One must considering viewing the falls for which a major populated city was named. Unbelievably created by volcanic activity millions of years ago, this showcase is domiciled smack in the heart of Downtown Sioux Falls. Although it does have an elevator lookout with a platform for viewing, it does lack a movie detailing the falls creation as well as history of the Cities development. read more

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As many many, many, many, many, many many other reviewers here have commented, the smell is horrendous. When we pulled into the parking lot for the falls, my husband was certain that our dog had had an accident in the car but I knew that couldn't be.We searched for what the smell could be and then I opened my door to get out and see if it was something outside. The smell punched me in the face like Mike Tyson. We tried to get our bearings and understand what was going on. Everyone else was walking around like nothing was happening. My husband googled it and we read that due to the proximity of the Falls to the wastewater treatment and pork slaughtering plants, there is always a terrible odor here. We decided to try to walk to the falls since we were already there, but we honestly barely made it. Near The Falls there were children playing and running and people walking and chatting like nothing was going on. I had my shirt up over my nose and mouth and at one point started to throw up. I only noticed two or three other people who were holding their noses and having difficulty with the smell. My husband did go up in the tower at the visitor center quickly and I remained outside because they do not allow pets. He said the smell was much improved from up at the top but you still get whiffs of it. We couldn't stay in the park for more than 5 or 10 minutes. It's really a shame because this park has a lot of potential. I don't think we are particularly sensitive to smells, but sewage mixed with death should be a difficult one for most people. The fact that these large families were picnicking and frolicking as if nothing was happening makes me wonder what their homes smell like or how they could possibly get used to or carry on with this stench. This was a terrible experience for us overall and we would never return and never recommend a stop here to anyone. read more

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Falls Park must be a nice place to get outside and enjoy good weather (when it is good), if you're a local. As a visitor it really isn't much of anything. The water levels were low when we visited in July, so the the Falls weren't exactly raging. The local storm water comes off the nearby roads, sidewalks, parking lots, etc., so it isn't very clean water at all. And there is a lot of trash - assume it's flowing in from the streets - piles up around and in the water. read more

Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This beautiful, historic park on the falls of the Big Sioux is great for walking, running, or driving around at the holidays to see the extensive light displays. You can go up into the tower during business hours. Wear good shoes in winter or wet weather. There's a linear trail that extends beyond the park and is good for running, walking, bike riding, or perhaps birding as well. read more

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This is a great part of nature right in the city! It's awesome that the city made the falls accessible to all, including a viewing tower with elevator access. There are parking lots with free parking on both sides of the falls. There are many viewpoints for photo ops and even a small bridge so you can grab the ultimate shot. The park also has historical displays/signs about the history of the area, although I couldn't read some of them because I have a sensitive nose and the water was a bit stinky. The other people in the park seemed unaffected though! There's a small gift shop on the grounds if you want to buy some swag before you leave. read more

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Get up close and personal with the Falls! I didn't quite realize that you can hop on rocks to get a closer view and I guess even if you wanted to touch the water. I can share my daughter was disgusted by the smell of the water on a hot summers day. There was no touching! Overall it's pretty cool to see how the earth has settled and this is where the falls are at this time. There are plenty of vantage points. We went twice and had two different points to see. Day 1 the kids and I were at the bottom of the falls where we climbed out on the rocks to get closer. I held my 3 year olds hand and kept reminding him to go slow and we were more than fine. The next morning we took the guys to show them and we stuck to a side view with an observation deck. I would say if in Sioux Falls, why not?! read more

Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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I only stopped by Falls Park for a bit while passing through Sioux Falls (why not hit up the namesake!), but it was an area I'd surely spend some time at if I lived nearby. The falls had enough water flowing to get a good feel for the water movement and to be able to see the various levels of the falls, which is really cool for an environment inside a city. Normally you think about having to drive somewhere and possibly hike to find a cool feature like this. The park contains not only the falls, but also a cafe, an overlook tower, signage around the history of the area, and some old buildings/ruins from a mill that ran on the site in the late 1800s which was interesting to read about. read more

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The falls are nice but there isn't a lot to see. We did it in an hour and then checked out the town. read more

