{"id":2451,"date":"2017-08-09T09:00:32","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2023-09-02T20:00:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T01:00:16","slug":"minneopa-state-park-waterfalls-bison-and-prairie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/minneopa-state-park-waterfalls-bison-and-prairie\/","title":{"rendered":"Minneopa Falls at Minneopa State Park in Mankato MN\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you want to get up close to some Bison? You don\u2019t need to even venture as far as Custer State Park in South Dakota<\/a> to do so. Minneopa State Park in Mankato Minnesota is home to an amazing bison drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After doing a little more research about the park, I quickly realized that there is so much to do there, including visiting Minneopa Falls. I\u2019m amazed I haven\u2019t been here sooner. Here is what else I found out on my visit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minneopa State Park in Mankato MN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sitting along the Minnesota River Valley, Minneopa State Park is a popular stop in southern Minnesota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The park is divided into two sections; a southern section with Minneopa Falls and the park office, and an upper section, where you’ll find the bison enclosure and campground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2,599 acre park is home to more than just the bison. They also have camping, wildlife programs, an old mill ruins, Minneopa Falls, and 4.5 miles of hiking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Mankato being just a short drive from the Twin Cities, this made a perfect day trip. Mankato has so many amazing sites, at Minneopa State Park made it to the list of the 28 things you need to do when visiting Mankato MN<\/u>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to see at Minneopa State Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minneopa Falls MN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minneopa Falls consists of two falls, the first is just 8 feet. The second, more dramatic falls are nearly 40 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fall trail leaves from the parking lot in the southern unit, near the park office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minneopa Falls area is accessible to everyone. They have a paved path from the parking area just behind the picnic area. Take the footbridge across Minneopa creek. From there you’ll see the base of the smaller falls, and the top of the second drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entire area above the falls is easly accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As any good waterfall explorer, we needed to see the base of the falls too. The park normally has a loop that takes you all around the falls, but due to some erosion, it\u2019s now a one-way path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to base of Minneopa Falls?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To get to the base of Minneopa Falls, take the paved path down the stone steps and over the creek. After that just follow the trail along the bank of the creek. The path is sandy, and rocky, and will have you climbing over tree limbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too bad, but I recommend that you have a pair of steady shoes just to be safe. Flip-flops are not recommended. Minneopa Falls made my list of 12 Stunning Waterfalls Near Minneapolis<\/a>. But it\u2019s defiantly worthy of a Day Trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We used this opportunity to test out our new hydration backpack<\/a>. I\u2019ve wanted one of these for some time now and decided to try it. I found one that had extra pockets so I could store my first aid kit and bug spray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defiantly a must when doing any hiking, especially with kids. The pack worked great because it allowed me to have my hands free to hang on to my 3-year-old and, have a free hand to stabilize myself. The pack held 2.3 liters of water.<\/p>\n\n\n