Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center

Perched above the Mississippi River, the West Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center offers an exceptional array of exhibits and material interpreting the River habitat. A highlight of the Visitor Center is the large aquaria containing river fish, turtles and other local reptiles and amphibians. Come nose to nose with a longnosed gar, see if you can spot the eel, and discover what the largest minnow. Find out more about the river using interactive media that explores topics such as river biology, freshwater mussels, and osprey.  

Our new Nature Exploration Area is right next to the Visitors Center. The exploration area is a fenced, natural space created to encourage free play in the outdoors. Kids and adults can dig in the sand "river", crawl through the "ant" tunnel, build forts, search for the "fairy" door, and exercise their creativity. 

For great vistas follow the path to the observation walkway on top of the Dam, watch the Ospreys high in their tower nest, search for special rocks along the river, fish, hug a 250-year old oak tree, hunt for frogs in the wetlands, or search for signs of the park’s abundant animals.