Minnehaha Regional Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Minnehaha Regional Park offers a truly stunning and highly scenic outdoor experience centered around its iconic waterfall, renowned for its beauty in both day and night, and even when frozen in winter. It provides a diverse range of trails (paved and dirt) suitable for various activity levels, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and unexpected fun for kids. The park is highly regarded for its photo opportunities and historical educational signs.
Key Highlights
- ✓Stunning, scenic waterfall, frequently highlighted as a top attraction, with excellent photo opportunities.
- ✓Unique and surreal experience of seeing the waterfall frozen in winter, especially beautiful when lit at night.
- ✓Diverse trails, offering a mix of paved and dirt paths, charming bridges, and easy-to-navigate stairs, catering to different preferences.
- ✓Presence of historical educational signs along the trails, enhancing the visiting experience for curious minds.
- ✓Potential for unexpected kid-friendly entertainment, such as a 'bubbles guy', which children reportedly love.
- ✓Opportunities for wildlife observation.
- ✓Minimal litter, contributing to a pleasant and clean environment.
Standout Features
- ⭐Iconic waterfall, offering breathtaking views during the day, illuminated at night, and in its frozen state during winter.
- ⭐Extensive and varied trail system, including paved sections, dirt paths, bridges, and easily navigable stairs.
- ⭐Educational value provided by numerous historic signs along the trails.
- ⭐Availability of pavilions for shelter, useful in case of unexpected rain.
- ⭐Unexpected entertainment (e.g., 'bubbles guy') that delights children.
- ⭐On-site 'Sea the Sea restaurant' (though can be very busy).
- ⭐Opportunities for nature and wildlife observation.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Visit early in the morning, especially on weekends, to avoid peak crowds, find easier parking, and enjoy a more tranquil experience.
- →For a unique and memorable outing, visit in winter to witness the frozen waterfall; dress very warmly, especially for late-night viewing.
- →Consider visiting both during the day and at night to experience the waterfall with and without artificial lighting.
- →Be prepared for potential long waits for parking and dining on exceptionally busy days (e.g., sunny weekends after rain).
- →Download the 'All Trails' app for helpful navigation assistance on the park's diverse trail system.
- →Strictly avoid entering the water near the waterfall or creek due to dangerously strong currents.
- →Utilize public transportation (Blue Line Stop offers 'easy walk' access) to bypass parking challenges on busy days.
- →Locate pavilions in advance for quick shelter if caught in rain.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Can become extremely crowded on weekends, particularly after periods of good weather, leading to significant delays for parking and on-site dining.
- ⚠Reports of 'lots of spray paint' (graffiti) in some areas, which might detract from the natural aesthetics for some visitors.
- ⚠Water currents near the waterfall and creek can be very strong and are explicitly stated as 'not safe to go in', especially after heavy rain.
- ⚠Winter visits, especially late-night ones, are 'cold very cold', requiring appropriate warm clothing.
Price & Value
No specific park entry fees are mentioned in the reviews, suggesting general park access is likely free, offering high value for its scenic beauty, diverse trails, and unique experiences (like the frozen waterfall). Restaurant meals and potential parking fees are additional costs, but not detailed.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Easily accessible via public transportation, with an 'easy walk from the Blue Line Stop'.
- •Features a 'great mix of paved and dirt trails', and 'easy to navigate stairs'.
- •While some trails are paved, the presence of dirt trails and stairs might mean not all areas are fully wheelchair accessible; specific details on full accessibility are not provided.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •An on-site 'Sea the Sea restaurant' is available, but no specific policy regarding bringing outside food is mentioned in the reviews. Given it's a park, outside food is typically permitted, but this is not explicitly confirmed.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is available but can be extremely challenging during peak times, such as Sundays; visitors 'had to be very patient to find a parking spot'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The park was 'packed on Sunday', especially on beautiful days following prolonged rain, leading to 'lines outside at least 50 deep' for the restaurant.