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This is a large and pretty park surrounding the falls in Sioux Falls. We got to see the falls, the cafe above the falls, and the ruins of the Queen Bee flour mill. The observation deck in the tower, which is free, gives you a nice panoramic view of the falls and surroundings. I enjoyed the history of the falls area, and everyone I encountered was friendly and full of information for me. As for the falls themself, the water is brown (polluted, silt?) but they were still pretty. This would be a nice place to spend a couple hours relaxing. read more

Amazing place to visit, the falls are spectacular and the park is clean. Highly recommend read more

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Would loved to have spent more time to read the history on all of the interpretive signs. Do yourself a favor and block out more time than just 30 min to visit. I'm sure these are spectacular in the spring! read more

Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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Worth a visit. The falls and the river that runs from it are a pretty sight. Pretty walk, and a few old ruins around for the history buffs. Deducting a star for two reasons: the view/skyline have just been polluted by office buildings all around it (pretty disappointing), and strange homeless people wander the whole grounds. One was staring at my girlfriend, frozen in place like zombie making everyone uncomfortable. Another was butt-naked in the men's room digging around in the toilet. Doesn't feel very safe around there if you're alone. Maybe I should've deducted more but I'm trying to be fair. The water also has a strong, foul odor which seems to come and go. Also wishing the cafe that overlooks the falls had more reasonable hours. read more

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We were in Sioux Falls for one night. I saw the photos of The Falls and knew we needed to at least go by. It was so beautiful. Listening to the rush of the water was so relaxing. If you visit make sure to read the posted plaques about the history. Very memorable place. read more

It was a nice to see a water fall so close to town and there is a nice place to go for walks once the weather warms up some!

We stopped here while staying in Sioux Falls SD. We were happy to see the falls were flowing and there was plenty of water. The last time we visited there was a trickle of water. It is a very nice park. Lots of room for walking and viewing the falls. Would be a nice place for a picnic. I would highly recommend stopping by if your in the area. read more

Falls Park - Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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While traveling thru Sioux Falls SD we stopped at this lovely park. We've been here once in the past but then there wasn't much water flowing. Today it was lovely outside and quite a bit of water flowing. It's a very well kept park. Nice for hikes, picnics, and just watching the water. We had a nice time. read more

Falls Park - Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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Fun open space. Can walk around the grassy area or navigate the ricks. Great photo ops. Nicely maintained space with lots of parking read more

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A nice free attraction that's worth the visit. Plenty of parking once you arrive. When we first got there, we went up a large overlook tower, which was awesome. There is an elevator, but we choose the stairs. Probably 8-10 flights, so not bad. You can walk around the whole upper deck on the tower. The best sights are out at the falls. After the tower, head down to the falls. There are probably 3-4 good carved out spots for pictures. Walking paths go around the whole park and you can probably spend a good hour here. read more

Falls Park - In front of the falls. - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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This park is a little slice of gorgeous nature in the middle of the city. I visited about 10yrs ago and my memory of how wonderful this park was did not fade. We went back again last week and, although, we are dealing with a drought, the beauty of this park still did not fail to impress! If you are in the area and have even an hour to spare, make this park a priority stop. Room to park RV's and many great neighborhood delights within walking distance. read more

Falls Park is a pleasant little stop just off Interstate 90 crossing the state line border into South Dakota. When I saw that the star attraction here was the waterfalls, then I had to sign up, lol. I'm a sucker for anything involving waterfalls, hehehe. Falls Park is located in Sioux Falls, SD. It's easy to come on over and hang out. After I parked and got out of my car, the waterfalls were right in front of me. I barely had to walk anywhere. Granted, the falls weren't too statuesque or majestic looking but it didn't matter, still coming here to stroll around was just what I needed along my summer road trip. They do allow you to walk on top of the rocks for closer views of the falls. I appreciated this aspect. For me being a savvy photographer I'm always on the lookout for the best perspectives. You can cross a little pedestrian bridge as well. The setting with the falls in the backdrop was scenic from standing on the bridge. Walking over the bridge you have accessible pathways in either direction to climb on the rocks for good picture taking moments. There were scattered areas of water bordering around the rocks. I was thinking of taking my shoes off and stepping into the water. It looked quite refreshing for a hot summers day. I actually snapped some worthwhile photos from each end of the falls. I'd suggest the right hand section as being probably the best viewing spot where you can have the falls at your disposal. Continuing along on the right handed side...there were worthwhile viewpoints to stop and appreciate the surroundings. It's really your choice where to venture off to and hang out at. I visited during the week back in early July and it wasn't overly crowded. There was certainly enough room and for everyone to enjoy the park. I was able to leisurely take my time roaming around without feeling bombarded by strangers. There's no fee to enter Falls Park. I'd say it's probably one of the more recommended sights and activities to do within the area. They're situated right within town so you're not forced to trek far to feel like you ventured off the beaten path into nature. Falls Park seemed ideal for bringing a blanket and having a picnic. There's plenty of grass to sit down on with shaded areas underneath trees. They also have a cafe for sitting down inside a restaurant. I spent roughly 2 hours exploring around the grounds. I really did have fun getting a chance to relax while watching the waterfalls splash down the rockside. For my first ever stop in Sioux Falls I was pleasantly surprised visiting here. It was a good experience overall and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to witness another scenic waterfall. read more

