Minnesota is known for its over 11,000 lakes, but many don’t give due credit to the 69,200 miles of phenomenally beautiful rivers. All across the state, canoeing, rafting, and boating on MN’s rivers are a favorite pastime and as they are usually less crowded than many of the lakes, a local secret. As the starting point for the Mississippi, it’s time to start giving MN rivers the recognition they deserve! Here are some of our favorites:
- Mississippi River
Flickr/Aaron Fulkerson Sure the Mississippi isn’t unique to MN, but it starts its beautiful journey at none other than MN’s Itasca State Park. It also runs through Minneapolis and St. Paul, and is a pivotal part of MN city life.
- Crow River
Flickr/Tony Webster Flowing from the mighty Mississippi, the Crow River northwest of the Twin Cities is surrounded with wild scenery and right now, phenomenal fall colors.
- Cloquet River
Flickr/davef3138 Winding 104 miles, the Cloquet cuts through the magnificent scenery northwest of Duluth to slowly find its way to the Saint Louis River.
- Gull River
Flickr/Dennis Brekke The Gull’s 14 miles carry water from Gull Lake to the Crow Wing River offering fantastic fishing and scenery for Cass and Crow Wing County residents.
- Temperance River
Flickr/Sharon Mollerus The Temperance River is one of many amazing stops worth taking on a trip up Minnesota’s North Shore and provides countless falls and steep gorges on its nearly 40 mile journey from Brule Lake.
- St. Louis River
Flickr/Randen Pederson J. Cooke State Park’s best feature, and the largest US river to flow into Superior, the St. Louis River provides 192 miles of unparalleled northern beauty.
- Kettle River (Eastern MN)
Flickr/Stacy While there are two Kettle Rivers in MN this one in Eastern MN flows 83 miles to the St. Croix and offers spectacular amber tinted waters due to leaf colorings from MN wetlands.
- Brule River
Flickr/Roy Luck Flowing through Judge C R Magney State Park, this 40 mile scenic river is another North Shore favorite.
- St. Croix
Flickr/Doug Kerr Forming the MN/Wisconsin border, this 169 mile river hosts the gorgeous St. Croix River Dalles and supplies power to the Twin Cities Metro.
- Baptism River Tettegouche State Park
Flickr/Jessica Hayssen The Baptism River has MN’s highest falls at 60 feet and runs through Tettegouche State Park and into Lake Superior.
- Minnesota River
Flickr/ramendan This 332 mile river flows from Southwestern MN to the Mississippi near Fort Snelling through the amazing Minnesota River Valley.
- Pigeon River
Flickr/Timothy Boscarino The Pigeon River, forming part of the US-Canadian border, flows from the BWCA to Lake Superior, and plays host to some of the most beautiful falls in the state.
- Cannon River
Flickr/Tony Webster From Lake Tatonka to the Mississippi, this 112 mile river is surrounded by a variety of phenomenal scenery from rolling hills to high rocky bluffs.
- Root River
Flickr/Michael Hicks This Southeastern MN river is 80 miles of pure canning and rafting bliss with gentle moving waters and beautiful scenery.
- Rum River
Flickr/Renae Rude From Mille Lacs Lake to Anoka, this 151 mile river is one of MN’s protected Wild and Scenic Rivers.
- Rainy River
Flickr/USFWS Midwest Another key portion of the US-Canadian Border, the Rainy flows 85 miles west of Rainy Lake providing fantastic northern scenery.
It’s easy to find a river in MN wherever you are, and they’re full of great scenery and leave plenty of opportunities for activities and adventure. What is your favorite Minnesota river?
Flickr/Aaron Fulkerson
Sure the Mississippi isn’t unique to MN, but it starts its beautiful journey at none other than MN’s Itasca State Park. It also runs through Minneapolis and St. Paul, and is a pivotal part of MN city life.
Flickr/Tony Webster
Flowing from the mighty Mississippi, the Crow River northwest of the Twin Cities is surrounded with wild scenery and right now, phenomenal fall colors.
Flickr/davef3138
Winding 104 miles, the Cloquet cuts through the magnificent scenery northwest of Duluth to slowly find its way to the Saint Louis River.
Flickr/Dennis Brekke
The Gull’s 14 miles carry water from Gull Lake to the Crow Wing River offering fantastic fishing and scenery for Cass and Crow Wing County residents.
Flickr/Sharon Mollerus
The Temperance River is one of many amazing stops worth taking on a trip up Minnesota’s North Shore and provides countless falls and steep gorges on its nearly 40 mile journey from Brule Lake.
Flickr/Randen Pederson
J. Cooke State Park’s best feature, and the largest US river to flow into Superior, the St. Louis River provides 192 miles of unparalleled northern beauty.
Flickr/Stacy
While there are two Kettle Rivers in MN this one in Eastern MN flows 83 miles to the St. Croix and offers spectacular amber tinted waters due to leaf colorings from MN wetlands.
Flickr/Roy Luck
Flowing through Judge C R Magney State Park, this 40 mile scenic river is another North Shore favorite.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Forming the MN/Wisconsin border, this 169 mile river hosts the gorgeous St. Croix River Dalles and supplies power to the Twin Cities Metro.
Flickr/Jessica Hayssen
The Baptism River has MN’s highest falls at 60 feet and runs through Tettegouche State Park and into Lake Superior.
Flickr/ramendan
This 332 mile river flows from Southwestern MN to the Mississippi near Fort Snelling through the amazing Minnesota River Valley.
Flickr/Timothy Boscarino
The Pigeon River, forming part of the US-Canadian border, flows from the BWCA to Lake Superior, and plays host to some of the most beautiful falls in the state.
From Lake Tatonka to the Mississippi, this 112 mile river is surrounded by a variety of phenomenal scenery from rolling hills to high rocky bluffs.
Flickr/Michael Hicks
This Southeastern MN river is 80 miles of pure canning and rafting bliss with gentle moving waters and beautiful scenery.
Flickr/Renae Rude
From Mille Lacs Lake to Anoka, this 151 mile river is one of MN’s protected Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Flickr/USFWS Midwest
Another key portion of the US-Canadian Border, the Rainy flows 85 miles west of Rainy Lake providing fantastic northern scenery.
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