Tag: Minnehaha Creek

Big Willow Park-Minnetonka-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure began at Big Willow Park. We previously hiked this park during the winter of 2024.

We hiked past the athletic complexes towards Minnehaha Creek.

The trail winds around the creek offering a beautiful and ever changing landscape.

The wildflowers are always a colorful find along the trail.

We left Big Willow Park and hiked down Minnetonka Blvd towards the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail alongside the Minnehaha Creek. We passed by the Charles H. Burwell House and decided to hike around the gorgeous property.

The Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail was busy with runners, hikers, and bikers. It was an amazing day to be outside.

We followed along the trail through the city of Deephaven making our way to the city of Excelsior. Our goal was to make it to Lake Minnetonka. And that, we did!

Our hike ended at Maynard’s Restaurant on Lake Minnetonka.

Today’s hiking adventure was 11.3 miles.

The first map is of our hike at Big Willow Park and the second map is of our total hike.

Minnehaha Falls-Minneapolis-Minnesota

Posted in Adventure, Christi Neaton, hiking, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Today’s hiking adventure was at Minnehaha Falls Park.

Minnesota received a wonderful blanket of fluffy snow this week. The temperature has been staying pretty cold, too. With that said, I knew Minnehaha Falls would look amazing and it did!

We hiked across Highland Bridge taking in the view of the Mississippi River below.

Getting to the trails along the river is a bit tricky in the winter. The park closes off the staircases leading down to the trails. We jumped over their “suggested closure” and carried on with our hike.

Minnehaha Creek

The trail led us back to the Minnehaha Falls.

Today’s hiking adventure was 2.3 miles.

Minnehaha Falls-Minneapolis-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure began at Minnehaha Falls.

Spring is officially here! The tulips and crabapple trees are blooming all throughout the park.

All the rain Minnesota has received lately was definitely noticed as we passed the fast flowing Minnehaha Creek.

The Minnehaha Falls

We took the steps down to hike the trails below. But first, we had to take in all the different views of the falls.

The trail followed along the Minnehaha Creek.

I find it amazing how many times I can hike an area and still find something new. The following map was located on a large rock. It has been there since 1969. Well, today was the first time I noticed it.

Nature’s colors were so vivid today.

We found lots of names carved into the sandstone.

The trail led us to a wooden bridge. We watched as the Minnehaha Creek emptied into the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River

We decided to hike a new path up the side of the bluff. The Veterans Home was at the top. They have a beautiful campus. We crossed over the Veterans Home bridge.

The Ford Dam on the Mississippi River

We hiked the paved trail towards Coldwater Spring which is located between Fort Snelling State Park and Minnehaha Falls Park.

We made our way back to Minnehaha Falls Park.

Down the long staircase we went to hike the trail along the other side of the Minnehaha Creek.

A different view of the Veterans Home Bridge we crossed earlier.

The trail led us back to the Minnehaha Falls.

Today’s hiking adventure was 5 miles.

Big Willow Park-Minnetonka-Minnesota

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Today’s hiking adventure was at Big Willow Park.

I was excited for today’s hike. The sun was shining and it finally snowed! It was a bit cold, 9 degrees with a real feel of -3, but who cares??!! We have snow!!!

The trail led us to Minnehaha Creek. We climbed up the side of the hill to cross over the bridge next to the railroad track. Once on the other side of the creek we followed the trail alongside the creek.

We could hear the water flowing under the partially frozen Minnehaha Creek.

We looped back under the bridge we previously hiked over and followed the trail alongside the railroad tracks.

I love catching the rising sun through the trees.

The trail led us across the creek.

An old fireplace.

We continued along the trail by the creek.

We looped back under the railroad bridge and followed the creek for a bit. An ice covered sign was posted that showed we were at the site of the old St. Albans Mill, a flour mill that operated in the 1880’s.

Listening to the water trickling under the ice is so peaceful.

We decided to turn around and hike back to our starting point.

Today’s hiking adventure was 5.2 miles.

Minnehaha Parkway (part 2)-Minneapolis-Minnesota

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We continued our hike on the Minnehaha Parkway May 30th, 2023.

We started our hiking adventure this evening where we left off last week, off of Portland Avenue. Another beautiful night to be out, a bit hot and humid but hey, it’s almost summer.

The Minnehaha Creek and Parkway cuts through a large part of South Minneapolis’ neighborhoods. This means there are many different entry points to access the parkway. There are also many different bridges to cross over the creek. Of course, we had to take in all the different views.

The trail continues under Highway 35W.

Under Nicollet Avenue was next. I find hiking under the highways and roads I use all the time so interesting.

Below one of the bridges was a small dirt island where some ducks took up residence.

Vibrant wildflowers grew alongside the trail.

Along the trail are some giant ancient trees. The trunks on some of these trees are ginormous!

The next main road we went under was Lyndale Avenue.

We continued along the parkway trail towards Lake Harriet.

We reached Lake Harriet and decided to turn around and head back to our starting point.

On our way back, we decided to hike on the other side of the creek for a bit for a different view.

Earlier we had crossed under a long pedestrian bridge. We made sure to find a way to cross over it. It was cool to see the trail below that we had just hiked.

We noticed a pine tree still decorated in holiday ornaments. I have to assume that since only the bottom half was decorated, the gnomes must have done it.

Our hiking adventure was 5.5 miles.