Established in 1889, Minnehaha Regional Park is one of the oldest parks in Minneapolis, and attracts more than 850,000 visitors each year. Most come to see the namesake Minnehaha Falls—a 53-foot cascade named after the words for “water” and “waterfall” in the Dakota language—but you’d be missing out on a lot of fun if you stop there. From disc golf and seafood snacks to bike paths and public gardens, there’s way more than water to enjoy!
Fun Fact: Minnehaha Regional Park is a park within a park, as it lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area—the only national park dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi River. It is also a part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway system, one of the country’s longest continuous systems of public urban parkways.
Enjoy the crashing water and mist of the waterfall from a viewpoint above the falls, or take a short walk down a staircase to appreciate the height of the cascade from below. If you’re up for a longer walk, take the 2.1-mile out-and-back trail that begins at the base of the falls into the Mississippi River Valley.
If you’re visiting between April and October, be sure to grab lunch at this seasonal favorite near the falls. From calamari and crab cakes to fried fish tacos and oyster po boy sandwiches, the beachy menu is the perfect compliment to the sound of falling water. The line is almost always long, but the surroundings are beautiful so you can soak up the sights while you wait.
Plant people will have their pick of beautiful blossoms, native perennials, and well-designed beds at the Minnehaha Falls Pergola Garden (a popular spot for family photos), the Song of Hiawatha Garden (featuring a stone fountain overflowing with annuals instead of water), and the Longfellow Gardens, once the site of a zoo, featuring a replica of Henry Longfellow’s house in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
One of the best off-leash parks in the region, this tree-filled trail down to the banks of the Mississippi offers beautiful views and exercise for dogs and their humans alike. Water-loving dogs can even splash in the river with new friends.
The Stevens House was the first wood-frame house on the west bank of the Mississippi River when it was built near St. Anthony Falls in 1849. It may seem too strange to be true, but the house was relocated to its current site at the south end of Minnehaha Park in 1896 by an estimated 10,000 school children, tugging on huge ropes in relay fashion. The house is now a museum with historical exhibits, and becomes a Haunted House each October. (History buffs can also visit the Minnehaha Princess Station, a Victorian train depot built in the 1870s.
Enjoy nine holes of disc golf—ranging from 57 to 83 yards—with chainstar targets as you enjoy views of the Mississippi! The course is located in the northeast section of the park.
Minnehaha Park is located on land the Dakota have called home for thousands of years. A mask of Dakota leader Ta Oyate Duta (His Red Nation, also known as Little Crow) was placed overlooking the falls in 1992. You can dive more into the importance of the park area and surrounding river valley to Dakota people here.
Each July, the park hosts one of the best art fairs in the city, with dozens of artists sharing their creations, live music and dance performances, food trucks, and kids art activities. Each booth offers items under $30, making it a great spot to meet local artists and take home something unique.
Enjoy the park’s bike trails with surreys, low-rider chopper trikes, and go-cart-style quad bikes for rent by the hour. It’s a great way to tick all of these things to do off your bucket list in record time.
Check out the city’s calendar of summer movies and music for free family-friendly entertainment all season long—a program that’s been running over 120 years!
On hot days, cool off at the natural wading pool down-creek from the falls or the Wabun Picnic Area’s wading pool with a spraying rock structure. The Wabun area is also home to a new inclusive playground featuring wheelchair-accessible structures and activities for kids of all ages and abilities.
This urban waterway winds through 22 miles of wetlands, woodlands, and tony suburban backyards from Gray's Bay in Lake Minnetonka to Minnehaha Falls. Thanks to extensive restoration and protection of this regional treasure, paddlers are able to enjoy the full length of the creek via kayak or canoe. Visit the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for up-to-date details.
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