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Hidden Falls Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,485 Google reviews · Running trail in St Paul, Minnesota · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 6.7 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Hidden Falls Regional Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Charming, long-established park featuring waterfalls, trails, a boat launch & scenic picnic areas.
What runners say about Hidden Falls Regional Park
“The trails are very well maintained and easy to navigate, making it a great place for a casual walk or just getting outside for some fresh air.”
“Hidden Falls Regional Park is a beautiful riverside park along the Mississippi River with peaceful natural scenery.”
“Hidden Falls is a very peaceful spot on the Mississippi River, mostly because it's never too popular or crowded, we also caught some great fish around the area”
A good place for skipping rocks, and a great place for skipping-rocks! Some of the ones I found even had interesting fossilized material. I didn’t get in the river myself, but it was very peaceful and cool, and lots of people enjoyed swimming in it while I was there.
Nice short hike. There is a trail that goes along the river up to the abandoned building and continues to loop around back to the restroom area (note: follow the dirt trail to loop around). You’ll have to climb over and go under fallen trees (made it fun 🙂).
Hidden Falls Regional Park is a great place for a walk. I enjoyed strolling along the trails, and it's a popular spot for people to bring their dogs or go biking. The view of the Mississippi River from the walking trail is beautiful.
Beautiful park! Amazing views of the river and the hidden falls are incredible. The path up to the falls is lined with trees, flowers, and old stones. It feels like you're walking through a fantasy realm to find a hidden treasure. There are also lots of picnic tables and fields to play with friends.
Trail conditions & character
“The "hidden falls" can be great to view at times, and at other times are more of a trickle than a waterfalls, all depending on the weather and how much rain we have received.”
“Hidden Falls is a very peaceful spot on the Mississippi River, mostly because it's never too popular or crowded, we also caught some great fish around the area”
“There is a trail that goes along the river up to the abandoned building and continues to loop around back to the restroom area (note: follow the dirt trail to loop around).”
“Im not sure if the park allows camping or once did, but it's clear it had more space for more people, and maybe it's just changed it's parking layout as it grew.”
“There are plenty of shaded forest trails good for a short hike, and the wide, asphalt path is good for running, as long as you don’t mind the sun.”
“There is a trail that goes along the river up to the abandoned building and continues to loop around back to the restroom area (note: follow the dirt trail to loop around).”
“) The trails are great to walk your dog—however, these are primarily dirt trails and can get rocky up near the falls so keep this in mind if you have mobility limitations.”
“There is a trail that goes along the river up to the abandoned building and continues to loop around back to the restroom area (note: follow the dirt trail to loop around).”
Plan your run at Hidden Falls Regional Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance6.7 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitestpaul.gov
- Phone(651) 632-5111
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near St Paul
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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