I remember coming here when I was a kid visiting my Mom's hometown. And I recently visited the park again. Being from Oregon, I'm used to seeing some cool waterfalls, but I never get tired of them. The pink hues of the Sioux Quartzite were a wonderful contrast to the muddy water of the Big Sioux River when I was there. Those beautiful rock structures are so different from what I'm used to. Water has been, and always will be, a source of peace for me. And this park really highlights how rock and water are harmonious parts of this great earth. My cousin and I walked all around the park--down on the rocks near the waters edge to hear the roar of the falls, past the old mill, over the bridge, and finally up in the tower to see the panorama of it all. And it's free. If you're in Sioux Falls, you won't want to miss it. read more

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One of the two major tourist places I visited while visiting the Sioux Falls South Dakota area was here at Falls Park. It was as beautiful in photos as it was in person. Life has taken me to a bunch of places. At this moment in time, it has taken me here to Falls Park here instead in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The park itself was fairly large in size, but small enough to be contained within a sizable area. The main centerpiece of the park was the waterfall that cascades in the middle of the park. It was quite lovely and nice to see on a warm September day during Labor Day weekend 2023. Falls Park is well maintained by the local government here and love the fact that its for everyone. During my visit here to Falls Park, we saw many families with small children visiting the park. My friend and I spent about 45 minutes here, with a pitstop for a photo of the falls. We could see many people line up to get a chance at photos with the falls. For me though, I enjoyed the falls without having to walk down to it. I even took a selfie with it from the parking lot. The location is practically centralized in the city and a short drive from the Sioux Falls regional airport. The most impressive thing is that everything in the park was green especially in the summer. I guess you could say it's well maintained for sure. There's plenty of room to socalization and it is nice to come here when you need a break from the urban rat race. Plus, plenty of space for social distancing, if that's a thing anymore. Definitely a tourist attraction in Sioux Falls, even though it's a community park with a nice waterfall centerpiece. It attracts everyone to its borders. The overall experience here at Falls Park, Sioux Falls, South Dakota was definitely something to see. The best thing about this was that we did not have to pay admission for it. Free free and more free is music to my ears. Thankfully, there is a restroom on premises, so my friend and I made use of it during our time here. Falls Park is very beautiful for a community park and we walked around before heading for lunch. During our 45 minutes here, we saw a lady posing in front of the falls and managed to get wet, since she managed to fall into the water. It was a scene for sure, but not without concern for the lady. She ended up being okay, just alot of wet like she jumped into a swimming pool or a lake. My friend told me about the pink-ish rocks that graced the area. They are oddly shaped rocks that are apparently predominately from the area and helped form Falls Park. It was interesting to read on Google afterwards on the history of Falls Park, even though there was informational signage around the property. We came here around 2pm, but I figured that daylight hours is good for everyone, but can be sketchy late into the night. Just be careful at night into the early morning hours for sketchy individuals. Still recommended for sure, since that's basically the only thing Sioux Falls, South Dakota has in terms of tourist attractions. Falls Park is located in Siox Falls, South Dakota. It's physical address is off N Weber Avenue. As mentioned before, admission is FREE to enter the park. If you were to be dining in the restaurant inside the park, then, of course, there will be money involved, I'm sure. For the most part though, the experience here was very welcomed, even after a whirlwind travel from HNL red eye flight of 7 1/2 hours. I arrived here with my friend by car, so there was plenty of parking here for anyone and everyone for parking. If you rely on public transportation, I'm not sure if the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has a local public transportation system already in service. Best to get a rental car or have Uber / Lyft if the above doesn't work out for you. While it is Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it was a nice respite from all that travel. The scenery was beautiful and the greenery was remarkable. Wish I could have stayed longer, but I had things to do in Lennox. If you have the chance to go, make sure you come here first on your list in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+ read more

