Trying to be more intentional about exploring parks around Minneapolis this year, and Hidden Falls seemed like the perfect place to start. We usually default to Minnehaha Falls across the river, but I'd never actually explored this side--which looks to be really sprawling with new townhomes and modular single family homes. We parked near the dam and walked along the trail to reach the stairs leading down to Hidden Falls. Heads up: the walk down is a little precarious since there's no railing for most of the stairs, but it's not very steep and the trek itself is pretty short. The falls themselves were a bit disappointing at the moment--more of a trickle than a waterfall--but it is early in the season. That said, the forested park area it winds through was really nice, and made the visit worth it regardless. I can already tell this place is probably stunning in the summer when everything is green and flowing! Even with the lower water level, it was a great way to explore somewhere new and great to see there were so many people already exploring the park with it being chilly still! read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Beautiful park near the city. Grabbed some take out and found an empty picnic table in the middle of the day - lots of parking! Watched a few boats launch, saw some geese, enjoyed watching people along the shore. Picnic tables near the water at the North Entrance. Check it out! read more

Hidden Falls Park - Picnic tables near the boat launch in North lot - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This is an easy hike, with a nice walking trail. I enjoy the views of the river the most, as well as the waterfall. There is also a boat launch on the river, which I've used for kayaking down the Mississippi. read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hidden Falls was the prefect park to hangout at for about an hour. The walk around the park from where I was parked was about a mile and a half with views of the river and of course the hidden waterfall. I definitely recommend this as a quick weeknight walk, you can easily go to the waterfall and back if that's all you're interested in or make it as difficult as you want! read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

This wasn't my 1st visit to Hidden Falls Park, but today was the 1st time I actually found the waterfalls :-) Tip: The waterfalls are pretty nice, especially given that this park is smack-dab in the middle of a city On the down side, the paths here are not well maintained, and there's almost no signage. Getting to the falls involves walking over and around quite a number of fallen trees. While it has its shortcomings, if you want to seek out a quiet place to enjoy some time in nature, Hidden Falls isn't a bad place to head for :-) read more

See all

Beautiful falls. Nice walking trail. Lots of things to see. Lovely tower to see it all before you make the trek. If you have the time, the cafeteria here is really good! Eat with a view. read more

See all

Our first of hopefully many visits. Pleanty of seating for viewing and picnics. Operational bathrooms. Some paved trails others... not so much. I loved just sitting and watching the water stream bye. read more

Hidden Falls Park - The Mississippi was high and flowing very fast today. Such a bucolic setting. - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

After this morning's farmers market, I ended up strolling along the waters taking in the fresh smell of petrichor. The cool misty fresh air clung to my skin and the feeling of calmness set in. This park is an amazing park and is a spot where people come agate and fossil hunting. You can find your agates as well as fossils from the paleozoic era all in one place. This place is rarely visited many people visit Crosby Park across the river so this one is generally not busy. I do believe you need to have a permit for fossil hunting and correct me if I'm wrong they are no longer issuing them. Even with that said this is a great place to bring your family and friends. They have picnic areas as well as lots of parking. #hiddenfallsregionalpark read more

See all

People complaining about not being able to find the falls. Look at the name, dude, then enjoy the adventure. I took the challenge and finding the falls wasn't so hard after all. And once I arrived, what a beautiful treasure awaited. You can't compare them to any of the grandeur falls (i.e. Victoria, Niagara) but they're still pretty cool, especially for a hidden spot within a Minnesota park. It was pretty crowded in the summer, but if you're patient, and cross over, walking towards the falls, you'll catch a spot to take a photo and/or selfie without a crowd in the background (even if just for like 2 seconds). read more

This was a beautiful trail filled with gorgeous views, a lovely waterfall, and a stunning little stream that flows down to the river. Be sure to bring bug spray, or they will get you! Otherwise we had a great experience here. read more

See all

A great walk down the river with a cool waterfall. Pet friendly and bike friendly for the most part.

