Once off-limits, Minnemishinona Falls is a scenic, off-the-beaten-path sight near Mankato

Minneopa Falls may get most of the attention, but there are other waterfalls to be found in the Mankato area.

Among them is Minnemishinona Falls, which drops 42 feet over a cliff into the gorge below. It’s just a stone’s throw from a county road — but for many years, it was off-limits to the public.

It was only in 2005 that Nicollet County moved to purchase the falls and the three-acre property surrounding it from private owners. The county acquired the property with help from the Trust for Public Land, paying $330,000 — with the cost covered by state and federal money, as well as grants and donations.

Two years later in 2007, the property opened to the public. It offers a parking area, with Minnemishinona Falls visible from a bridge across the gorge.

The waterfall is a few feet higher than the much-better-known lower falls at Minneopa State Park, less than two miles to the south. The amount of water flowing over the falls can vary greatly, depending on the time of year and whether there’s been much rain recently.

Whatever the season, whatever the water level — it’s a scenic and off-the-beaten-path spot. But it’s also easy to reach, located just a few miles west of Mankato and North Mankato — and makes for a good pairing with a trip to see the falls at Minneopa.

Find other ideas for Minnesota waterfall adventures in this MPR News roundup from 2019.

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