Visiting Vermillion Falls in Hastings, Minnesota
Vermillion Falls is an urban, 35 foot waterfall, located in the town of Hastings, Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities Metro area. Let’s explore Vermillion Falls – I’ll give you everything you need to know about visiting this interesting waterfall located in a city park.
Vermillion Falls Waterfall – Quick Overview
Admission & parking: Free
Dogs are allowed on the trails
Vermillion Falls – Location
Vermillion Falls is located in the aptly-named “Vermillion Falls Park” in Hastings, Minnesota. The main route through town – US Highway 61 – passes right by the park, so you can’t miss it. Hastings is about an hour south of the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Visiting Vermillion Falls Waterfall
After parking the car, just follow the signs for the waterfall. It’s a short walk on a paved trail to the overlook that’s completely accessible for everyone. The waterfall is next to an old mill, giving it a unique setting.
However, the view is slightly obstructed making it a bit difficult to get a nice photo just from the overlook. I’ve seen some amazing photos of Vermillion Falls, but I tend to think they’re taken with a drone, which I don’t have 🙂
You can take an unmarked dirt path down to the river to see the waterfall from its base. I didn’t do that, as the path was very muddy when I visited. You might be able to get a better view from down at the river.
Vermillion Falls isn’t just a waterfall; it actually used to power the neighboring grist mill back in the day. Today, it only serves as a waterfall, as the mill (now known as Ardent Mill) is no longer powered by the waterfall. Today, Ardent Mill manufacturers baking flour.
You can keep exploring the park if you want – you can follow the trail across the bridge to the Old Mill ruins site. I haven’t had the chance to do this yet, but it’s worth checking out if you have the time and like to explore abandoned places. There’s actually a whole network of trails that route from this park, so if you have more time and energy, there’s more to explore.
The park itself is very nice and well-maintained with plenty of picnic tables and grills.
Best time to visit Vermillion Falls
The park is open year-round. I visited in late spring – visiting in spring will give you the best chance at seeing the waterfall at full volume, though it never dries up. Fall will give you the opportunity to photograph the waterfall with the colorful foliage on the nearby trees. Vermillion Falls in winter would be pretty neat, as the waterfall completely freezes over. In short, you could visit Vermillion Falls in Hastings any time of year for a great experience.
Where to stay when visiting Vermillon Falls
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I’m local to this area – I live in the Twin Cities area so I don’t need a place to stay to visit Vermillion Falls, but I will tell you that lots of locals make trips down to the Hastings / Red Wing area and make a weekend of it. Red Wing has tons of bed and breakfast accommodations (if that’s your thing) otherwise, both Red Wing and Hastings have a bunch of your typical chain hotels and motels.
Get current prices for Red Wing, Minnesota here.
Or check current prices and availability for Hastings, Minnesota here.
Otherwise, if you’re staying in the Minneapolis/St Paul area, this is a very easy day trip from the cities.
Vermillion Falls – Final Thoughts
While this isn’t the most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen, it’s worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, and even makes a nice day trip from the Twin Cities area, as the Hastings and Red Wing area have some fun shops, restaurants and trails to explore.
Have you visited Vermillion Falls or ever been to Hastings, Minnesota? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
