If your usual loop at Mississippi Gateway ends with a walk across the Coon Rapids Dam to the Anoka County side, plan a different route for a while. Three Rivers Park District closed the dam walkway and trail connection for maintenance on Monday, October 19, and the notice says it stays closed "until further notice." Shoreline stabilization work downstream was scheduled to resume that same week, and part of the river trail is closed until the project wraps up.
So for now, the river is the hardest part of the park to reach. The park itself is still open. From now through December, the good stuff is mostly up the hill around the Gateway Center. That's where the Treetop Trail starts, where most of the programs meet, and where the park keeps running no matter what's happening at the water.
The river edge is on pause
Both closures hit the spots most people head to first, so here's what to expect.
- Coon Rapids Dam walkway. The 12-foot-wide walkway over the Mississippi is usually a popular bike path. It links to Anoka County Parks trails on the other side. No reason, reopening date or detour has been posted. Three Rivers operates and maintains the dam and its walkways, and Anoka County Parks sends closure questions to the Mississippi Gateway Center at 763-694-7790. If you're planning to ride across, call before you go.
- Shoreline trail segment. The Three Rivers closure map marks a stretch of riverside trail as "closed through fall 2026" for the rest of this year's stabilization work. Pull up the map before you leave home so you know which section is fenced off.
Some of this work is already finished. The shoreline near the dam is done, and it now has an accessible fishing platform. The Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the National Park Service and the West Mississippi Watershed Management Organization paid for the project. If you fish, you can still use the fishing deck on the west side of the dam, which sits low near the water just below the gates. You'll need a valid Minnesota fishing license, and fishing from the dam walkway isn't allowed at any time.
You can still get to the river by paddling. A carry-in boat access sits in the River Flats area below the Gateway Center, and Three Rivers asks paddlers to check river and weather conditions before launching. Late October water is cold, so that's a decision for experienced paddlers.
Up the hill, the park runs on a normal schedule
The Gateway Center sits in the woods above the river floodplain. Its posted hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Inside, you'll find hands-on exhibits about the Mississippi's natural history, live animals, year-round nature programs, and exploration backpacks you can check out. The page doesn't list holiday exceptions, so call that same number before a visit around Thanksgiving.
The Treetop Trail starts right next to the building. It runs more than 900 feet into the treetops and out over the wetland, with places to rest along the way plus the Treehouse and Birds Nest features. It's accessible, too. Once the leaves are down, you can see more of the wetland below, and late fall is the season Three Rivers points to for watching migrating birds and other wildlife.
The rest of the uphill side keeps going through the season:
- Dog off-leash area. Six fenced acres in the western part of the park. There's a small or frail dog area, an all-dog area, a rugged section for more adventurous dogs, and rinsing and watering stations. You'll need a day pass or annual pass.
- Archery range. Eight ground-level lanes with targets from 10 to 50 yards, also in the western part of the park. A daily or annual archery pass is required.
- Paved trail connections. About 2.5 miles of paved trail inside the park. The Rush Creek Regional Trail heads toward Elm Creek Park Reserve, and the West Mississippi River Regional Trail runs south to North Mississippi Regional Park in Brooklyn Center. With the dam crossing closed, these two are the easiest ways to keep a long ride going.
- Hillside Play Area. Slides, climbing rocks and nature play in the eastern part of the park, with a direct connection to the Treetop Trail.
Two seasonal features are done for the year or close to it. The Mini-Mississippi Water Play Area is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, so it's already closed for the season. The Oakview Reservation Shelter can be reserved from the last Friday in April through the last Friday in October, which this year is Friday, October 30. After that, the shared picnic tables, shelters and grills are still there for anyone.
Hunt days don't close the park
Mississippi Gateway is on the Three Rivers list for archery deer hunts this fall. The first round ran October 19 through 21, and the second runs November 2 through 4. According to the Three Rivers hunt announcement from September 9, 2026, archery-hunt parks stay open during the hunts. You'll still have normal access to paved and turf trails, dog off-leash areas and picnic areas. Three Rivers says every park on the list has had hunts in earlier years. If you walk the dog that week, expect a regular visit with the rest of the park running as usual.
What's on the calendar, mostly indoors and up top
Many of this season's programs connect to the Big Year of Rivers. Three Rivers describes it as a yearlong focus on rivers, watersheds and water conservation. It ties together the district's Minnesota, Crow and Mississippi river systems and marks the 100th anniversary of a 1926 Mississippi River pollution study. Even with the shoreline partly fenced off, the programs keep the river front and center.
| Date | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Oct. 30 and Sat., Oct. 31 | Trick or Treat Geocaching | Listed on both days at Mississippi Gateway |
| Thu., Nov. 5 | Big Year of Rivers: Trivia Night on the River | 7 to 8:30 p.m., doors at 6. $10 per team of up to four. All ages welcome, questions are adult-level |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | We are the Harvest: A Sankofa Celebration | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, all ages, no registration |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Build Your Own Fishing Rod | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $150, ages 12 and up, indoors |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Treetop Glow Trail | Held on the Treetop Trail |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Winter Bird Count | Listed in the park's activity calendar |
| Mon., Dec. 28 to Wed., Dec. 30 | Winter Day Camp | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
Trivia Night has team rules to know ahead of time. A team of five to eight needs to book two tables, so a big group of neighbors should plan for two registrations.
The Sankofa Celebration is the easiest one to just show up for. It's free, there's no sign-up, and it runs all day. Black-owned vendors, community resources, family activities, storytelling, art, animals, music and food are all on the program.
The fishing rod workshop is a full-day commitment. It's taught by the Outdoor Recreation School with Gary's Custom Fishing Rods. Everyone gets a six-foot, medium-light graphite rod blank and chooses between a spinning or bait casting design. Participants 18 and under need an adult helping them. It lands on Thanksgiving weekend, so it could make a good gift or a project to work on with an older kid.
Smaller drop-in programs fill the weekends in between. November includes Use a Rock Saw, Nature Origami, Minnesota Biomes, Fall Phenology, Forts and Fires, Skulls and Furs, and a 50+ Adventures: Opt Outside Hike on Friday, November 27. December adds Natural Decorations, Geocaching Mystery Animal and another Forts and Fires session on December 26. Registration numbers change, and a few of the recurring youth programs are already sold out, so check the full Mississippi Gateway calendar before you set your heart on one.
When the snow shows up
Winter moves things uphill again. Mississippi Gateway has 1.5 miles of snowshoe trails along the river, and you can rent snowshoes online for $7, tax included, with a two-hour limit. Three Rivers also posts a separate winter map of the park, which is worth pulling up next to the shoreline closure map until that trail segment reopens.
For the latest on the dam walkway, the Mississippi Gateway Regional Park page is where Three Rivers posts updates. You can also call the Gateway Center at 763-694-7790. The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
I love sharing what's happening around Brooklyn Park, whether it's a new trail feature or a free Saturday festival up the road. If you have a favorite Mississippi Gateway spot, a question about this side of town, or you just want to talk through what's next for your own place in the neighborhood, reach out to Elizabeth Foltynski. Let's Connect.