Very beautiful location to go for a hike or just to clear your mind. I went on a sunny day and it was cooler out so it made my experience very nice. If you have not checked out Hidden falls, I would recommend you do! read more

All the years we lived in St. Paul, we never made it down here. I guess I didn't know it existed back then. After doing a google search for parks with waterfalls, we stumbled across this one. Nice park, pretty quiet. Not too many people here when we visited. Many picnic tables, cooking pits, a nice view of the river, restrooms and a nice short hike up to the falls. The water was not very heavy flowing and the falls appear more man made, but still nice to see. There are a long set of stairs and a good work out to climb to the top part of the park. Nice park to come for peace and quiet and perhaps a picnic. read more

Three stars because it is flooded right now, but I think this place would be awesome when the water is lower. Currently (early April) the parking lots and entrances are closed due to high water. We were able to find a parking spot higher up on the bluff and walk down the stone steps to a small waterfall and stream. It's very scenic area to walk along the stream and the river. You can see and hear the Minnehaha dog park right across the river. There were also lots of picnic tables, and a public restroom which were closed. I can imagine this park gets very crowded in the summer. read more

See all

Overall an ok one time experience. Negatives: No trail markers or posted maps. No bike parking!!! How is this possible with such wonderful bike trails everywhere around the park? Also it was really hard to bike back up the giant slope to the parking lot. Took us three tries to find the hidden falls. On the second try we were behind a man who was hiking unabashed with a certain type of large smelly paraphernalia... half way down the trail when he kept looking back at us we realized he is not going where we want to go. Falls are man made. Positives: Really fun to go down the giant slope to the parking lot. Bike trails up to the park are well paved, with a good view of the river. Lots of picnic and grilling areas. I can imagine this would be a good place for an outdoor picnic party (baby shower, birthday, etc). Great way to hang out along the banks of the Mississippi. Despite being man made, the falls are beautiful and serene. read more

A very nice, short hike to the falls. Unfortunately during this time of the year, it is pretty dry. Nonetheless my dogs enjoyed the quick hike. You can also go down to the Mississippi river for a swim or dip and right across the river is the Minnehaha dog recreation area. read more

See all

It's cool that it's hidden but it is man made and comes out of a culvert, which slightly lessens the appeal. Also, it's only a few hundred yards from the parking lot, which was kind of nice not to take a long hike on a chilly day like today. In fall, there's not an abundance of water but it is steady. The water's mostly brown from all the fallen leaves and mud. I'm glad I finally found it and can check it off my bucket list! It's worth to do one time. There's other longer, paved trails branching from this parking lot if a person wants to run along the Mississippi River. read more

Hidden Falls Park - Hidden Falls - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

It was my first time at Hidden Falls this weekend. My expectations were high due to the other yelp reviews. I found the trails along the river nice but the main event was disappointing. Pros: It's really woodsy here with some of the largest trees I've seen around! I liked the walk through the woods and how there were no trail markings or a map (part of the charm). There's free parking and a lot of picnic table options with great views of the river too. Cons: The creek and the falls are very man-made. You can see the pipe the water comes from (from the old Ford plant?!) and there are obvious areas where rocks were strategically placed into concrete but have fallen out. The waterfall is fairly small and there was an odd odor to it and the water itself was cloudy white. Not very nice but came here in September so maybe it's nice at other times. A couple tips: - Google maps takes you past the entrance. Switch to satellite mode to find the road you need to turn on. Enter at the north entrance. - Wear bug spray for the woodsy area. There were lots if mosquitoes. Overall, I think it's worth checking out at least once. I like the area near the river and the open trails in the woods, but the fall itself is not that great. You're more likely be wowed by the much more popular Minnehaha Falls and park right across the river. read more

See all

Beautiful space.....leaves were falling like snow! Take the stairs fro the top to the falls or drive in, water was fast and a little scary, don't swim! Just enjoy the view read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Beautiful! The falls were not hard to find using the tips from previous yelp reviews. They were barely a trickle though, we must have come at a bad time of year (late May). It was just a short walk over to the beach across the park - we swam in the river because it was so hot, but the current was so strong I wouldn't really recommend it. It felt dangerous as we were doing it... It's a big park though, and it looks like you can rent the pavilions and stuff for private events. read more

Mountain biking perspective- smooth flowy trails, with many options. Have to plan ahead to get parking. Go early to beat the heat and crowds- though they thin out past the actual falls. Solid climb back up to the parking lot- save some energy! read more

