When man and nature combine forces, something beautiful can happen. In the case of these five unexpected places, that beautiful thing is an epic urban waterfall! Sure, there’s something special and amazing about Minnesota’s many natural waterfalls, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the man-made ones just as much. From the rushing waters of the Mississippi to the quiet dams we have up north, here are some of the wonderful man-made waterfalls in Minnesota that people can actually claim responsibility for creating.

1. Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest, Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN, USA
Clayton Haapala/GoogleMaps
The Coon Rapids Dam is located at one of the most popular municipal parks in Minnesota. The park measures nearly 500 acres. The waterfall is quite a sight to see, with jets of water cascading down in a beautiful sheet that stretches hundreds of feet across Coon Creek.
2. Saint Anthony Falls
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Michaela Storm/GoogleMaps
Saint Anthony Falls is probably the most widely recognized man-made waterfall in Minnesota. They actually replaced the original falls, which were the only natural major waterfalls on the Upper Mississippi. Visitors to Minneapolis will love snapping a selfie or two in front of the incredible spray! This waterfall in Minneapolis is also a "two-fer." An overflow spillway in the trees creates a secondary waterfall that is pretty sweet too!
3. Granite Falls
Granite Falls, MN 56241, USA
Tony Webster/Flickr
The dam at Granite Falls provides amazing views of cascading water.
4. Faribault Woolen Mill
1500 2nd Ave NW, Faribault, MN 55021, USA
Flickr/Phil Roeder
The short falls on the dam near the Faribault Woolen Mill are definitely beautiful to behold. The mill is one of the largest and oldest fully-integrated woolen mills in Minnesota.
5. Broken Down Dam
Broken Down Dam Road, Broken Down Dam Rd, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, USA
Flickr/Bruce Guenter
The beautiful cascades and rapids at the Broken Down Dam in Fergus Falls are absolutely stunning. This is the gorgeous result of man's failure to tame the river.

Which of these city waterfalls in Minnesota have you ever visited? Are there any other urban waterfalls that we should know about? Get in touch!

Looking to see even more waterfalls in Minnesota? Check out our Minnesota waterfalls road trip! Only three hours of diving will take you to some of the prettiest natural waterfalls in the state.

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Waterfalls in Minnesota & Related Info

Lisa Sammons | April 02, 2022

What are some beautiful natural waterfalls in Minnesota?

We've covered man-made cascades in this article, but we've got some gorgeous natural ones as well! We actually have quite a few waterfalls in Minnesota that are very easily accessible and don't require much hiking. We love Gooseberry Falls and it's really no wonder that it's one of the most popular falls in the state.

What are some of the prettiest parks in Minnesota?

Did you know we have 66 state parks in Minnesota? They're scattered all over the state and contain some of the most beautiful scenery around. Afton State Park is near Minneapolis and has some particularly fantastic trails if you're looking to spend the day hiking.

What are some good day trips in Minnesota?

Here in Minnesota, we're surrounded by so many great places to travel! No matter where you're located in the state, there's somewhere nearby that makes for a great day trip. Why not explore some of the fantastic small towns in Minnesota? They tend to get overshadowed by our larger cities, but there's so much to do and see there!

 

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