Minnehaha Park
Minnehaha Park
4.5
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One of the city's oldest and most popular parks.
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- JackOld Bethpage, New York865 contributionsBeautiful Park! Must see!Visiting Minnehaha Park is a must see! I highly recommend it. It is such a stunning park with beautiful views of the Mississippi. I recommend seeing Minnehaha Falls as well as taking a hike through the park to the Mississippi River. There is not too many people and tons of room to park as well as a few restaurants to choose from. This is a must see in Minneapolis!Visited August 2022Traveled with familyWritten April 25, 2023
- scott rSilver Spring, Maryland701 contributions3.5 'Good' - though not spectacularWorth stopping by if you are in the area - though the pay park boxes seem to confuse a lot of people making for a slighly annoying wait. the falls themselves are fine, but they're not 'Canadian' size. Nonetheless you can get up close and walk behind them if you're willing to ignore signs (many do), have decent agility and shoes that can get wet. Fair number of stairs to climb down and later up, so direct viewing not for those who can't handle. Still, a bridge runs across affording good viewing and there is another for a frontal view. The park itself seems popular, well used, and well kept. Snacks and restrooms on offer. Locals use picnicing facilities. Pretty drive to the falls themselves. If youre visiting, this is probably a quick stop, but for locals easily a favorite place with many trail options.Visited July 2023Written July 4, 2023
- JourneystanWinnipeg, Canada955 contributionsPleasant VisitWe had visited the park about 13 years ago. So it gave us a renewed perspective and experience to revisit the park. Certainly we felt rejuvenated and appreciative for our first post Covid road trip to the US. Although the Minnehaha Falls was the main attraction we did enjoy our afternoon walk in the trails along the river and checked out the bridges and beach by the dam.Visited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 6, 2023
- Sharron iWichita, Kansas92 contributionsNice park, waterfallIt is a really nice park. Rental bikes very accessible and paths were open and park well kept. Waterfall was very pretty and accessible to all. Not a far walk from parking which I with my osteo knees and having just walked mall of America appreciated. Very restful. Only downside is no free parking. Not too bad 2.50 an hour but hadn't expected it so just was little inconvenient. Worth visit if in area if just for nice place to picnic and recharge at fallsVisited August 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 18, 2023
- kantbyluvCoconut Creek, Florida128 contributionsBig park lots of walking trails even found a beach areaThe park is very big. I first came here to see the falls and then began walking around there are a lot of walking trails. It is a dog friendly park and lots of walkers and joggers and dogs. I found a trail that led to an amazing opening where a rock appeared to be carved out like a cave and a great beach area along the Mississippi River and I even saw a Red bull Urban portage race while I was reading my book.Visited August 2023Traveled soloWritten August 27, 2023
- 59ericafHouston, Texas13 contributionsMinnehaha Falls is a must see!Must see Minnehaha in Minnesota! Great stop to enjoy the beauty of the state! I totally fell in love with the state of 10,000 lakes! My trip to the Minneapolis area wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Minnehaha Falls! The weather was beautiful and the water was flowing! The fall foliage was abound!Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 1, 2023
- OnTheRoadAgain8180Gardiner, Maine415 contributionsFalls were only a trickle when we went but the park was still very niceThe park is huge and a very enjoyable walk. Unfortunately the falls were just a trickle, but we enjoyed our time there anyway. Also, the Sea Salt Eatery was a nice place to grab a cold beer, an unexpected surprise. They have an extensive list of local craft beers.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 16, 2023
- Rebekah N6 contributionsReally enjoyable parkThis is a great park with lovely views of the waterfall, Minnehaha creek and the Mississippi River. We walked around the paths (some paved some not) for a couple hours on a nice fall day. Definitely worth it and we’ll visit again.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 20, 2023
- MychelleLovesTravel94 contributionsPleasant surpriseA neat thing to see not far from downtown! We visited on a Saturday and it was quite busy. Great place to walk and the park is fairly large. Lots of steps to get to the base of the falls so be sure to wear comfy shoes!Visited March 2024Traveled soloWritten March 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,502 reviews
Excellent
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Poor
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Terrible
7
Francis O
New York City, NY30 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
Definitely not a very beautiful spot. It’s very crowded, access to the waterfall is not that smooth and the view isn’t nice at all. I understand it’s a nature place in the city but I would probably skip this over so many beautiful lakes, neighbourhoods, nice restaurants and the Sculpture Garden. If looking for nature, I would travel outside the city where I am sure there are nicer spots than this one.
