Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, this park offers extensive hiking, bike, snowshoe, and ski trails that link to an extensive regional trail system. Canoe, fish, or swim on Snelling Lake, or hike on Pike Island where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet. Interpretive exhibits at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center provide a good introduction to the history and resources of the park area. This is a day-use only park; no camping is available.

Wildlife
The forest bottoms and marshes are home to an abundance of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, fox, woodchucks, turkeys, and coyotes. Visitors might also come across a fox snake which is almost identical in appearance to a rattle snake, but is not venomous. Snapping, soft-shelled and painted turtles can be seen basking in the sun along the river or in one of the lakes.

History
The park is named after historic Fort Snelling, built in 1820 on the bluff above the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers to control traffic along the waterways. The area was established as a state park in 1961. The swimming beach was added in 1970 and remains a popular recreation attraction today. In 1997, a new visitor center opened to the public.

Geology
During the last Ice Age, retreating glaciers left thick moraine deposits over the bedrock in the area. As the glaciers melted, torrential meltwaters carved through the deposits to form the valleys of what are now the Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.

Landscape
The park is located in the Mississippi River Sandplains Landscape Region at the confluence of two great rivers, the Minnesota and the Mississippi. Most of the park is on the Minnesota River floodplain. The riverine environment hosts large cottonwood, silver maple, ash, and willow trees along the braided channels of the Minnesota River. Numerous picnic sites, a beach, and river and lake fishing invite visitors to enjoy the recreational opportunities offered by this historic and beautiful park nestled in the shadow of city freeways and airport flyways.