Waterfalls of Minnesota (Best Waterfalls by State)

I was born and raised in Hutchinson and got my first camera at the age of 11. My models included Mittsie, my blue-eyed black lab, all my stuffed animals and dolls, my dad with his tractors and pigs, and my brother with his GMC S15 truck and his sheep. In 11th grade, Media Tech was an elective class that helped me learn more about film cameras. After high school I chose the professional photography program at Willmar Technical College and studied portrait and commercial photography for two years. After graduation I worked for Sue Dropp for five years at Dropp’s Unique Photography in Waite Park. I learned a lot about the portrait world of photography and decided to open up my own studio in April 1999. Country Gallery is located on 10 beautifully landscaped acres in central Minnesota. We photograph families, children, pets, high school seniors, school sports teams, and charity events. In April 2012 I gave myself the assignment to “photograph Minnesota.” It’s been a fun traveling adventure that has led me down many different roads, both literally and figuratively. All in all, I do what I love and thoroughly enjoy my profession. It gives me great flexibility with my schedule and offers me a wide variety of subjects and places to photograph.

Vermillion Falls, Vermillion River

Location: In Vermillion Falls Park and near the Ramsey Mill Ruins.
Address/GPS for the Falls: Located off Hwy. 61 and 21st St. E, Hastings, 55033; 44° 43’32.10″ N, 92° 50’41.76″ W.
Directions: If you are heading south on Hwy. 61, you’ll want to turn left after the ConAgra Flour Mill onto 21st St. E, and the park will be on your left.
Website: www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-departments/parks-recreation
Waterway: Vermillion River.
Nearest Town: Hastings.
Height: The Main Falls are approximately 45 feet high; the Upper Falls are 8 feet high.
Crest: Approximately 35–45 feet.
Hike Difficulty: Easy.
Trail Quality: Good, short paved trail.
Round-trip Distance: 0.1 mile.
Admission: None.

Trip Report & Tips: From the parking lot, it’s a short and easy walk to the covered gazebo for your first look at Vermillion Falls. Walk down the paved path to find a more scenic view than the fenced-in overlooks. Here you’ll see―and hear―the very loud falls as the water plummets deep into the gorge. If you head farther down, you’ll find a pedestrian bridge crossing over the gorge that will lead you to Old Mill Park. Looking at the falls, they first flow over a man-made cement ledge that’s about 6–8 feet high. You can get very close to the short falls and actually sit on the ledge. The water then glides over the surface for a bit and plunges down a good 35–45 feet as it hits the rocky river floor. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the river was used for water power for area gristmills; one was even built by Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota’s first governor. The area’s milling ties continue to this day: To the north of the river is the massive ConAgra flour mill.

Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Adventure Publications (May 24, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159193592X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1591935926
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.55 x 8.25 inches