Minnehaha Parkway
Rate this placeNearby: Pearl Park Kenny Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Minnehaha Parkway is a scenic parkway located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Summary
The parkway is known for its picturesque views, natural beauty, and historic sites. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
There are several good reasons to visit Minnehaha Parkway. This area is perfect for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who loves to explore historic sites. The parkway offers numerous opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, and sightseeing. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Falls, which is a popular spot for photographers.
Some of the specific points of interest to see along the parkway include the Minnehaha Park, the Lyndale Park Rose Garden, and the Chain of Lakes. The parkway also features several historic structures, including the Longfellow House and the Minnehaha Depot.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the parkway was originally designed by landscape architect Horace Cleveland in the late 1800s. It was designed to be a scenic route connecting the Mississippi River with Minnehaha Falls. The parkway is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds.
The best time of year to visit Minnehaha Parkway is in the summer, when the weather is warm and the parkway is in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy the lush greenery, wildflowers, and waterfalls that the area is known for. However, the parkway is also beautiful in the fall, when the leaves change colors and the air turns crisp.
Overall, Minnehaha Parkway is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Minneapolis. It offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and historic charm, and is a great place to relax and unwind.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Pearl Park
Kenny Park
Lynhurst Park
Dr Martin Luther King Field
Lyndale Park