Don’t Try This One Hike in Minnesota If You’re Afraid of Heights

Many of us tend to think of Minnesota's topography as gentle. It’s the Land of 10,000 Lakes, rolling prairies, and the occasional rocky outcrop up on the North Shore or in Bluff Country. We don’t have towering mountains (just little ones), and we generally don’t have to worry about falling off the side of the earth when we head out for a Saturday morning walk. You'll find one notable exception in Red Wing, however, and if you have even a mild case of acrophobia, it might just ruin your weekend. The place is He Mni Can, commonly known as Barn Bluff. While it offers some of the most spectacular views of the Mississippi River valley you can find without an aircraft, the North Trail is absolutely not for the faint of heart.

The Decision

The hike starts innocently enough. You park near downtown Red Wing, maybe after grabbing a coffee or pastry at the iconic Hanisch Bakery. The trailhead looks welcoming. You climb a series of concrete stairs—a bit of a cardio workout, sure, but nothing technical. You’re surrounded by trees, the ground is solid, and you feel safe.

Then, you reach the fork. This is the critical decision point. To the left is the South Trail. It’s a wide, gradual, wooded path that feels like an old fire road. It’s lovely; it’s safe; it’s the route you should take if you value your peace of mind. To the right is the North Trail—and if you’re afraid of heights, turning right is a mistake.

North Trail Reality

The North Trail cuts directly across the face of the bluff overlooking Highway 61 and the Mississippi. At first, it seems fine. But quickly, the trees on your left—the ones shielding you from the edge—start to thin out. Then they disappear entirely. Suddenly, the trail narrows. In some spots, it feels like it’s barely wide enough for two boots side-by-side. To your right is a limestone wall towering above you. On your left? Air. Just open air.

You look down, and the cars on the highway look like Matchbox toys. You can see the grain elevators and the bridge spanning the river to Wisconsin, and while the view is objectively stunning, your brain is too busy calculating the physics of a stumble to appreciate it.

There are sections where the park has installed a steel cable along the rock wall for you to hold onto. Logically, this should make you feel safer. In reality, for someone with vertigo, it has the opposite effect. The presence of the cable is a stark admission by the landscape itself: This is dangerous. You find yourself white-knuckling that cold steel, shuffling your feet inches at a time, refusing to look anywhere but at the rock face.

The "scary" part isn't just the height; it's the exposure. There is no railing on the cliff side. There is no vegetation to catch you. It is a sheer, unforgiving drop. When the wind picks up off the river—and it almost always does up there—it feels less like a refreshing breeze and more like a shove.

Worth It?

If you love an adrenaline rush and trust your balance implicitly, the North Trail at Barn Bluff is a Minnesota classic. The vantage point from nearly 400 feet above the Mississippi gives you a sense of the Driftless Area’s geology that you can’t get from the ground. However, if you're someone who gets that woozy, spinning sensation when you look over a balcony, do not let your buddies pressure you into the North Loop.

The good news is that you don't have to miss the view. Take the South Trail. It winds gently to the top of the bluff, where you can walk out to the overlooks on the prairie grass summit. You still get the incredible panorama of the Mississippi curving through the valley, but you get to enjoy it with your feet firmly planted on flat, wide ground, far away from the edge.

What are some other extreme hikes in Minnesota that defy gravity? Tell us about your favorites over on our Nomination page. When you're ready to set out on your next adventure in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, make Only In Your State’s itinerary planner your first stop.