Waterfalls have a magical appeal to them and we are extremely lucky to have different ones to explore and discover in the Twin Cities during your waterfall adventure.
Thanks to our Summer Fun Guide Partner
Visitors to the Twin Cities love to view the famous, thundering Minnehaha Falls, but there are other nearby waterfalls in the Twin Cities worth checking out — some you can get up close to, others are majestic landmarks to view from a safe distance.
Explore More: You can make a summer adventure by exploring these waterfalls around town and throughout Minnesota. At the end of this article, we have ideas for creative play and a book by local author, John Coy to incorporate into your waterfall adventure. Learn about waterfalls–weather natural or manmade–and experience the magic!
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Whether you want to make waterfalls your summer focus or just visit one or two, add some of these Twin Cities waterfalls to your summer checklist:
Twin Cities Waterfalls
Fairy Falls
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Fairy Falls Rd N, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
We hope to see Fairy Falls reopen to visitors soon! Learn more about plans for re-opening Fairy Falls for day use here.
Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls Regional Park 1313 Hidden Falls Dr, 1313 Hidden Falls Dr, St Paul, MN 55116
This beautiful park hosts a sweet little spring-fed waterfall that isn’t as well-known as some of its counterparts, but it’s a fun hike to see and you could enjoy some fishing along the Mississippi River in HIDDEN FALLS REGIONAL PARK.
Lyndale Park
1300 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409
The peace garden has a small, rocky waterfall. Many of the rocks in this garden are Oneonta dolomite rocks collected from the Mississippi River bluffs in Wisconsin, collected in the 1920s by Minneapolis park horticulturist, Louis Boeglin. Learn more about that here.
Maple Grove Arboretum
9400 Fernbrook Lane N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
The waterfall is a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot on a paved trail.
Minnehaha Falls
4801 S Minnehaha Park Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417
The most picturesque and famous waterfall in Minneapolis has trails above it and along the river below it. While the falls are beautiful frozen, this is a perfect summer day outing. My kids love to descend the stairs to the creek and find the calm wading spot downstream on a hot day. Stand above in the observation area and you can let the spray cool you of. Cap off your visit with a scoop of ice cream at Sebastian Joe’s – located within Sea Salt Eatery in the park pavilion. You pay a small fee for parking, but the park is beautiful and worth the time.
More family fun nearby:
- The WABUN PICNIC AREA has a beautiful, zero-depth entry wading pool with splash features and a fun new playground.
- Plans are currently in the works to re-open the historic MINNEHAHA DEPOT for Sunday tours.
- We list this park among our favorite KID-FRIENDLY, SHORT HIKES. It is a nice place to introduce the smallest children to hiking.
Minnehaha Falls
Saint Anthony FallsÂ
1 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
The most iconic Minneapolis waterfall looks like an industrialized waterslide because in its history it has needed major repairs. It may not be the most beautiful waterfall, but it’s got a lot of history. You can get the best view of the waterfall from the STONE ARCH BRDIGE – stroll across from MILL RUINS PARK to FATHER HENNEPIN BLUFF PARK. Find a parking area near WATER WORKS.
More family fun nearby:
- Stop in for a tour of ST ANTHONY FALLS LOCK & DAM – offered daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. during the 2021 summer season. Our kids have enjoyed the hands-on exhibits in the visitor center. Ask for a JUNIOR RANGER Activity Book at the St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center during your visit. Kids can earn a badge for completion.
- MILL CITY MUSEUM boasts tons of fun exhibits for kids and it’s an easy walk from the Falls viewing area.
- Read MY MIGHTY RIVER by John Coy. We include this with ideas for exploring waterfalls at the end of this article.
Shadow Falls
30 N Mississippi River Blvd, St Paul, MN 55104
Part of the Great River Passageway and along one Anne’s Favorite St Paul Bike Trails for Families, this scenic park offers space to picnic, picture-perfect panoramas of the Mississippi River, and a beautiful waterfall that cascades over sandstone and limestone. Be careful on your way down to view this truly hidden waterfall; keep little ones close.
Vermillion Falls
Vermillion Falls Park, 215 21st Street E, Hastings, MN 55033
This river and thundering waterfall is probably one of the prettiest features of Hastings. It’s approximately a 40-minute drive southeast of the metro and worth the drive. Take us at our word and stop in at the HASTINGS DAIRY STORE for their amazing chocolate shakes – small shakes are less than $2!
