Explore Frozen Minnehaha Falls
Added by Dan Mirocha
Climbing a frozen waterfall. Incredible contrast of colors between the white snow, blue sky and brown rock. Easy parking. Experiencing a summertime place in the winter.
Minnehaha Falls Park in South Minneapolis is a big draw during the spring, summer and fall months. Experiencing an urban waterfall and scenic hiking trails in the middle of a major city is a treat. However, come wintertime, the falls freeze and a spectacular scene emerges. Many people flock to the frozen falls to climb and hike.
Park your car at one of the many lots on property at Minnehaha Falls Park and follow the sign toward the falls. Upon arriving at the top of the falls, you'll see a long, winding staircase leading to the base. Traversing the steep stairs is a bit challenging, as they are often completely iced over. Some portions of the stairs have small, man-made paths alongside so that people can slide down on their butts. Just before reaching the end of the staircase, you may notice a 'Do Not Enter' sign posted by the Minneapolis Park Board. Clearly, it is more of a recommendation than a mandate, as plenty of people climb over the rope to explore the frozen falls.
In order to capture the scale of the falls, I used a GoPro Hero3+ Silver. The wide-angle lens does a nice job of showcasing the massive falls and the tiny people below exploring. Because this GoPro model doesn't have a display on the back, I framed most of my shots using the GoPro app on my iPhone. I also used timelapse mode (one shot every 0.5 seconds) in order to capture a variety of pictures in a single take. To edit my photos, I like to use Snapseed.
Go Pro.
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Join the communityReviews
Rate this AdventureFun, but be careful!
Exploring the frozen falls is something we’ve done since we were kids. Please note it is illegal & you could get in trouble for heading out on the ice. Also note it can be quite treacherous getting out there on frozen stone steps & then climbing the ice to get behind the frozen falls but it really is quite amazing & worth the risk, in my opinion.
5.0
Could be better
If you really want to explore frozen water go to the Apostle Islands. If you get caught behind the "Police Line Do Not Cross" or walking on the stairs prepare for a day in court, they are a lot more serious about this now than before.
2.0
Late Season
Checked out the falls for the first time yesterday, I'll definitely be going again. Unfortunately with the warm temps it wasn't as frozen as I was expecting. Can make a fun trip of it if you park in Ft. Snelling and walk the three miles each way.
4.0
Better when frozen
I enjoy Minnehaha Falls even more when it's frozen! It's awesome to explore behind the falls, but there's been "talk" of more enforcement of the do not enter sign.
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
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