Mississippi Passage Timetable
And Detailed Directions to Launching and Takeout Sites

Participants should arrange to be dropped off by 9:00 A.M. at the North Mississippi Park Boat Landing.  If you can't arrange your own transportation, contact Urban Boatbuilders at 651-644-5221.

9:00 A.M. Arrive at North Mississippi Park boat landing

10:00 A.M.  Departure

Approx. 11:15 A.M. Tie up just north of Hennepin Ave. Bridge.  Take historical walking tour of St. Anthony Falls milling district.

Eat lunch

Approx. 1:30 P.M. Departure

Pass through the two locks at St. Anthony Falls

Approx. 4:30 P.M. Pass through the Ford Dam lock

Approx. 5:00 P.M.  Take a walk up the trail at the mouth of Minnehaha Creek

Approx. 7:00 P.M.  Arrive at Watergate Marina camp site and eat supper.

North Mississippi Park is near the 42nd Ave. (Camden) Bridge and is a little bit tricky to get to.  You can only enter the park from 49th Ave. N. If you are approaching on Hwy 94, take exit #226 (49th Ave.)

Map of North Mississippi Park
Minneapolis, MN 55430-3209

8:00 A.M. Breakfast

9:00 A.M. Departure

Approx. 10:45 A.M. Snack/bathroom break at Harriett Island

Approx. 12:30 P.M. Lunch break on island off Pig's Eye Park

1:30 P.M. Departure

Approx. 5:00 Arrive at campsite on small island off Lower Grey Cloud Island

Hidden Falls Park is on the St. Paul side of the river on Mississippi River Blvd. south of the Ford Plant and north of the Hwy. 5 bridge.  Take the park entrance road at Magoffin (the first street south of the Ford Plant) to access the boat ramp.

Our campsite is at the Watergate Marina, a couple of miles down-stream from the Hidden Falls boat landing.  Let us know if you are planning on joining us there and we'll look for you.  Alternatively, you can put in at our camping site at Watergate Marina for a $10 launching fee.

Link to map

7:30 A.M. Breakfast

8:30 A.M. Departure

Approx. 10:15 Pass through the lock at the Hastings dam

Approx.12:00 Stop for lunch at the mouth of the St.Croix River in Prescott, WI.  (Participants will buy lunch here.)

12:30 Departure

Approx. 5:30 P.M. Pass through the lock at the Red Wing dam

Approx. 6:30 P.M. Arrive at campsite on Diamond Island

One option is a small DNR ramp at Spring Lake Regional Park.  You'll have to navigate shallow water and a stump field, but you should be less than 2 miles and have line-of-sight to our campsite.  The least confusing directions are to drive to Hastings either on Hwy 61 or on Hwy 55 and follow the directions given in this link: Hastings to Spring Lake Ramp 

The other option is to put in on the east side of Lower Grey Cloud Island.  To get there, exit Hwy 61 at the Summit Ave./70th St. Exit in St. Paul Park.  Turn west and proceed to Broadway.  Turn right on Broadway and go to 3rd St. (flashing red light).  Turn left and continue (the road becomes Hwy 75).  Eventually there is a Y in road where 75 continues to the right.  The road to the left is unmarked, but it is Gray Cloud Trail S. and it is the one you want.  This road crosses a bridge to the island and there is a little parking area at the far side of the bridge.  This is the spot where you can put in (although there is no ramp).  You'll have to paddle around the lower end of Grey Cloud Island of  (2.5-3 miles) to get to the small island where we'll be camping.

8:00 A.M. Breakfast

9:00 A.M. Departure

Approx. 11:00 A.M. Arrive at Colvill Park public boat launch (about 2 miles east of downtown Red Wing.  Break for lunch and possible meeting with old-time Red Wing boat builders.

12:30 P.M. Departure

Approx. 1:30 Enter Lake Pepin

Approx. 5:30 Arrive at Hok-Si-La campground

Turn off of Hwy 61 on 7th St.

Map of Colvill Ramp
Red Wing, MN 55066

Relax, swim at the beach, or go on sail boat rides in the morning.

Must be out of campsite by 2:00 P.M.

Boats can be hauled out at the public boat ramp (1/2 mile north of Hok-Si-La)

Try to arrange your own pick-up or call Urban Boatbuilders at 651-644-5221.  (Will try to help coordinate rides.)

In the map link below, Hok-Si-La campground is the peninsula marked in green just north of Lake City.  The boat ramp is on the very northern point of the green park area.

Map of Lake City, MN