Running on Mississippi River Boulevard in Saint Paul

The Mississippi River Boulevard is definitely one of my favorite places to run in the twin cities. The trail stretches along the shore of the Mississippi river on both sides through Minneapolis and Saint Paul, making for an entertaining run with scenic views of the Mississippi and impressive homes and parks along the way.
Most of the time, I start the run near where Summit ave. meets Mississippi river road. There is a small parking lot there, but there is also plenty of free parking on Summit and other nearby streets, so that has never been an issue. Making it an even more ideal spot to start is a great view of the Downtown Minneapolis skyline, a drinking fountain, and a porta-potty (though I’ve never had to use it).
From the fountain, the toughest choice is whether to go left or right (North towards Minneapolis or south through Saint Paul. On the way towards Minneapolis, you quickly begin to run on what is part of the Twin Cities Marathon course in reverse. There is a hill that is one of the largest challenges in the marathon, as it occurs somewhere around 21 miles into the marathon-a time when many people (including myself in 2008) hit the wall. This hill can be a pain, so just remember that if you take a long out and back route along this trail. If you run far enough, you’ll run into the Uof M Campus, though there are options to take bridges to the other side of the river, where there are trails as well.
If you decide to go south, you will continue to run through a nice neighborhood, with a few small parks and some more great views. The terrain is pretty flat, but there are a couple of small hills. Eventually, you pass the Ford Plant and approach Hidden Falls Regional Park. I’ve never been on the trail south of Hwy 5, but at that point, you are across the river from Fort Snelling.
Whichever direction you go, you can decide how far you want to go, and the trail is accommodating to that, as you can make it a loop (by crossing bridges) or an out and back run. If you’re running 2 miles, it’s great, and if you’re running 12, it’s even better. Take a break from Lake Calhoun and come over to Saint Paul for a run!