You probably know that Minnesota has more than a few gorgeous waterfalls. Up north, there’s the famous Gooseberry Falls, as well as Devil’s Kettle, the High Falls of the Pigeon River, the High Falls of the Baptism River, and many others. And elsewhere in the state, the rushing waters of Minneopa Falls and Minnehaha Falls – to name only a few – also draw many visitors.
But our state has many lesser known waterfalls as well. One often overlooked waterfall happens to be in a large park that is often called Minnesota’s Little Yellowstone. If you’ve never heard of Alexander Ramsey Park, you might want to take note of the park and its beautiful, little-known waterfall. Check it out:
Alexander Ramsey Park is a lesser known park in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. This community is about 120 miles outside of Minneapolis in southwestern Minnesota. It makes for a wonderful day trip for those in the Twin Cities metro area.
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The park is 256 acres in size, making it the largest municipal park in Minnesota. Because of its size, it is often called the Little Yellowstone of Minnesota!
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Like Yellowstone, Alexander Ramsey Park has plenty to do. Many enjoy camping here from May to October. There are 31 campsites with electrical hookups as well as amenities such as restrooms and showers.
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Among the most popular activities at the park are its four miles of paved hiking trails and DNR trout stream. You’ll love exploring the paths and casting your fishing line!
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While you won’t find the wildlife of the real Yellowstone here, you can see animals up close. The Ramsey Park Zoo is home to many animals, including buffalo, elk, deer, and many bird species.
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A beautiful shelter - built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps - is a great place for picnics.
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It - and the rest of the park - is surrounded by scenic beauty, with a lovely view of the park’s most lovely attraction: its waterfall.
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Ramsey Falls is not as large as the waterfall at Yellowstone, but it is certainly beautiful nonetheless. It drops over 30 feet into a wide, rocky gorge.
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There are several ways to view the waterfall - from afar, from below the drop, and from above - and each is as beautiful as the last.
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This little-known waterfall at Minnesota’s largest municipal park is a fantastic day trip destination. Don’t miss an opportunity to visit the Little Yellowstone of Minnesota!
Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr
For more information about Alexander Ramsey Park and its attractions, be sure to visit its page on the Redwood Area Community Center website or its Facebook page. And if you’re interested in other hidden waterfalls in Minnesota, check out our past articles about Winnewissa Falls or the beautiful prairie waterfall at Touch the Sky Prairie.
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Linette Scharlemann/Google
John Mraz/Google
Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr
Daniel Schmid/Google
Caleb Gosiak/Google
Mike Macintyre/Google
Laura GuNova/Google
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Address: Ramsey Park - Cansayapi Park, 99 E Oak St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283, USA