- •Visiting 'early in the morning before any crowds' is noted as 'perfect', indicating significantly lower crowd levels at these times.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Explicit warning observed about 'strong currents' near the waterfall and creek, noting it is 'Not safe to go in' and 'The water was up to the bank', highlighting natural hazards.
- •No specific park-provided safety staff or controlled entry/exit features are mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Saturday/Sunday afternoons, particularly after good weather, if you wish to avoid extreme crowds, difficult parking, and long restaurant queues.
- • Entering the water near the waterfall or creek at any time due to documented strong and unsafe currents.
- • Visiting in winter without adequate very warm clothing, especially for evening experiences.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Annual Patron Parking Permit
Duration: 12 months
Enjoy parking privileges in specially designated spaces at Minnehaha Regional Park and other popular regional parks.
Includes:
- •Parking privileges in designated spaces
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • City of Minneapolis licensed food truck operators can apply for a one-day permit at this park.
- • Picnic areas, including reservable ones, are available for personal use.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Park hours: 6 am-midnight in developed areas, 6 am-10 pm in undeveloped areas (Ordinance PB-2-33).
📅Booking Policy
- • Athletic field, court, or rink reservations require a permit (visit athletic permit page).
- • Park space for corporate events or community celebrations can be reserved (learn how to reserve park space).
- • Outdoor wedding ceremonies require a permit (view wedding permit details).
- • Permit required for special use of parkways (closures, dumpsters, trucks, limousines, carriages).
- • Picnic sites can be reserved for events like birthday parties, reunions, or company picnics (view picnic permit details).
- • Permit required for access to the Minnehaha Dog Park Off-Leash Recreation Area.
- • Bandstand reservations for musical acts or live performances can be made by calling 612-230-6400.
- • Photo and Filming Permits are required for using Minnehaha Falls as a backdrop for various photo sessions.
- • Minnehaha Falls Pergola Garden is noted as a beautiful place for a wedding ceremony (implying booking is available).
- • Youth Sports Friend Requests: Guaranteed if reciprocal and made within one month of registration opening (system-wide policy potentially applicable if Minnehaha hosts youth sports).
- • Youth Sports Post-Deadline Registration: Contact individual parks for space availability after the deadline (system-wide policy potentially applicable if Minnehaha hosts youth sports).
🚗Parking Information
- • Pay parking lot available.
- • Free parking lot available.
- • On-street parking kiosks available.
- • Annual Patron Parking Permit available for designated spaces.
- • Improved additional bike parking (as of 2015).
- • Accessible by bus, bike, drive, or walk.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Peter Qumsiyeh
a week agoSuper scenic Water Fall. Great for pics. The bubbles guy was there so kids had a blast.
Leighane Evans
3 weeks agoBeautiful. Very little litter too, but lots of spray paint. Loved seeing the wildlife and the water fall though!
Ankush Joshi
2 months agoExceptional late night experience, cold very cold but as photos show, it is surreal to see frozen waterfall. Will try and visit in Summer
kerri bartz
10 months agoThe park was packed on Sunday. Had to be very patient to find a parking spot. It was well worth the wait. The Sea the Sea restaurant was packed. There was lines outside at least 50 deep But it was beautiful day out and we have had rain for the last 6-7 days so everybody needed to get out. The waterfall was amazing I highly recommend everybody to see it during the day and at night when they put the light on it. This has got to be one of the best waterfalls we've had in over 10 years The water going down to the waterfall was actually white capping and the currents are very strong. Not safe to go in. The water was up to the bank 2024 June
Jessica Lynn Shull
8 months agoEasy walk from the Blue Line Stop, and the trails are wonderful. A great mix of paved and dirt trails with adorable bridges, easy to navigate stairs, and of course the beautiful falls with multiple vantage points to see them. We went early in the morning before any crowds which was perfect. And followed the trail along the creek to the Mississippi River and back. Download the All Trails app for easy navigation while walking. Lots of historic education signs along the way, too. And if you get caught in the rain like we did, find a pavilion to run under!