Minneopa State Park: Southern Minnesota's Hidden Gem

 

An Unexpected State Park Discovery

As far as scenery goes, much of southern Minnesota consists of agricultural fields as far as the eye can see. Many native Minnesotans, like me, head north, past the Twin Cities, or to the Mississippi River bluffs on the southeastern side of the state for a more visually stimulating nature experience. 

However, just three miles south of Mankato, Minnesota, is a little creek called Minneopa that feeds the southern part of the state's largest, most scenic waterfalls. It is located on Gadwell Road, just off Highway 169, quietly tucked away in the middle of the corn and beans. 

I recently discovered this little gem of a waterfall and the small state park that governs it while traveling back and forth to visit my granddaughter in the state's west-central part. I happened upon it while searching for a more scenic route than the flat corn and bean fields; I chose the Minnesota River back roads path and was pleasantly surprised to find this beauty along the way. 

The surprising part is that I have lived within an hour of this region all my life, often venturing to and through Mankato, yet I had no idea it was even there.

Minneopa: Water Falling Twice

The name Minneopa comes from the Dakota language and means "water falling twice," a description that fits these falls. The upper falls mark where Minneopa Creek drops 10 feet. 

A lovely pavilion and picnic area sit right next to the creek and the upper falls. This part of the park also hosts a small historical museum that shares a bit of the history of the early settlements, both Native American and European, that inhabited the area before it became a state park in the early 1900s. An incident involving Jesse James is said to have occurred in this area as well. 

The Lower Falls

The lower falls drop about 40 feet over an approximately eight-foot ledge and are the more impressive of the two views. The first set of photos features the upper falls, and the second set shows the lower falls. The surrounding flora complements and highlights the beauty and character of both the lower and upper views. Fauna may include white-tailed deer, beaver, turkey, hawks, and eagles, none of which I encountered. I did, however, encounter a decent-sized snapping turtle on its way to the river. 

Winter Visit

My first visit to Minneopa was in the fall, when the foliage was bursting with autumn colors. I thought I had seen its fullest beauty, but a winter visit made me reconsider. The photo below, with a heart in the upper falls and unique snow and ice formations, offered stiff competition to my fall visit. The snow and frozen falls gave the whole park a different flavor and feel.

Winter Visit Notes

A few side notes about Minnesota State Parks: in the winter, they are, for the most part, closed as it concerns the on-site offices, modern bathroom facilities, and groomed walking trails. However, they are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and some parks provide primitive outdoor bathroom facilities. 

A beautiful thing about this particular park, as far as winter visits go, is that if you can get into the parking area, it is not a far walk to the upper part of the waterfalls. 

The stairs down to the lower view are not shoveled, and you can slip and slide your way down them at your own risk. I have done it a few times, but getting back up is a bit more challenging in this condition.

* Due to an unfortunate accident, the lower falls staircase is closed indefinitely. 

Access to the Creek Level of the Lower Falls

This particular park is family-friendly in terms of safety. The steep edges are heavily fenced, and a wide, sturdy limestone stairway hugs the Jordan Sandstone walls. (more on Jordan sandstone later) These stairs will lead you down to the river level. 

To get right up next to the lower falls or in front of them, you can use the two little foot trails on either side of the river. These trails are ungroomed, but they are not long or challenging. You might have to grab a sapling or two or use tree roots for some leverage and traction in a couple of spots along the way. 

* Due to an unfortunate accident, the lower falls can no longer be accessed. 

Hiking Trails

As shown in the photo above, a small bridge crosses the creek and leads to a trail that offers the closest, most up-close view of the lower falls. Turn right after crossing the bridge. The trail also offers further hiking opportunities to the left. The trail beside the stairs puts you directly across from the falls, with a full frontal view. Either side makes for some great photo opportunities, and you will more than likely see many others partaking in the spectacular scenes that can be discovered here. 

It may be tempting to jump in and experience all that compelling, beautiful flowing water. However, swimming is not recommended here because of chloroform, a known contaminant in the water.