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheMonte
Owatonna, MN255 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
Brought my wife to the falls today, who after living in Mn her entire life (48 years) never knew Minnehaha Falls even existed! It was beautiful. I would definitely recommend your grippiest shoes as the hike down is a little sketchy in the winter. It would be awesome if people picked up their trash, it was very clean overall, always amazed that people drop their parking receipts & just randomly leave paper coffee cups behind? If you’re out in nature, then take a moment to help keep it clean for others to enjoy. We had no problems finding a parking spot, but it was fairly busy.
Great place to bring the kids if you need to get out.
Great place to bring the kids if you need to get out.
Written February 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber A
Onalaska, WI5 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Cute little park with lots of space. There was a restuarant called sea salt right in the middle of the park. It smelt amazing but we didn't get any food from there.
The fall itself was beautiful. It takes you out of the city for a minute. It wasn't hard to get to or anything either. If you want to get closer you just have to walk down some stairs and you are at the bottom. The one thing I did notice was that the path ways and the stairs had trees and branches growing over it.. not very well kept. But it is worth the stop. There was also a gentleman playing his guitar and singing which made for a relaxing moment while looking at the falls. I definitely recommend stopping.
The fall itself was beautiful. It takes you out of the city for a minute. It wasn't hard to get to or anything either. If you want to get closer you just have to walk down some stairs and you are at the bottom. The one thing I did notice was that the path ways and the stairs had trees and branches growing over it.. not very well kept. But it is worth the stop. There was also a gentleman playing his guitar and singing which made for a relaxing moment while looking at the falls. I definitely recommend stopping.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mraffini37
Prairie du Sac, WI30 contributions
Mar 2020
Unfortunately or fortunately we visited on a beautiful almost-50 degree day in March. There was alot of standing water and ice from the snow melting and re-freezing. It was difficult to walk around near the picture-taking areas and the stairs down closer to the falls were closed. We did get some great pictures and were able to see that this would be a great place to visit when it was a little warmer.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dmittleman
Palm Beach Gardens, FL1,445 contributions
Aug 2021
This park features the Minnehaha Falls. The waterfall is beautiful and photogenic, even on a rainy day. The remainder of the park has other sites such as the Minnehaha Depot, the Stevens House, various statues, and the small but lovely Hiawatha Gardens. The only missing thing are maps in good condition to aid in your visit.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Redacted Name
Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN91 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
A seasonal stop, usually once a year for me: the Falls just dominate the experience. Go after heavy rains for a more mesmorizing view. From the top, you can take the stairs down and walk the trails along either side with several bridges that cross between the sides. In the fall, migratory birds (cranes, herons notably) can be seen as you continue down the paths. There are sandstone walls you can climb in & put your initials or artwork. This Park has a great little restaurant and frequently hosts niche events like art festivals. There are public restrooms in the "open air" breezeway pavilion space connected to Sea Salt Eatery. Parking can be a challenge- it's credit card pay/metered lot or street parking. I took the light rail train once from Ft. Snelling's Park n Ride: it stopped about 5 blocks away from the park and was surprisingly easy. Only true downside are those stairs at the Falls: they are uneven, steep, crumbling and exhausting to go back up.
Written February 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don H
Hollywood, FL11 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
Great place for stroll and to take some photos. Lots of nice walking trails along a stream. Places to have picnic etc. Like most of the city there are parking meters along the street and in the parking lots.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rwgrncrd
Chicago, IL471 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We visited in the fall and late winter.
Beautiful all year round.
However, people take chances to climb the fence and take the ice covered stairs down to the falls. That’s fine. Don’t try it with little children - just plain dumb. It was dodgy for grown ups.
Just be careful!!
Beautiful all year round.