After going down the wrong path, we finally found the right path to the falls. Park at the north gate in the very first picnic area. The two obvious trails don't lead to the falls! The trails to the right of the bathrooms is the right way to the falls! They didn't have a lot of water so it wasn't as exciting as it would be if we could swim or something. Overall very lovely! read more

Hidden Falls Park - Picnic Pavilion- where to park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

The park is huge and well cared for, even though the river banks flood frequently. We were a little confused as to how to get to the actual hidden falls (a sewer runoff waterfall) but google questions helped us. If you want to check it out just follow the path from the parking lot past the bathrooms and at a slight incline up the forest. You'll see the water trickling and know where to follow. There's some awesome staircases and firepits on the way. Easy trek but not good for wagons or strollers as the ground is not uniform. read more

See all

Hidden Falls is a nice park in St. Paul, often overlooked due to its proximity to the ever-popular Minnehaha area. While the falls isn't nearly as spectacular as Minnehaha, Hidden Falls Park provides a somewhat more peaceful recreation area tucked away behind the Ford plant on the St. Paul side of the Mississippi. I admit, for years I had no idea this park existed. The entrance is a sharp offshoot of the river road on the St. Paul side of the river just behind the Ford plant. There are several small parking lots as you decent a small hill, and ample parking for trailers. There is a nice boat launch/ramp, grill/bbq areas, a pavilion with restrooms, plenty of green space for picnics, and several miles of trails along the river. There is a small waterfalls too, although it isn't as majestic as Minnehaha or Willow River (some may prefer the small, more quiet falls though). There arent a lot of bells and whistles with this park, but it certainly is a great place to spend a quiet afternoon. I recently visited to view some autumn foliage. There isn't much to complain about, however. Although, one thing I would do is add more signage or trail maps. The trails predominantly run along the river, so keep that in mind if you park in the main lot--youll have to backtrack to your car. The access to the falls isn't very well-marked either. Overall, I definitely recommend a trip to the park if you are looking for a peaceful get-a-way for a walk or picnic. You can't ask for much more than the beautiful scenery of the Mississippi River when the weather is cooperative. read more

See all

It is easy to understand why this park is so quiet. Hidden Falls would be a destination place and not a drive past, 'oh I wonder what that is let's drop in' type of place because it's off the main stream of traffic. Mississippi Blvd is a shady study of quietness in an urban wilderness setting. There is a narrow entrance to the park and a north and south parking lot. The old river lazily flows after it's disturbance from the Ford Dam. The only sounds are of the happiest dogs in the state romping in and out of the water on the other side of the river from the Minnehaha Off-Leash area. I hiked southward and the path is less shady with some strange clearings into grassy areas that look as though there was once a plan for more park development that never happened. There are occasional bikers and joggers but that's about it for any type of crowd. Hiking northward the paved path ends as you wind through a thicker than expected forest. There are some side trails and drops to the river bank if interested. Now to find the falls. There are no markers just a historical explanation of the parks beginnings and improvements. From the North parking lot look toward the outbuilding and a grassy area which will lead to another path to the falls. The falls is nothing more than a trickle over a series of slight drops. The stone built fence and walls are in excellent shape considering it was competed during the depths of the 1930's depression from the WPA. Indeed another natural treasure in St.Paul. I actually hope it doesn't get widely discovered. read more

See all

I drove about 30 min from my hometown to see the Hidden Falls waterfall. After visiting I can easily say It was worth the drive! I first stopped at the Hidden Falls regional park first and hiked 15 min down a trail I believed would take me straight to the waterfall; however it just led me all the way down to the end of the river. I turned back around following the river back and then found the correct trail I was searching for (walk directly past the womens restroom). The area was quite small, but surprisingly very secluded and fascinating! I loved the touch of limestone rocks and fire pits scattered throughout the waterfall. It was fun climbing from one side of the waterfall to the other. Lots of fun photo ops. It's definitely a St. Paul gem! read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

It's call Hidden Fall for a reason. It's really hidden. Great place for photoshoot, jogging and picnic. Very green and clean. Good for a day of bbq with the family or friends. read more

