Day 5 – Clearwater to St Paul – 76 miles

Highlights today –

We officially enter 72 miles of national park pedaling through the Twin Cities, Boom Island, Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge over the St Anthony Falls, Lock and Dam #1, Mill City Ruins, the Minnehaha Falls, Fort Snelling and Fort Snelling State Park.

Dayton – at the confluence of the Mississippi River and Crow River we enter the National Park Service’s Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA)

Minneapolis – founded on the east side of the river as St. Anthony Village in 1861, it was annexed as Minneapolis in 1887. With access to the power St. Anthony falls generated, it grew due to three main industries; logging, textiles, and grain – including the infamous Gold Medal Flour.

• Now home to major league sports teams the Timberwolves and Twins
• Mill City Museum Tour
• Guthrie Theater – stop in and enjoy views from the cantilevered lobby known as the Endless Bridge

St Paul – Our capitol city and home now to NHL WILD hockey and the brand new CHS Field for the American Association Baseball League’s St. Paul Saints. •

• MN History Center
• Science Museum of MN – which houses the Mississippi River Visitor Center
• State Capitol
• Cathedral of St Paul