AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hidden Falls Regional Park

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint–Ford Dam Scenic Overlook, 5 viewpoints

4.1 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint–Ford Dam Scenic Overlook, 5 viewpoints is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Hidden Falls Regional Park near Mendota, MN. The route passes Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint, Ford Dam Scenic Overlook and Minnehaha Regional Park Beach before reaching Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 230 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi699 – 820 ft · steepest grade: 27%5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.91796, -93.20416
Nearest town Mendota, MN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint–Ford Dam Scenic Overlook, 5 viewpoints

4.1 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Elevation 698–819 ft

Out & Back · Hidden Falls Regional Park

Trailhead: 44.91796, -93.20416

Weather Sep 25: sunrise 7:04 AM · sunset 7:06 PM

Transit-accessible: 46th Ave S & Godfrey Pkwy stop 277 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 50 ftPass Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint.
  4. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  6. 450 ftPass Ford Dam Scenic Overlook.
  7. 350 ftPass Minnehaha Regional Park Beach.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  10. 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  11. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Falls Passage West, heading NE.
  13. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  14. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  16. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hidden Falls Bluff Trail, heading S.
  18. 1 miPass Lower Hidden Falls Drive Viewpoint.
  19. 350 ftContinue straight onto Lower Hidden Falls Drive, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftReach Mississippi Gorge Regional Park Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hidden Falls Bluff Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.7 miBear right, heading NW.
  23. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  25. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Falls Passage West, heading N.
  28. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  29. 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
  30. 350 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  33. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  34. 250 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/mississippi-gorge-regional-park-viewpoint-mississippi-gorge-regional-park-viewpoint-out-back-7-viewpoints-7-km-a153

Trail surface

51% paved42% dirt1% rock6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 7:06 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~28 min). Leave by 6:18 PM for the 7:06 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: 46th Ave S & Godfrey Pkwy stop 277 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Mendota, Minnesota