Vermillion Falls

A 10-foot wide cleft in the granite is the source of Vermilion Falls, a stream of water that cascades down it. It is a portion of the Vermilion River, which originates at Lake Vermilion and flows 40 miles north before emptying into Crane Lake via the Vermilion Gorge. Three picnic areas with views of the river are located along the accessible 1/4-mile roundtrip route that leads to the falls and observation platform. You can bring a portable charcoal barbecue or camp stove for cooking at the picnic locations. No campfires are permitted. Please remove all rubbish and keep this place safe.

Make sure to observe the falls from the observation deck when you arrive. This deck gives you a fantastic top-down view of the Vermillion Falls and the Ardent Mills. Take 55 or 61 from St. Paul or a half-hour southeast of the airport to get there. Drop down to the Riverwalk, and as you stroll, consider the decades when paddleboats of the Mark Twain era were puttered by under the same stars that can be seen through the mill's missing ceiling a little further downriver. Return to the town's main street later for dining, shopping, and other activities.

Location: Hastings, Minnesota