See all

Pretty much a squirting rock that starts a stream of cold clear water that trailer park single moms let their 4 kids play in all day without any supervision. Literally saw one kid face down in like 3 inches of water while his brother was staking rocks in a circle around him and the other siblings whipping each other with branches and trying to throw rocks at my dog without me noticing. 5 stars because I found it the first time there and I love the abandoned factory that I was throwing rocks in because of how funny it would have been to hear someone get bonked in the head for trespassing on private property while I'm outside throwing rocks. Also you can see the Minnehaha dog park across the river and the stupid ass ppl trying to catch fish on the beach that everyone is splashing around in. read more

I went in from north parking. My dog and I walked from there to south. It's a man made path and not feeling like hiking at all but great place to run and bike!! Plenty of parking, plenty of picnic tables and bench. Nice beach? Area by the rivers. I live in mm for about 5 years and I wish I found this place a long time ago!!! read more

Hidden Falls is quite appropriate as there are no markers telling you where it is. On my first trip, I used the north entrance to the park and walked along the river to the left from the parking lot. While this gives you some great views of the river and even a small cave in the hillside, no falls. On my second trip, again using the north entrance, I noticed two paths that are at the tree line past the picnic pavilion and bathrooms. As luck would have it, I chose the path to the left first. Again, while that was a nice walk through the woods, no falls. Finally though, taking the path to the right and walking just a few hundred yards leads to the falls, hiding in plain sight. Glad I wasn't the only one searching as about 10 other folks were also in search of this place. It's nice and quiet, with mostly shade from all the trees. The falls are a series of small drops from a drainage shaft at the top of the hill. Surprisingly, it does get a little busy at times, but nothing like the much larger Minnehaha Falls just across the river and north a bit. A very nice little spot to just enjoy and reflect on life for awhile. And, get a few cool pictures while you're doing it. read more

Hidden Falls Park - Hidden Falls - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Hidden falls is a nice place to go if you are looking for a quiet place in the cities. Ideal for that semi romantic picnic, if you are into a rustic area. The falls require some trekking, not the distance as much as the bumps in the path, so it is not ideal if you have trouble walking. Most of the time when, I visit we would just chill by the falls, it's very relaxing. read more

Decent park along the river but poor signage and the waterfall is barely flowing and is under construction

Ummm this place rocks! Not crazy crowded like other parks tons of grown trees and scenery. Plenty of parking and trails galore for both walking and biking. Can't believe I've lived in mn my whole life and just discovered this place! They also have plenty of public picnic tables and grills but feel free to do a picnic with a blanket, we sat right by the river after a long bike ride soaking up the sun! read more

Perfect location to fish. Lots of space to park, lots of open area to fish! Perfect to bring your dog to roam around, and theres a trail nearby. Caught a couple fish only there for an hour. About 8 inches in left. Guys next to us were catching larger fish. Perfect place to grill out and spend the day fishing. Great place to unwind away from the city. Lots of birds of all kinds there - nature at its finest! read more

My dogs loved going through this park to the the unleashed dog park. Seeing all the dogs and exploring. I'll keep coming back for the views and letting my pups explore and play. read more

Hidden Falls Park - Parks Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Such a nice little park to adventure around in. The trails are unmarked so you just sort of wander around which is still a lot of fun. I like this park just because it's a little less busy compared to Minnehaha. I did end up finding the falls, they're a bit small but it's still a really cute area to look around and find :) read more

This is NOT a falls. Wife and I are falls enthusiasts, so we went there for wed. anniversary based on posted photos. After tramping up and down the park walking/biking trails and even a dried up spring run off, we met up with a local who shared that there once was a falls, so to speak, and that it was filled in when the neighborhood that adjoins to one end of the park was developed. I give 2 stars only because the park was nice. read more

Gorgeous park, really easy to get to and offers a beautiful tucked-back trail to get to the Hidden Falls, plus there's a beach on the shore of the mighty Mississippi! :) I've been here in the winter and spring so far and it has a gorgeous trail that meanders along the riverbank too. Definitely stop by to take in the sunset on the riverbank sometime too- and take some beautiful pictures while you're at it! read more

Lovely walking trails , very peaceful and very relaxing. Great park to have a nice picnic.

Beautiful peaceful oasis in the city. Lovely shaded area on a hot day and not crowded. Nice place for a mellow walk by the river with a cool view of Fort Snelling. read more