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Minnehaha Creek Canoe Map
Minnehaha Creek Canoe Map
Minnehaha Creek Canoe Map
Bob Firth
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Establishing shoreline buffer zones of native plants – in
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place of turf grass – helps prevent erosion, preserves
water quality and enhances habitat for wildlife.
Bob Firth
Route Description Stevens built a 12-foot dam at this site in 1852, J (Mile 13.5) Creekside Park [Elev. 895]. Globe Mill wetlands to reestablish some of the filtering
effect of the wetlands that once lay to the south
T (Mile 1.5) Lake Hiawatha [Elev. 813]. Once called Save Our Summers - Stop Zebra
PLEASE be respectful of private property. Land allowing boats from the ports of Wayzata and milled flour on this site from 1874 – 1898. The Rice Lake. The creek flows right across its south
only at designated sites described in this route Excelsior to steam the first 2.5 miles of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad first crossed of the creek in this area. The creek touches the end. Golf course. Beach. Picnic. Restrooms.
Mussels
north end of Pamela Park. Parking. Zebra Mussels have been found in Lake Min-
description. Mileage figures refer to miles creek and dock at his Minnetonka lumber mill the creek just upstream, along what was then No dock.
netonka and Minnehaha Creek. Without
upstream from Minnehaha Falls. “Elev.” figures (1852 – 1868) and furniture factory. Tour historic the millpond. Parking. Picnic.
Q (Mile 6.0) Lynnhurst Park [Elev. 840]. Once the action, they will cover beaches with razor
refer to elevation in feet above sea level. Burwell House built in 1883 by the owner of a U (Mile 0.2) Longfellow Lagoon [Elev. 804].
creek enters Minneapolis, both banks are city sharp shells and jeopardize fishing, boating
flour mill on the site (1869 – 1884). The town of K (Mile 13.2) Louisiana Avenue [Elev. 890]. Parking. END OF ROUTE: FALLS AHEAD!
park land. The Lake Harriet tributary flows from and barefoot walks on the beach.
A (Mile 22.0) Minnehaha Creek Headwaters Minnetonka grew around the site, long known All paddlers must land at this end point of the
[Lake Elev. 929.4]. Site of a wooden weir built as Minnetonka Mills. Parking. Picnic. Restrooms. L (Mile 12.8) Meadowbrook Golf Course the north into Minnehaha Creek from the Chain canoe route. On-street parking and parking lot
of Lakes. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed Because there are no environmentally safe
in 1897. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed No dock. [Elev. 890]. Meadowbrook Lake. NO LANDING. up hill at Longfellow Gardens are also availble.
District and partners completed several water methods to get rid of zebra mussels, it is cru-
District built a concrete dam in 1979. Gates
protection projects throughout the Chain of cial for boaters to prevent their spread. Boaters
partly control lake levels and creek flow, based E (Mile 19.0) Big Willow Park [Elev. 915]. Parking. M (Mile 10.6) Browndale Avenue [Elev. 880]. Minnehaha Falls [Elev. top 798; bottom 745].
Lakes from 1995 – 2001. Fish were once so thick should wash their boats and other equipment
on a written plan with policies and procedures Restrooms in park, away from creek. REQUIRED PORTAGE around old Edina Mills dam. Location of Minnehaha Park (1887), Longfellow
in spring at this spot that early settlers used with hot, high-pressure water before entering
approved by municipalities and the Minnesota Parking. House (1906) Visitors Center, statue of
pitchforks to toss them onto the banks. Parking. new lakes and rivers.
Department of Natural Resources. The plan F (Mile 18.8) St. Albans Mill Site [Elev. 914]. A flour N Hiawatha and Minnehaha just above the falls,
reflects the lake’s historical water levels. mill was located here (1874 – 1881). NO LANDING. (Mile 10.5) Utley Park [Elev. 870]. Site of the Edina Picnic. Restrooms. No dock. Stevens House (1850 – moved to Minnehaha
Drain water from the boat, motor, live well,
Parking. Restrooms. Mill, which became the original center of the in 1896), and Princess Railway Station (1875).
