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Minnesota | Twin Cities
Mississippi RiverEast River Flats to Hidden Falls Regional Park
MN DNR recommends this 5-mile urban trip from East River Flats to Hidden Falls. Plan for swift current, large wakes, and Lock and Dam 1, where you may need a lockage or a 1.4-mile portage; check current access and lock status before launch.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at East River Flats and finish at Hidden Falls for the official DNR Twin Cities Mississippi trip. The route is short on paper, but the real decisions are current, wakes, wind, and Lock and Dam 1 handling.
Access map
Put-in
East River Flats ParkDNR explicitly names East River Flats Park as the launch, but the launch logistics there are still less clearly documented than the Hidden Falls take-out. Check the access on arrival instead of assuming a trailer-style ramp.
Take-out
Hidden Falls Regional Park boat launchHidden Falls has posted park hours and can close roads or amenities during flooding, restoration, or other conditions.
Road shuttle
Short Twin Cities car shuttle. Stage the take-out vehicle at Hidden Falls first so the day does not end with lock logistics, city traffic, and a second vehicle problem all at once.
Additional access notes
- Lock and Dam 1 is not a full-time recreational lock. USACE lists recreation lockage for Saturdays, Sundays, major holidays, and Monday/Friday afternoons, says weekday hours can change, and tells boaters to contact lock staff on VHF channel 14, by the pull cord, or at 651-290-5919.
More route and safety guidance
- Lock and Dam 1 has limited/reduced lock operation; verify current USACE lockage before launch and plan the portage/shuttle if lockage is unavailable.
- Do not improvise via Minnehaha Creek; use current NPS/USACE guidance for locks, portages, restricted zones, and dam approaches.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- DNR bands2,000 / 6,000 / 30,000 / 40,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the St. Paul reading as Scrapable below 2,000 cfs, Low from 2,000 to 6,000, Medium from 6,000 to 30,000, High from 30,000 to 40,000, and Very High above 40,000.
- Recommended trip5 river miles / about 2 hours
MN DNR explicitly recommends East River Flats Park to Hidden Falls Park as the first of its two Mississippi River recommended paddling trips.
- Route characterSwift current, large wakes, navigational lock
DNR says this stretch requires a moderate degree of paddling skill because of swift current and large wakes from large boats and barges, and tells paddlers to follow navigational lock procedures.
- Take-out supportHidden Falls boat launch and posted hours
Saint Paul identifies Hidden Falls Regional Park as a Mississippi River boat-launch site with north-entrance access, sunrise-to-10 p.m. hours, and closures possible during flooding or other conditions.
- Lock and Dam 1 backup planCall ahead; portage is 1.40 miles
USACE lists recreational lockage at Lock and Dam 1 for Saturdays, Sundays, major holidays, and Monday/Friday afternoons, with weekday availability subject to change. Contact lock staff on VHF channel 14, by pull cord, or at 651-290-5919; NPS advises using the lock when operational because the alternate portage is long, new as of September 2025, and not yet signed.
- Lock and Dam 1 portageRiver-right take-out to Minnehaha Creek mouth
NPS describes the unsigned 1.40-mile Ford Dam portage as starting at a small natural gravel beach on river right about one-third mile upstream of the Ford Bridge, climbing switchbacks to the bluff trail, then descending through Minnehaha Falls Park to put in at the Minnehaha Creek confluence. Do not paddle Minnehaha Creek; NPS warns of down trees, rapids, and hazards there.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- MN DNR river levels
- MN DNR Mississippi River overview
- MN DNR recommended paddling trip: East River Flats to Hidden Falls
- MN DNR Mississippi River map 10 PDF
- Minneapolis Parks East River Flats Park
- Saint Paul Hidden Falls Regional Park
- NPS navigating portages, locks, and dams
- USACE Lock and Dam 1 lockage hours
- USGS 05331000 monitoring location
Other routes nearby
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