels through urban and rural settings., . Always carry necessities, such as drinking water, tools, parts and proper clothing., . Most bicycles will work just fine for bicycling the entire length of the MRT; however, mountain bikes might be more appropriate for gravel sections of the route in Aitkin Co.