About Us
Imagine one place where two National Parks, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and two great rivers, the Mississippi and the St.Croix, merge; where the Great River Road runs by on its way along the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, MN to New Orleans with its companion, the Mississippi River Trail, a bike trail; where a National Scenic Byway and the Audubon Great River Birding Trail also run by; where one of the 69 "Treasures" of the Great River Road, the Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center at Prescott, rests on a bluff 500 feet above and overlooking the great rivers' confluence; and where a premier nature visitor and educational facility, the Carpenter Nature Center at Hastings, is located. Imagine too, one of the Midwest’s premiere trout streams, the Kinnickinnic River, running through the heart of a university town.
Now imagine at that place, within a half hour of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, four historic river sister cities, Hastings and Afton, MN and Prescott and River Falls, WI with the attractions, the trails and the amenities that you want to see if you are a tourist, birder, hiker, boater or fisher. Each river city features a different river- the Mississippi, the St. Croix, the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix, and the Kinnickinnic. Each river city reflects its link to its waters, its history, and its natural resources.
Finally, imagine at that same place the beautiful state and local parks and cultural and historic sites.
This is the Great Rivers Confluence Area. Please join us in celebrating and enjoying this unique and beautiful area.