Mill Ruins Park
Mill Ruins Park
4.5
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4.5
105 reviews
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46
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8
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Previa1994
Chicago, IL6,632 contributions
Aug 2022
Mill Ruins Park is an amazing example of a city repurposing an old industrial area and bringing it back to life with a new purpose. My hats off to the City of Minneapolis. The park explores the ruins of several long abandoned flour mills along the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls. I visited here on a lovely summer afternoon in August, and enjoyed the beautiful walk. The views of the Mississippi River and the falls were spectacular. The walking paths were busy with people out jogging and biking. Walking across the stone arch bridge was memorable. Numerous placards along the paths provide a pretty detailed history of the area. The National Park Service provides tours of the locks, but on scheduled timings; my visit this time did not work out. This is a definite must visit place if you are in Minneapolis.
Written May 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LovesPhotoOps
Hoover, AL1,224 contributions
Jun 2021
We parked in the small Stone Arch parking lot next to the park and spent about 30 minutes walking along the Stone Arch Bridge and along the sidewalks in the park. You can see the lock and dam from the bridge. There are interpretive signs telling the history of the flour mills from 1857 thru the 1960s. We did not have time to go into the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam Visitor Center but I think it would probably be interesting.
Written June 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cenzt
Ohio22,005 contributions
Oct 2022
Good trip. We arrived at approximately 7:45 am and found a place to park alongside the walkway. There was both a bike path, along with a walking path that provided great views of the water and the dam. We spent several minutes walking on the path until we reached the Stone Arch Bridge, where we were able to view the dam at a different angle. There were informational plaques located throughout the bridge, providing information on the surrounding area, as well as the dam. There were many people out and about, taking advantage of the gorgeous day.
Tip: We took a 45 minute stroll through parts of Mills Ruin Park and the Stone Arch Bridge.
Tip: We took a 45 minute stroll through parts of Mills Ruin Park and the Stone Arch Bridge.
Written December 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChicagoCheesehead
Madison, WI56 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
Really interesting. I didn't understand how dozens of mills could use the power from a waterfall until I visited. They have good signage / descriptions and you can see a lot of the remnants such that it makes it all more understandable. Channels, tunnels, races, turbines. I didn't even plan to visit this park but ended up spending over an hour.
Park on the far side of the river and walk over the Stone Arch Bridge for a great combo.
Park on the far side of the river and walk over the Stone Arch Bridge for a great combo.
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PowerTrippers
Cocoa Beach, FL1,521 contributions
Aug 2019
One of our favorite parts about traveling is finding unexpected places off the beaten path. Mill Ruins Park was definitely one of those happy discoveries.
Who expects to find "ruins" in the middle of a US city? The mill ruins is an interesting contrast with the rest of the surrounding city and also provides some great photo ops. The ruins includes plenty of great walking/biking trails from which to view the entire area. Definitely worth a visit!
-The Power Trippers
Who expects to find "ruins" in the middle of a US city? The mill ruins is an interesting contrast with the rest of the surrounding city and also provides some great photo ops. The ruins includes plenty of great walking/biking trails from which to view the entire area. Definitely worth a visit!
-The Power Trippers
Written August 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chl0e48
Minneapolis, MN191 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
This park is rather like an archaeological dig along the Mississippi - not swing sets or tennis courts. Ruins of the Minneapolis flour mills are visible. Check out the views from the Guthrie Theater (open to the public) and hike across the nearby Stone Arch Bridge. There are numerous restaurants on each side of the river. This was the heart of Minneapolis. In the vicinity you'll also find St. Anthony Falls, the Lock and Dam, Nicollet Island, and the Godfrey house. Cross on the Stone Arch Bridge, walk along Main Street to Nicollet Island, then return via the Hennepin Avenue Bridge if you wish to make a circuit. The Mississippi River is special.
Written March 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kf17020
Marietta, GA243 contributions
Oct 2020
Nice place for a walk or bike ride. You can walk down to the water and walk along the mill ruins or up above for a nice view of the city and the waterfall.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cacia B
Middletown, DE86 contributions
May 2018 • Business
Decided to take a walk from the downtown hotel I was staying at..beautiful views, safe, CLEAN and family friendly! Definitely a must.
Written May 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AMS1086
Overland Park, KS9 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Lots to see around the ruins and the bridge. Lots of trails to get a run in. It's worth making your way to this park if you want to get out and see something new!
Written August 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberts69
Northampton, UK18,956 contributions
Apr 2022
Mill Ruins Park is just an area next to the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge with, as the name implies, remnants of some of the scores of flour mills built in Minneapolis between 1850 and 1900 by the side of St Anthony Falls from which they got their power for the milling process. There are a lot of information boards in the area to educate visitors about the Milling industry in Minneapolis. There are ruins down by the river and then more preserved and repurposed mill buildings as you move away from the waterfront toward downtown. Worth a visit to see the falls and the Stone Arch Bridge but I would say the ruins themselves are kind of average as far as a tourist attraction goes.
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the parking situation? I have a large truck.
Written May 8, 2021
There are some parking lots that you have to pay at. Some street parking as well but I think those were metered as well. I believe if you tour the dam area, there is parking associated in that section of the park.
Written July 21, 2021
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