Minnehaha Falls is a 53-foot urban waterfall in Minnehaha Regional Park, south Minneapolis. Minnehaha Creek drops over Platteville limestone into a sandstone amphitheater before joining the Mississippi River.
Looking for Minnehaha Falls in Georgia or Missouri?
Yes, especially in spring for strongest flow or in winter when the falls freeze into a towering ice column. One of the easiest scenic stops in Minneapolis: paved access, short walks, transit-friendly, and good for families.
From the waterfall he named her, / Minnehaha, Laughing Water.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, 1855
Spring
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Summer
Photo: Juliabohemian / CC
Fall
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Winter
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Three WPA-era staircases (1936-1942) take you from the rim down to the gorge. The lower deck sits about 50 feet below the lip and gives the most dramatic view. The trail continues downstream 0.4 miles from the base to where Minnehaha Creek joins the Mississippi at Hidden Falls / Mississippi confluence.
One important correction the tourism literature usually skips: Longfellow never visited the falls. He worked from a painting by the artist Seth Eastman and from regional accounts.
The park is 193 acres and easy to pair with a longer walk.
Spring melt running hot through the gauge. 41 cfs at noon. Mist visible from the parking lot. The stairs are still slick from morning rain. Sat on the lower deck for an hour and watched two pileated woodpeckers work the dead cottonwood on the south wall. Sea Salt opens Memorial Day; line will start the same day.
For personal use, no permit is usually required. Stay on signed trails and overlooks, and avoid climbing wet rock near the falls.
Best light is early morning and the last hour of daylight; midday sun can flatten the water and blow out highlights.
For commercial photography, drone use, or large equipment, check permit rules with Minneapolis Park & Rec Board.
Engagement and wedding shoots are common at accessible overlooks and bridge viewpoints.
For ceremonies or reserved areas, check availability and permit rules with Minneapolis Park & Rec Board.
Reserve early for popular weekends and bring any needed power, audio, and weather backup yourself.
Late April through mid-May for peak flow. Late January through mid-February for the frozen ice column.
Yes, in winter when the falls is frozen. The amphitheater behind the cascade is accessible from the south stairs.
Yes, in the pavilion building (open seasonally May to October). Portable toilets are available year-round in the south parking area.
Yes, especially in peak flow (late April–May) or frozen (late January–February). One of the few major American waterfalls inside a major city, walking distance from light rail.
