Mississippi National River & Recreation Area is a National River & Recreation Area in Minnesota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Mississippi
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Mississippi. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Caves (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Mississippi the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:48 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:57 PM | 241° | 9h 10m |
| February | 7:14 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:41 PM | 253° | 10h 26m |
| March | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:19 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:28 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:58 PM | 285° | 13h 29m |
| May | 5:44 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:35 PM | 298° | 14h 50m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 6:11 AM | 8:16 PM | 9:01 PM | 305° | 15h 35m |
| July | 5:41 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:57 PM | 302° | 15h 16m |
| August | 6:15 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:21 PM | 291° | 14h 05m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:25 PM | 275° | 12h 33m |
| October | 7:29 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:29 PM | 259° | 11h 01m |
| November | 7:11 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:45 PM | 244° | 9h 34m |
| December | 7:44 AM | 8:33 AM | 3:44 PM | 4:32 PM | 237° | 8h 48m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.9425, -93.0987); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Mississippi, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:16 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| April | 3:15 AM – 4:35 AM | 1.3 | 15° |
| May | 1:13 AM – 3:23 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| June | 11:34 PM – 2:44 AM | 3.2 | 16° |
| July | 11:18 PM – 1:28 AM | 2.2 | 16° |
| August | 10:15 PM – 11:25 PM | 1.2 | 15° |
| September | 9:05 PM – 9:25 PM | 0.3 | 12° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
Minnesota has a continental climate characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Spring brings moderate temperatures and low humidity. Summer days may reach temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C), but are usually pleasant with temperatures in the low to mid-80°F (25-30°C). Autumn brings dry, warm days, cool nights and gorgeous fall colors. Winter daytime highs are around 25°F (-3°C). Rarely, winter daytime high temperatures may not get above -10°F (-23°C), sometimes with strong winds.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (69%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Limited metered street parking is available on nearby streets near park headquarters. Several parking ramps are available nearby including the Kellogg Square parking ramp. The Mississippi River Visitor Center is located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 Kellogg Blvd West, St. Paul, MN).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snow Play
- Wildlife Watching