The falls is beautiful! It is a very short walk from the parking lot to get closed to the falls, very easy walk. We were there in the early morning and it was not crowded at all. We climbed up to the tower and it gave us a great view of the park. read more

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An absolute must-see when in Sioux Falls! The park is beautiful and well maintained; park visitors also seemed very respectful as I did not see any litter or dog doo-doo while walking around the falls. I enjoyed and learned from the informational signage that was placed around the park regarding the history of the mill and the area itself. You can walk right out on the rocks to the water's edge. If you are like me, you take a look at the little creatures inhabiting the pools in spaces between the rocks and along the river's edge... found an adorable baby snapping turtle that I turned into an impromptu stream ecology/snapping turtle lesson for those in my group and others that were curious ;) Great place for photo-ops and picnics!! Definitely keep any small children or water-loving dogs away from the river as there was quite a current, even in the drought conditions occurring during my visit to the area. I do wish I would have taken more photos but it was nearly 100F the day I visited. I would love to go back and enjoy the tranquility of the river and search for more aquatic critters :) read more

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Hard to believe these beautiful falls are right within the city limits of Sioux Falls. A large grassy area on either side of the falls create a beautiful park like setting. Worth a visit while in the area. read more

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Nice place to take a stroll and check out one of the few nature areas offered in Sioux Falls. Walk along the paths and read about the geology and history with the mill and other businesses that started the city. I wouldn't go in the water though, didn't look super clean. But it was nice to walk around. read more

Falls Park - Magical Sioux Falls - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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This place could not be more relaxing and beautiful! What a wonderful place to experience! My 3 oldest kids (13, 7, and 2) loved climbing all over the rocks and watching the various falls. There's a cute little souvenir shop, as well as really clean bathrooms. There is also a cafe on-site, but we didn't make it there. This is a great place to just walk around and relax or even bring a picnic blanket and lunch. It's super close to downtown Sioux Falls which was nice. We came back here multiple times to let the kids explore while we were in town visiting. read more

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The Falls are pretty but the pedestrian access SUCKS. Especially if you're going to the nearby Saturday farmers market across the street. No sidewalks and you have to walk on the road a lot. Why do you hate pedestrians so much Sioux Falls? read more

Nice little area here. We stayed a night in Sioux Falls making this a 'must see' while we were in town. The view was best from the observation tower but climbing down on the rocks within the falls was also a neat experience. We also liked the proximity to the downtown area. Cheers. read more

Falls Park - Falls Park as seen from the observation deck - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This was a nice pitstop during our road trip to the West coast that has ample parking and nice paved walkways next to the falls and throughout the park. It's a stop that you can spend some time sitting outside for lunch or a quick stop and go. The falls itself is not super large, still something cool to see, but may not be something I seek out to see again. It was a nice stop to break up the long drive! read more

Falls Park - Sioux Falls - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Beautiful park in Downtown South Dakota! Sewage look and smell was a negative. Tower was really cool. Lots of stairs. Loved the building over the bridge. Water level was crazily high because of all the flash flooding in the time of my visit. Some viewing platforms were completely submerged including pathways, light poles, rocks, piles of rubbish, and other stuff near it. We were devastated to hear two people falling in and seeing the police searching for them. The only reason for 4-stars instead of 5. I'm thinking they were on the viewing platform and got washed away. Also, please keep your kids away from the slippy rocks. I saw two kids standing on a rock covered in water from huge splashes and waterfalls forming all around it. Little kids dangling off the edge of the bridge was a heart stopping sight. Just please keep them off the edge, please! read more

Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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This really is an American treasure! For starters, I was very excited to see this after reading reviews and seeing pictures. Expectations were high and admittedly, I'm a history and nature buff. It not only lived up to the hype but really made the trip special. The views are incredible and as far as parks go, this place is super clean. The walk, the weather and the scenery made for a really memorable event and some terrific photos. Now, I've read the unimpressed comparisons to Niagara Falls. As a former central New Yorker who has spent numerous days at Niagara Falls, I can tell you this experience is starkly different but no less impressive. It's not about the size of the falls but the way the Falls here are grounded in natural beauty. Sure, it's much smaller but the pink quartzite is breathtaking. The multiple falls provide some unreal scenery that evokes a sense of timelessness that Niagara Falls lacks in some ways. I love them both but don't sleep on this natural gem because it's smaller. In many ways Falls Park is truly unique in its own right. read more

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We stopped in Sioux Falls to check this area out on a road trip. When we got in the parking lot and opened our doors it smelled like you were walking into an open sewer. We immediately got back in the car and left. read more

Place was very beautiful and clean. Accessible by bike and walking baths. We actually biked there from our air bnb. Excellent views all around. This couldn't be helped, but the water was low so we unfortunately couldn't see the falls in all its glory. Still a great stopping point along biking Sioux Falls. Plus the farmers market was right across the falls! Twas a perfect Saturday morning adventure! read more

Falls Park - Falls - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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The smell... I can still taste it. It will haunt me for weeks maybe months. The place is beautiful!! I know because I have pictures and I can look at them and kind of remember but while I was there I was just to distracted by the smell. I thought I would get used to it after few minutes and you kinda do but then a dust of wind will bring a fresh wave of smell for your enjoyment. Definitely worth the stop. Not very far from the interstate. Totally recommend, suck it up with the smell for few minutes. read more

Falls Park - Waterfalls with the last light of the day - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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If you come here, don't expect a large waterfall like Niagara or Shoshone. Rather, Falls Park features MANY very small waterfalls and ample angles to view them from. There are so many--with so many different angles--that it's hard to get good pictures of them. Falls Park is a pretty large park. You could easily spend a couple hours here wandering around, exploring some of the historic buildings and other things to do, while taking in the multitude of little waterfalls. Definitely a great place to take a little break and relax. It's clean, mostly quiet, and reasonably scenic. read more

Falls Park - Waterfall - Parks Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Falls Park in Sioux Falls South Dakota is a great place to enjoy nature. If you have kiddos, it is a great place to take them and burn off some energy too! There is not only waterfalls there, but they also have a museum, a cafe, and a farmers market! If you happen to be in Sioux Falls, I would visit falls park! There is something there for everyone! read more

Beautiful park to walk in the early morning before it was too hot (90+). Saw the ground squirrel (13 lined), ducklings & geese. Went back in the middle of the day to tour the Stockyard experience and lookout tower (restrooms & elevator available). Wish we had time to see the falls at night, as we heard they put lights on them. Glad we stopped here! read more

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I could tell that on a nice day this park would be very enjoyable but the cold rainy weather on the day of our visit was not conducive for doing extensive exploring. We did go up in the viewing tower which was a nice perspective and we did wander through part of the falls area. It was very well done. A real surprise, as was the downtown area itself (if only the weather was better...) The staff in the visitor center was super friendly and helpful and informative. The other weather factor on this day was the wind direction... boy the stench from the nearby Smithfield pork slaughterhouse was nasty. I don't know how people live near that plant but that smell was gagging. Don't let that stop you from visiting but just hope the wind isn't from the north! read more

I really enjoyed Falls Park! I didn't stay long, just a quick stop on a road trip out West. Parking was easy to find and we ventured right into the park from there. I loved seeing the falls, and the sound of the water was nice and soothing. I spent most of my time near the water (which you can get pretty close to if you're feeling adventurous!). There's also plenty of green space and a nice little path to walk. We did maybe half the path and enjoyed it. There was a bit of a smell in the air that my companions and I noticed right away, but it wasn't terrible and didn't ruin our enjoyment of the park. I'd definitely visit Falls Park again if I'm back in the area -- which I hope to be! Sioux Falls is a fun. read more

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