Minnesota’s Rivers

The crisp, clear blue rivers are among Minnesota’s most precious natural resources. What start as small streams swell into a grand rivers, supplying community after community with fresh drinking water, places to recreate, and stunning habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife.

But in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, rivers like the iconic Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix have historically been utilized for commerce and industrial use, rather than recreation like their lake counterparts. These industries left many rivers and their tributaries as dumping grounds for waste and pollution, or only viewed as prime locations for commercial development.

Today, Minnesotans want to enjoy the rivers they’ve been denied access to for so long. Trust for Public Land is working with local communities from Lake Itasca to the Twin Cities to the Wisconsin border to reconnect people to these beautiful waterways. From swimming and kayaking on a hot summer’s day, or ice fishing during subzero temperatures, these rivers are favorited for rest, retreat, and recreation for millions of Minnesotans and visitors alike.

Some of our state’s river systems hold cultural significance and meaning to local tribes and Indigenous communities. We’re partnering together to recover, restore, and protect the spaces they hold sacred, ensuring access and preservation forever.

Private land ownership closes gates, development wipes out nearby forests, and a rapidly changing climate puts public access, critical habitat, and many recreational benefits at risk. Together, we can protect these rivers, the lands surrounding them, and create access points so everyone can enjoy these majestic streams for generations to come.

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