Lock and Dams on Mississippi River

As we continue to cruise up and down the Mississippi River we have to lock through many different Lock and Dams. We all know that they are all equipped with a signal rope to alert them of your approach and we know they monitor channel 14 on the CB radio. With the invention of the cell phone we have noticed it is easier to call the Lock and Dam and notify them of your approach being that not everyone has a CB radio and it can be difficult to get a boat up close to a concrete wall and pull their signal rope. These two methods are still preferred , but here are phone numbers for the Lock and Dams you will most likely go through when cruising from Red Wing,MN to Prairie Du Chien,WI:

• Lock and Dam #3 Red Wing,MN: 651-388-5794
• Lock and Dam #4 Alma,WI: 608-685-4421
• Lock and Dam #5  Minnesota City,MN: 507-689-2101
• Lock and Dam #5a Fountain City,WI:507-452-2789
• Lock and Dam #6 Trempealeau,WI: 608-534-6424
• Lock and Dam #7 La Crescent,MN: 507-895-2170
• Lock and Dam #8 Genoa,WI: 608-689-2625
• Lock and Dam #9 Lynxville,WI: 608-874-4311

If you are cruising outside our home range toward Minneapolis,MN or down to Guttenburg,IA  here are their phone numbers to help assist you in locking through these dams:

• Upper St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis,MN: 612-333-5336
• Lower St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis,MN: 612-332-3660
• Lock and Dam #1 Minneapolis,MN: 612-724-2971
• Lock and Dam #2 Hastings,MN: 651-437-3150
• Lock and Dam #10 Guttenburg,IA: 563-252-1261

All these Lock and Dams offer free tours of their facilities throughout the year, it is recommended to call that specific Lock and Dam you are interested in and set up an appointment for a tour because there are times when the Lock and Dam might be doing maintenance and no tours will be allowed.  If there is a festival or a community activity is going on in which the Lock and Dam is located they will offer a free Open House to tour their facility. All these Lock and Dams mentioned here are monitored by the St.Paul,MN District Army Corps of Engineers, here is a link to their web site to help with more information you may want to know.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore more destinations and provide more information, adventures, and resources. Please Don't Move Firewood and Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.