However, people take chances to climb the fence and take the ice covered stairs down to the falls. That’s fine. Don’t try it with little children - just plain dumb. It was dodgy for grown ups.
Just be careful!!
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brumba
Savage, MN170 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Minnehaha Falls show their glory in the winter! Even a short stop here is worth while. The parking is one block away from the falls which are easily accessible regardless of mobility. Visits to the bottom of the falls may be limited due to seasonal closures. During the warmer seasons you can follow the creek as it meanders to join the Mississippi River, a small walk away. The park itself is a busy one in season, but has plenty of space for picnics and hanging out.
Written March 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nes24
Traverse City, MI83 contributions
Sep 2020 • Solo
This is a small park with a pretty waterfall. I walked about half a mile one way down the river though you could go further. If you’re limited on time, I’d skip this for other options since there’s not a ton to see other than the falls and river. It would be a nice picnic spot. Parking was $1.50 for an hour in the lot right next to it.
Written September 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adventure29928591079
Saint Paul, MN
Is there concern about covid transmission at Miinehaha Falls.
re the stars very slippery?
Brumba
Savage, MN170 contributions
It is out doors so that helps minimize potential problems but the falls popularity means that there likely will be people around you.
Is it kid friendly/safe for toddler? Is there a fee?
Lizbeth S
25 contributions
I grew up three blocks from this park and it holds the dearest memories for me. It's a wonderful family destination. The upper falls area has picnic areas and a great garden celebrating Longfellow's poem "Hiawatha" and there's an iconic statue of Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha across the water. If you can navigate the stairs to the lower falls you can hike a very short distance to "the deer pen" where there's an open area for picnicking. There's also an enlarged area of Minnehaha Creek where families can go wading. And for slightly older kids you can hike a mile along the creek all the way to the Mississippi River. You do need to pay to park if you want to be close, but the entire park is free. Go and enjoy!!
Is there a path leading under the falls? Or would one have to adventure off the path to get under the falls?
cclaygus913
3 contributions
Officially no, though people do go behind there. Seeping groundwater can make footing very treacherous.
stibba19
Saint Cloud, MN
Is there a place to grill your own food or make a bonfire?
CDC_ALUMNI
Eau Claire, WI536 contributions
Yes...picnic tables and grills in the park.
mlourisjklaw
New York City, NY233 contributions
Where is the best place to rent a bike and is that the best way to see this big park
marjeant2017
Raleigh, United States21 contributions
You can rent various forms of pedal power suitable for 1-4
people. We rented a 4 person vehicle which was difficult to get up hills so someone had to get out to push the vehicle. Even
that ended up being fun. It is a lovely walk or walk down the
stairs to the bottom of the falls.
mlourisjklaw
New York City, NY233 contributions
Where is the best place to rent a bike and is that the best way to see this big park
richard g
Minneapolis, MN2 contributions
For convenience, there is a Nice Ride self serve bike station at the site, but I find them very heavy and you have to recheck them at a station periodically. See their website.
For a better bike you can search for bike shops in the vicinity.
Is there any NICE resturants in the area?
marjeant2017
Raleigh, United States21 contributions
Try the Sea Salt Restaurant which is attached to the pavilion and
has outdoor dining overlooking the park.
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Claim your listingMinnehaha Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Minnehaha Park
- Hotels near Minnehaha Park:
- (4.93 mi) Historic District BnB
- (4.24 mi) TownePlace Suites by Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
- (4.29 mi) AC Hotel Bloomington Mall of America
- (3.82 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis University Area
- (6.06 mi) The Saint Paul Hotel
- Restaurants near Minnehaha Park:
- (0.09 mi) Sea Salt Eatery
- (0.09 mi) Sea Salt Eatery
- (0.09 mi) Dairy Queen
- (0.17 mi) Crystal Garden
- (0.28 mi) The Tipsy Steer
- Attractions near Minnehaha Park:
- (0.02 mi) Minnehaha Falls
- (0.03 mi) Longfellow House
- (0.07 mi) Wheel Fun Rentals
- (0.17 mi) John H Stevens House Museum
- (0.44 mi) Venn Brewing Company