Mission

“The mission for Mississippi River Trail, Inc. is to be a catalyst for the promotion and development of the Mississippi River Trail.”

Vision

The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) is a world-class bicycling route that travels from the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. It is a 3,000-mile system of bicycle-friendly roads and multi- use pathways. The MRT is a “string of pearls” that connects 10 states, the cities of Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans, and hundreds of smaller towns along the way. The MRT is a unique way to experience the Mississippi River’s natural wonders, transportation system, recreational facilities and cultural heritage. Click here for complete MRT Vision Statement.

Goals

Simple, yet encompassing a myriad of opportunities, plans, and projects, goals for the Mississippi River Trail are timeless. Defined in three categories, MRT, Inc.’s strategic goals include:

1. Organizational Development – MRT, Inc.’s vitality depends upon the growth and expansion of the organization itself. Defining priority actions, augmenting capacity, and improving fundraising are critical to the synergy of our work.

2. Route Development – Impacting the Mississippi River Trail by supporting transportation enhancement through community project planning, organized partner communications, and other means, MRT, Inc. helped bring over $33 million for trail construction projects along the river through earmarks in the SAFETEALU federal funding bill. Continuing the process of refining routes, seeking new trail opportunities, assisting communities with getting federal and state funding, and facilitating community efforts to plan and implement projects are just a few ways, MRT, Inc. meets this goal.

3. Encouraging Use – Offering opportunities to plan a trip, learn more about the river environment in different states, engage in activities that support conservation, health and wellness, and economic development, post events on our calendar, attend conferences, participate in making the Mississippi River Trail part of your special experiences, and connecting you with other key trails in America are just a few of the ways we encourage trail use.