Why You Should Go...

Minnehaha Falls plunges 53 feet into a gorge before flowing out into the Mississippi River. The word Minnehaha comes from words in the Dakota language that mean waterfall. A trail and staircase descend into the gorge below the falls for a great view of the falls from below.

For the more adventurous, take the trail down the gorge past lovely pools and photogenic stone bridges to a sandy beach at the confluence of Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River.

Numerous tables, grills, and pavilions are available to rent for gatherings. The park has other amenities including a wading pool for children, a disc golf course, restaurant, bike rentals, a restroom facility, and a volleyball court. Plenty of historical sites and gardens are located in the park as well.

Why You Should Go...

Minnehaha Falls plunges 53 feet into a gorge before flowing out into the Mississippi River. The word Minnehaha comes from words in the Dakota language that mean waterfall. A trail and staircase descend into the gorge below the falls for a great view of the falls from below.

For the more adventurous, take the trail down the gorge past lovely pools and photogenic stone bridges to a sandy beach at the confluence of Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River.

Numerous tables, grills, and pavilions are available to rent for gatherings. The park has other amenities including a wading pool for children, a disc golf course, restaurant, bike rentals, a restroom facility, and a volleyball court. Plenty of historical sites and gardens are located in the park as well.

What You Should Know...

Open: Year-Round

Cost: Free

Access: Wheelchair, Public Transportation, Service Animals, Pets, Bicycle

Parking: Paid On-site, Street, Bicycle

Available: Restaurant

The historic Longfellow House was built in 1906 as a 2/3 scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Longfellow House has information about historic and current park features, including the Minneapolis Grand Rounds.

The historic John H. Stevens House was originally built in 1849 beside St. Anthony Falls, and is believed to be the first settler’s home built west of the Mississippi in Minneapolis. Relocated into Minnehaha Park, the house offers visitors an opportunity to explore the rich history of Minneapolis.

This park features a separate area designated as an off-leash dog park.

The New England poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, gave this Minneapolis waterfall national fame in the Song of Hiawatha, although he never saw the 53-foot falls he wrote of in 1853.

This land became one of the first state parks in the United States when purchased by Minnesota in 1889. Only New York had created a state park at that time.

President Barack Obama hosted a town hall meeting at Minnehaha Falls on June 26, 2014, nearly 50 years after President Lyndon B. Johnson visited the falls.