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Minnesota, United States

Minnehaha Falls

A slow Jan 1: a frozen 53-foot waterfall, river bluffs, a lake loop and a diner. This guide pulls together 1 sight, 4 outdoor spots and 1 place to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Minnehaha Falls with friendsBrowse 6 places
Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota, United States
Places
6

1 See · 4 Outdoors · 1 Eat

Curated routes
1

Minneapolis New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

29°C / 84°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-6°C / 22°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 130 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Minneapolis, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Minnehaha Falls

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Minnehaha Falls in Whittier.

  • See

    Minneapolis Institute of Art

    Free encyclopedic art museum with period rooms and collections from ancient China to modern America.

    Tip Check holiday hours; it is a warm stop on the way back downtown.

    • Whittier
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Minnehaha Falls. 3 of them are free.

  • Minnehaha Falls in Minnehaha FallsPhoto: Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Minnehaha Falls

    53-foot waterfall in Minnehaha Regional Park that freezes into columns of blue ice most winters.

    Tip Take the stairs to the base and look from behind the ice curtain; stay off the frozen creek.

    • Minnehaha
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Late morning
  • Outdoors

    Fort Snelling State Park

    Park at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, with trails on Pike Island and through river-bottom woods.

    Tip Minnesota state parks typically host guided First Day Hikes on Jan 1; a vehicle permit is needed.

    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Midday
  • Lake Nokomis in Minnehaha FallsPhoto: Joe Passe · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Outdoors

    Lake Nokomis

    Lake on the Grand Rounds with a 2.7-mile loop path, popular for winter walks and ice fishing.

    Tip The path is plowed; walk the loop in the afternoon sun.

    • Nokomis
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Outdoors

    Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

    Wooded bluffs along West River Parkway north of Minnehaha, the only true gorge on the Mississippi.

    Tip Walk north from the falls along the parkway trail for river views through bare trees.

    • Longfellow
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Midday

Eat

1 place to eat in Longfellow, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Hi-Lo Diner

    Diner in a restored 1957 dining car on East Lake Street, known for hi-top doughnuts and big breakfasts.

    Tip Go before the falls; it fills by late morning.

    • Longfellow
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Morning

How to fit Minnehaha Falls into a trip

Minnehaha Falls is stop 2 of 2 on our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Minnehaha Falls into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Weather by month, based on Minneapolis

Our climate figures for Minnehaha Falls come from Minneapolis, about 8 km (5 mi) away. Average daily highs run from -6°C / 22°F in January to 29°C / 84°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 130 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Minneapolis. Minneapolis weather (covers Minnehaha Falls) →

Near Minnehaha Falls

7 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Minnehaha Falls questions, answered

How many days do you need in Minnehaha Falls?

On our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 8 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Minnehaha Falls best known for?

A slow Jan 1: a frozen 53-foot waterfall, river bluffs, a lake loop and a diner. Standouts on our list: Minneapolis Institute of Art (Free encyclopedic art museum with period rooms and collections from ancient China to modern America); Minnehaha Falls (53-foot waterfall in Minnehaha Regional Park that freezes into columns of blue ice most winters); Fort Snelling State Park (Park at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, with trails on Pike Island and through river-bottom woods).

When is the best time to visit Minnehaha Falls?

Our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Minneapolis put the warmest highs in July (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in January (-6°C / 22°F) and the most rain in June (about 130 mm).

What are the best things to do in Minnehaha Falls?

Start with Minnehaha Falls, Fort Snelling State Park, Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis Institute of Art and Mississippi Gorge Regional Park. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 1 sight, 4 outdoor spots and 1 place to eat.

What is near Minnehaha Falls?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront (about 8 km / 5 mi), Minneapolis (about 8 km / 5 mi) and Decorah (about 212 km / 132 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Minnehaha Falls with your crew

Open the Minneapolis New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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