The 6.5-mile South St. Paul Riverfront Trail is built atop a levee between the river and downtown South St. Paul. You can see Pig’s Eye Island Heron Rookery, two smaller islands, the site of the former Armour meatpacking plants, and stockyards. A smaller stockyard still operates today, and a new industrial park is home to many diverse companies including Waterous, the largest and oldest manufacturer of fire hydrants in the country.

At one time South St. Paul was home to the largest stockyards in the world. Alpheus B. Stickney, a prominent railroad businessman, had the vision, and in 1886 organized the St. Paul Union Stockyards. The stockyards eventually attracted four major meatpacking plants, including Swift and Company in 1897 and Armour and Company in 1919. Meatpacking and related businesses became the heart of South St. Paul’s economy. World War II brought peak years to the industry when the plants had government contracts to supply military needs worldwide.

In the late 1960s and 1970s the market decentralized and the sprawling plants became obsolete. Swift’s number one meatpacking plant in the nation closed its doors in 1969 while Armour remained open until 1979. These closings had a devastating effect on South St. Paul’s economy, but the community has persevered. In 1990 the Armour plant was demolished and replaced with an industrial park, and the riverfront has become the city’s new focus for redevelopment.

For information call City of South St. Paul at (651)554-3260.

1. The northern section of the trail turns away from the river and runs through Simon’s Ravine and currently dead ends at the 19th Avenue land dam. Future plans include connecting the trail to Kaposia Park.
2. An accessible ramp rises over the train tracks to connect the trail with the parking lot off Grand Avenue and also provides a vast view of the river.
3. The southern-most parking lot is next to the South St. Paul Municipal Service building.