R (Mile 5.4) Richfield Mill Site [Elev. 836]. A grain and bait buckets, and dump it on land. Dry
G (Mile 17.5) Hopkins Crossroad (County Road 73) City of Edina. Edina is named after Edinburgh, Parking. Picnic. Restrooms.
mill at Lyndale Avenue (1854 – 1886) sparked anything that touched water for at least five
B (Mile 21.0) Jidana Park [Elev. 924]. Extensive [Elev. 910]. Parking. Scotland, birthplace of miller Andrew Craik. See
growth of Richfield’s original town center. Minne- days before entering a new lake. It is illegal
wetlands show what much of the creek once historical markers and mill stones of flour mill Mouth of Minnehaha Creek [Elev. 687].
apolis annexed the area in 1927. NO LANDING. to transport a boat or trailer on public roads
looked like. Limited parking. Picnic. H (Mile 16.5) Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge site (1857 – 1919). Parking. Picnic. Restrooms. Walk 0.5 mile down the glen to the Mississippi
with zebra mussels or aquatic vegetation
[Elev. 905]. Two small parking spaces. No dock. River. Look for remains of Ard Godfrey’s
S (Mile 2.0) Lake Nokomis [Elev. 814]. Once called attached.
C (Mile 20.5) Minnetonka Civic Center O (Mile 9.5) West 54th Street [Elev. 861]. Minnehaha Mill dam (1853 – 1879).
[Elev. 922]. Parking. Picnic. Restrooms. I (Mile 14.8) Knollwood Target [Elev. 899]. REQUIRED PORTAGE. Amelia Lake. Parking. Picnic. No dock. A portage
Parking. Picnic. is required to access Lake Nokomis. Once on
D (Mile 19.5) Burwell Park [Elev. 920]. Simon P (Mile 9.0) Pamela Park [Elev. 855]. In 2001, the Lake Nokomis, there is access to amenities:
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District restored Beach. Restrooms. Canoe rental.
&
Minnehaha
Creek
canoe route
Watershed Map
Left to Right: A summer’s day paddle on Minnehaha Creek. Blue Phlox, a forest species. Maple and Basswood forest, a remnant of the Big Woods. Wildlife in the watershed. (Bob Firth , Minnesota DNR, Minnesota DNR, Bob Firth )
Safety First
The Watershed in the 1800s After treaties with the Dakota, set- Always wear your Personal Floatation Device
M ississippi River
disappeared, raising flood levels 1850s 1852
Globe Flour Mill Minnehaha
Deephaven Minnetonka Mill 1857 Minnehaha Creek is 22 miles long. It takes
and causing the creek to dry up
Falls
1854 nn Waterville Mill
Mi 1852
Ard GodfreyÕs on average six to nine hours to paddle from
in mid-summer. Buildings and Mound eh (Edina Mill)
Mill
1850s (settled)
a ha the headwaters at Gray’s Bay Dam on Lake
pavement added runoff and St. Bonifacius
Upper Lake
1853
Minnetonka
Minnetonka to Minnehaha Falls in South
Cr
Excelsior
pollution. (settled)
ee
Minneapolis. Refer to the Route Description
k
Lake
Nokomis
1854 and other information on this map as you
Richfield Mill plan your trip. Be aware of required portages
A healthy stream re-
Lake
Minnewashta and potential hazards. Along the way, watch
quires wise choices for many natural features, from historical sites
M ississippi River
nic Minnehaha Falls 22 miles downstream. The dam was built MINNETONKA
in 1979 to help regulate flooding. Its operation is based on poli- and impair water quality. Ongoing Langdon SPRING PARK BEACH DEEPHAVEN Lake Minnehaha
Falls
at: www.minnehahacreek.org.
Lake Calhoun
cies and procedures approved by local municipalities and the research, capital projects and MOUND
Mi
nn MINNEAPOLIS To report hazards or obstruc-
Department of Natural Resources and Lake Minnetonka’s histori- HOPKINS eh Lake
public education will pre- Upper Lake
ah
a Harriet Lake tions on the creek, call the
cal water levels. Hiawatha
serve the magnificent water Minnetonka GREENWOOD MCWD at 952 - 471 - 0590.
WATERTOWN
Cr
ee
The enchanting falls – inspiration to poets and princes, compos- bodies of this watershed for ST. BONIFACIUS EXCELSIOR EDINA
k
ers and presidents – draws millions of visitors each year from TONKA BAY Lake
future generations.
around the world and is the muse for Longfellow’s “Song of Hia- Mud
Lake
MINNETRISTA
Christmas
Lake
Nokomis Canoe/Kayak Rentals
watha” poem, immortalized by a statue nearby. The name “Min- Stone
nehaha” comes from “Mini Haha,” the Dakota words meaning Lake Lake RICHFIELD
•The City of Minnetonka (rental and shuttle
Parley VICTORIA
“Curling Water” or “the Waterfall,” which the Dakota people used Lake Lake Minnewashta service during some spring weekends). 952-
Lake Zumbra Virginia
to describe Minnehaha Falls. 939-8200 www.eminnetonka.com
John Mielcarek/Dembinsky Photo Associates