Riverfront Regional Park

Riverfront Regional Park in Fridley offers convenient public access to the Mississippi River via a boat launch located just south of I-694. This is an excellent entry point for kayakers, canoeists, and motorboaters looking to explore Pool 1 of the Upper Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul. The park itself provides full amenities including picnic shelters, biking and walking trails, a playground, and disc golf—making it ideal for a full day of recreation.

The Mississippi River at this location is a major waterway (classified as a 10th-order stream) with substantial flow averaging over 685,000 cubic feet per second. Paddlers should be prepared for a powerful current with an average velocity of 11.24 feet/second and expect strong downstream push. The river here represents the beginning of the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project, which means commercial barge traffic is possible; stay alert for larger vessels. Smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are available just offshore from the park.

This access point provides a gateway to the scenic central riverfront area, with connections to nearby paddling routes and the historic St. Anthony Falls Pool upstream in downtown Minneapolis. The park's well-developed facilities, combined with its strategic location on Minnesota's most important waterway, make it a popular and practical launch point for both casual recreation and longer paddling expeditions.