Jordan Sandstone 

This area is composed of Jordan Sandstone, as mentioned earlier. This creates an interesting phenomenon: the waterfalls are moving upstream. The soft sandstone beneath the hard shelf-rock ledge that the water spills over erodes, causing the shelf above to break off occasionally. These broken shelves can be seen below the falls and along the banks of the creek. This sandstone is so soft and porous that you can rub it off the walls. It makes an excellent medium for graffiti, which is prominently displayed on just about every exposed surface in this area.

Jordan, Minnesota, from which this sandstone gets its name, contains the same material and is just 50 miles northeast of this area. If you like geology, these unique little places can be fascinating pockets of interest. 

Bison

Just a hop, skip, and a jump around the corner are some other unique features of Minneopa State Park, including bison. You can find these beautiful beasts by taking a right at the park exit, then a quick left. Next, turn left again onto Highway 68. The very next right leads to the campground area, which shares the park's perimeter with the Bison range. 

The bluffs and river views quickly give way to a flat prairie area littered with large boulders. These boulders are unique to the landscape and are believed to be glacial drop-offs. The DNR is currently working to restore this area to its original savannah-type terrain. 

Bison visibility is unpredictable. I have seen them up close, and at other times they graze far out in the field. The bison move around a lot, so take your time and enjoy the views. The drive is closed for winter visits. 

Keep in mind that bison aren't the friendliest creatures, and they can sprint three times faster than you can. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not get out of your vehicle during this drive-through experience. 

Seppman Mill 

The historic Seppman Mill can only be accessed via the bison drive. At the opposite end of the entrance, a gate with a cattle grate requires you to drive over it to complete the loop up the hill where the Mill is located. This area is outside the bison range's fencing, so you can get out and explore a bit, yet it still overlooks the bison range. Parking is just beyond the Mill and the trail up to it.

Louis Seppman, a German immigrant, built the mill in the mid-1860s. It faced a series of disasters, from fire to tornado, and was eventually abandoned for financial reasons. 

Remnants of an Ancient Lake

From this vantage point, you can look across the prairie that was once the basin of an ancient lake. During my spring visit, I was treated to a beautiful display of a wide variety of wildflowers, set against the verdant valley, blue skies, and a herd of happy grazing bison. The framed photos in this section are a snippet from that visit. 

Mount Kato

Another nearby feature south of Mankato is a ski area called "Mount Kato." Jimmy Chin, a renowned mountain climber and photographer, started out here and broke his leg at this very ski spot. National Geographic includes and expands on these details of Jimmy's Minnesota childhood in an August 10, 2015, article titled "Why Jimmy Chin Takes Pictures While Climbing and Skiing Mountains." 

Mount Kato isn't classified as a mountain, but rather as a large hill that gives the flatlanders in this area an excellent opportunity to try the sport. 

I hope you have enjoyed the tour of this little Minnesota gem that bursts with diversity. I hope you also discover, as I have, that it often pays to dawdle, enjoy the journey, and stop to smell the flowers. 

(Bonus) Minnemishinona Falls

As a bonus, Minnemishinona Falls, a recently discovered waterfall (new to me) not too far from Minneopa, is worth a visit. This waterfall isn't as well known because it was on private property until 2007. Nicollet County eventually purchased the waterfall area, made it accessible to the public, and opened it as a roadside park in 2007. There are no trails to walk at this park, but the visual experience is well worth the visit. 

Location

The park is located on Judson Bottom Road, which runs along the north side of the Minnesota River on the outskirts of North Mankato. It can be accessed from Bison Drive by turning right at the exit/entrance onto 68, heading west. Drive about 8 miles, then turn right into Judson. Just outside of Judson, turn right onto Judson Bottom Road. Minnemishinona is about 10 minutes straight ahead. There is a sign and a parking area. 

Please be respectful of the surrounding and adjacent privately owned properties and remain within the designated park area. 

But Wait, There's More!

Another offering in this area is the scenic bike trails that meander through the river valleys and bluffs. You can find maps at state park offices or online. 

© 2016 Tamarajo