HomeMinnesotaMinneapolis › Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park

Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 243 Google reviews · Running trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surfaceLit at nightScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Park featuring a stone arch bridge, trails, and downtown views, plus fireworks displays.

What runners say about Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (243 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“It is consistently beautiful strolling through towards the Stone Arch bridge & hearing the rush of the great Mississippi River on its journey southward to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Nice place for a walk and pictures. Parking is 2 dollars for the first hour and 1 dollar for every hour after. Small parking lot.

★★★★★ — Aaliyah , Apr 2019

This is another place that I go fishing at the River Mississippi and it is just a beautiful scenery a lot of people exercising sightseeing cuz a lot of history right there with the Stone Arch Bridge that leads over to St Anthony and when you walk across and you can see the Saint Anthony Falls so it's very popular I…

★★★★★ — Tony , Oct 2020

Beautiful spot for walking, biking, jogging, relaxing, etc. The historic infrastructure nearby combined with the Mississippi make for a magnificently unique experience. My only complaint is there should be more protection for pedestrians from cars speeding down River Parkway.

★★★★★ — Carsten , Aug 2022

Always a great place to run, bike, and maybe take a date for a walk. There are great veiws no matter where you stand.

★★★★★ — Laurel , Aug 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 243 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 15 mentions

“It is consistently beautiful strolling through towards the Stone Arch bridge & hearing the rush of the great Mississippi River on its journey southward to the Gulf of Mexico.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Parking is 2 dollars for the first hour and 1 dollar for every hour after.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack

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💡 Lit for night running

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🚻 Restrooms

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🚰 Water fountains

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Plan your run at Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteminneapolisparks.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–10 pm
Tuesday 6 am–10 pm
Wednesday 6 am–10 pm
Thursday 6 am–10 pm
Friday 6 am–10 pm
Saturday 6 am–10 pm
Sunday 6 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park

East and West banks of the Mississippi River between & 35W bridges, Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Get directions

Running trails near Minneapolis

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.