![]() If you must walk onto the frozen surface, assess the situation. ![]() In some instances, accessing the frozen waterfalls will require you to walk on the frozen surface of a river, stream, or lake. This hidden gem is in Stillwater, just a 30 minute drive from Minneapolis. These fit over your hiking boots or shoes and have tiny spikes or other shapes that help you get a good grip when walking on icy terrain. Always use a handrail if available and keep both hands both out of your pockets for balance.Īlso, I strongly recommend purchasing some microspikes. Many of the frozen waterfalls near Minneapolis have steps to the bottom that are often covered in ice. Here are some of the risks to be aware of while hiking to frozen waterfalls and tips on how to address them. So, between the cold temperatures and icy conditions it’s important to be prepared. This probably won’t surprise you, but there’s often a lot of ice in the area surrounding frozen waterfalls. Safety Tips for Visiting Frozen Waterfalls/ what to bring? Pro Tip: For the greatest chance of seeing the waterfalls in Minnesota completely frozen, visit them in late January or February. If they aren’t completely frozen by then, they’ll be partially frozen with some water still flowing (which is also cool to see!). Obviously the weather and conditions vary every year but in general the waterfalls in Minnesota are frozen by mid-January. Balance is sometimes elusive but always necessary.When is the Best Time to Visit a Frozen Waterfall in Minnesota? The Salmon River is an active fishery, the waterfall is a scenic wonder as well as a site for many recreational activities, and the the damming of the river still provides power for the local community. Today, the area is managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Like so much in life, the lesson behind this natural area is balance. View of Salmon River Falls from the second viewing platform. In the 1990s, hearings were held to gather input from all parties and a minimum flow was established to ensure that the falls had a characteristic waterfall appearance year-round. This caused the waterfall to dry up in the summer months and the area suffered both ecologically and aesthetically. In the 1900s, the River was dammed about a mile upstream from the falls for hydroelectric power generation. This was a very important fishing spot for the Iroquois who lived in the region. Lawerence River to Lake Ontario and then up the Salmon River where they would meet their terminus at the waterfall. As one would expect, the name is in reference to the large numbers of Atlantic salmon that would travel from the St. ![]() Not knowing much about the area we were visiting, I did a quick internet search for the history of Salmon River Falls. If you look close, you can see a potential climber in orange. View of Salmon River Falls from the first viewing platform. There were several interpretive signs, like the one above, to read on the way to view the 110-foot waterfall. ![]() The trail to the first viewing platform was only a quarter of a mile long. The parking area is located along Falls Road here. If you are traveling this way in the winter or spring of 2021, take Hog Back Road to 22 North to avoid the closure. It took us a bit longer than planned to arrive, as a section of bridge was out on Route 22 and we had to retrace our path to approach it after the bridge, but otherwise, it was easy to find. On a trip up to the Adirondacks to do some winter hiking, we decided to break up the drive by stopping to see Salmon River Falls near Pulaski, NY in Oswego county. ![]()
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