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Outdoors Minnehaha Falls

Fort Snelling State Park

An outdoor spot in Minnehaha Falls, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Midday.

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Why go

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

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Minnehaha Falls, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 sight. The closest of our other picks is Minnehaha Falls, 2.6 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Price
$
Time needed
2 hr
Best time
Midday

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Minnehaha Falls. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Minnehaha Falls

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

    Outdoors · 2.6 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Minnehaha Falls

    53-foot waterfall in a city park with creek trails to the Mississippi.

    Outdoors · Minneapolis · 2.6 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Lake Nokomis

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

    Outdoors · 3.5 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Mississippi Gorge Regional Park

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

    Outdoors · 3.6 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Hi-Lo Diner

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

    Food · 4.7 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Matt's Bar

    Corner tavern claiming the original 'Jucy Lucy' cheese-stuffed burger.

    Food · Minneapolis · 5.0 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Fort Snelling State Park is a stop on our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Minnehaha Falls

Fort Snelling State Park is our only outdoors pick in Minnehaha Falls; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Minnehaha Falls guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Minneapolis

Our climate figures for Minnehaha Falls come from nearby Minneapolis. Average daily highs in Minneapolis run from 22°F in January to 84°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Fort Snelling State Park itself, we suggest: Midday.

Modelled monthly averages for Minneapolis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Minneapolis weather by month (covers Minnehaha Falls).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Fort Snelling State Park, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
44.88583, -93.17806
Destination
Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota

Fort Snelling State Park: quick answers

How much time do you need at Fort Snelling State Park?

Plan on about 2 hours at Fort Snelling State Park. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Fort Snelling State Park?

Our pick: Midday. Insider tip: Minnesota state parks typically host guided First Day Hikes on Jan 1; a vehicle permit is needed.

Which TripsCircle routes include Fort Snelling State Park?

Fort Snelling State Park appears on Minneapolis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Fort Snelling State Park to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Minnehaha Falls.

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Lists & regions

Also in Minnehaha Falls

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.