Westwood Hills Nature Center
8300 W Franklin Ave, St Louis Park, MN 55426
Westwood Hills 6-foot waterfall is viewable from an observation deck above the falls and water garden. Pack a picnic and make a day exploring the trails, playing on the nature playground and visiting the nature center. When you are done viewing the falls, head inside nature center to see waterfall art created by local artist Emily Lavalier.
Willow Falls
Willow River State Park 1034 Co Hwy A, Hudson, WI
These falls are a local treat just east of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The hike from the parking lot to the waterfall is about a half mile on a paved trail. Part of it is a fairly steep decline (that you will have to walk up on the way back). But it is worth it! This trip was what ignited an interest in my 11-year-old daughter to find more gorgeous Twin Cities waterfalls this summer. We actually hiked it in October – the fall colors were splendid. Just be warned that this waterfall destination is very popular on a beautiful weekend. Wisconsin State Park Pass required.
6 More Waterfalls Within Two Hours
Cascade Falls
101 N Cascade St, Osceola, WI 54020
Just across the Wisconsin state line from Taylor’s Falls, this picturesque waterfall is a perfect stop during a fun day of exploring the area. More to do:Â Top 10 Things To Do In Taylors Falls, Minnesota with Kids
ETA: 1 hour
Hidden Falls
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, 9700 170th St E, Nerstrand, MN 55053
ETA: 1 hour
Lagoon Park Waterfall
300 Park Dr, Jordan, MN 55352
ETA: 35 minutes
Minneopa Falls
54497 Gadwall Rd, Mankato, MN 56001
ETA: 1 hour, 17 minutes
Minnemishinona Falls
40923 Judson Bottom Road, North Mankato, MN 56003
ETA: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Wolf Creek Falls
Banning State Park, 61101 Banning Park Rd, Sandstone, MN 55072
ETA: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ramsey Falls
Alexander Ramsey Park, 99 E Oak St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
ETA: 2 hours
Minnesota’s Tallest Waterfall!
Minnesota’s tallest waterfall is a good 5-hour drive from the Twin Cities in Grand Portage National Park, near the Canadian border. There is so much to do at this park, that it may be worth a special road trip and campout to visit.
The Minnesota DNR actually recommends 10 State Park in the North Shore Area for viewing Minnesota’s Best Waterfalls, as well as a recommended weekend itinerary for viewing them all. These North Shore State Parks include:
- Banning State Park
- Cascade River State Park
- George Crosby Manitou State Park
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Grand Portage State Park – High Falls
- Judge C.R. Magney State Park – Devil’s Kettle
- Minneopa State Park
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Split Rock Falls
- Temperance River State Park
- Tettegouche State Park – Illgen Falls & Cross River Falls
Meet the 6 National Parks of Minnesota
Explore Waterfalls in Creative Play & Learning
Waterfalls are places along flowing bodies of water where the land falls off sharply, creating a drop in the water flow. Most of the waterfalls on our list are natural occurrences, but this can also be created by people or animals (beavers) with a dam.
Learn more about waterfalls on Science Kids. Bigger kids may be interested in the NASA film water falls and its accompanying lesson plan.
Build Your Own Waterfall
Build your own waterfall at Tamarack Nature Center. The stream in Discovery Hollow is perfect for building your own water features.
View and Create Waterfall Art
Kids could also create waterfall art inspired by the waterfalls visited over the summer. Use our waterfall art Pinterest board for ideas in inspiration or view some waterfall art at these Twin Cities locations to spark creativity:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis: Go on a waterfall hunt at Mia. Using the collections search feature, you can filter down to artworks with a waterfall theme currently on display. Map out your route and search for your favorite pieces. You can do the same thing at the Walker, but I didn’t find any pieces currently on view. Exhibits change, so can always check to see what is on view before you go.
- Westwood Hills Nature Center, St. Louis Park. Local artist Emily Lavalier created Waterfall Observation Deck by collaging recycled books and magazines to capture the park’s waterfall viewed from the deck above. Can you and your kids create waterfall art using collage? If you do, share! We would love to see the finished works.
- Fort Snelling State Park Visitor Center, St. Paul. The visitor center at Fort Snelling State Park uses art and exhibits to help families explore the geology and natural resources of the area, including the wall-size mural pictured below:
Adventures in a Book – My Mighty Journey by John Coy
Read about the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls in My Mighty Journey by local author John Coy. My Mighty Journey tells the 12000-year story of Minnesota told from the perspective of the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River.