We like to make the trek from the twin cities to this park in Red Wing. There is a lot of parking at the trailhead and once you get going, it isn't too long of a hike up the hill and you are rewarded with really nice views of the town, the surrounding county, the river, as well as being able to see deep into Wisconsin. There is a lot to look at from the northern vantage point. Then, you can head south along a ridgeline and get to the southern vantage point and the views there go on for miles as well. It is definitely kid-friendly, as my 4 year old walked the whole thing and my 2 year old walked a bunch of it, too. Just make sure to take a few breaks and bring some snacks. read more

Very nice place for a quick hike of different distances and levels of difficulty. Plentiful parking spots on the streets if need it. We'll pave and well navigate with signs, directions, and directions. We hike the Midland Trail and the South for an easy to moderate hike. We went the west outlook point. Well designed trails and stairs for everyone to come and enjoy. Overall yes, would come by if in the area for a nice breezy hike. The overall view point from the top overlooking downtown red wing is spectacular. Pictures cannot do justice to. read more

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He Mni Can (aka Barn Bluff) is a perfect hike, not too tough and not a straight flat walk with plenty of free ample parking available. There are not many hikes in MN (especially in the greater metro area) that provide you with elevation but He Mni Can does, and even tho the max elevation is mere hundreds of feet, it is definitely better than none. If you don't have little kids, and want a little thrill, I suggest taking the north trail to the top. If you have young ones (less than 10-12 yrs of age) I would suggest sticking to the south trail. Thus far, we have always gone during summer times. Maybe will try it in the winter next time around. read more

Barn Bluff - View from the top over looking redwing - Hiking Near Me - Red Wing, Minnesota

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Excellent views and a good workout. Just make sure you have a windbreaker and proper hiking boots as it can get fairly muddy and windy towards the top. read more

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Barn Bluff is located in quaint Red Wing. You can see the flag that sits high on the overlook. I always wondered how I could get up there until I heard about the hiking trails to get there. There are a few options on how to hike the bluff including easy, moderate and difficult. You can also choose between eight or so trails that have different terrain like prairie or wooded. On either end of the bluff there are spectacular views of the city or the river valley. I love hiking barn bluff. read more

"Know When to Hold 'Em; Know When to Fold 'Em" According to local Dakota legend, hundreds of years ago, back in the days of floppy disks, Clearly Canadian, and when Bob Barker hosted "The Price is Right", a large mountain stood in the place of Barn Bluff. After arguments ensued over who owned this prime spot for watching over enemies, contestants from two Dakota rival villages participated in challenges for immunity and to win sole possession. Tie votes proved problematic, so the Great Spirit and Jeff Probst instead divided the mountain into two parts. One part stayed in Red Wing and was named Barn Bluff, while the other part moved down the Mississippi River to Winona, where it was named Sugarloaf. We'll save the sugar for later. Barn Bluff has several scenic trails that are perfect for quick, yet fairly steep hikes (expect to spend maybe 30 minutes to an hour to cover the roundtrip hike plus exploring/taking photos at the summit), with the reward being stunning views of Red Wing, Wisconsin, and the Mississippi River at the top. Prehistoric people used to build burial mounds on top of the bluff, so take a moment to think back about all the footsteps that came before yours when you get there. Kids and dogs will enjoy the hike, but be always be careful of loose rocks and drop-offs along the trails. Find a bathroom before you go--there are none at the bluff. Now the tricky part...to find the trailhead (GPS will not always bring you to right spot). A. Drive into town. B. Look up at bluff C. Admire or scoff at of the area dedicated to graffiti on the West side of the bluff. There are layers upon layers of paint featuring graduation years, love declarations, and even tributes to Prince! While not technically legal to deface the bluff, the graffiti has been a tradition for over 50 years--the city doesn't usually paint over it unless there are complaints. D. Ask a local for directions. They're usually tame as long as you don't make any sudden movements. *Trail lengths* --South Trail-- To Lime Quarry .32 miles To East Scenic Overlook .83 miles Roundtrip from Main Park Access to West Scenic Overlook 2.27 miles --Prairie Trail-- From West Scenic Overlook to East Scenic Overlook .55 miles --Carlson Lime Kiln Trail-- .3 miles RT (dead end) *The North trail is closed, but the connection path that leads there also goes to the midland trail and quarry trail, both of which are open. The North trail, being the most difficult and dangerous trail was temporarily closed for modifications (there have been 3 fatalities on that trail since 2011). It should be opening back up again this fall. "Barn Bluff" (Parody of "Love Shack" ~B-52's) If you see a little sign at the side of East Fifth that says Drive straight down to the Barn Bluff Barn Bluff yeah I'm driving down over to Barn Bluff's lot Looking for a gooood parking spot Looking for a gooo--oood parking spot I found me a slot underneath a shade tree Don't need money 'cause the parking is free Three-hundred, forty feet, to the best city view So strap on that Fitbit and let it acrue The Barn Bluff is a pretty, old hill where We can hike together Barn Bluff Baby! At Barn Buff, Baby Barn Bluff, hiking, Barn Bluff Barn Bluff, hiking, barn Bluff Barn Bluff, hiking, barn bluff Barn Bluff, hiking barn bluff Sign Says, "Closed", for the north trail "Cause we care, 'bout your hiking fails" Cause that trail goes back to a narrow, slippery path With a bunch of loose rocks and steep vertical drops Hiking up the South Trail Hiking up the Midland.... Hiking to the lime kiln Hiking through the Prairie.... The Love Shack is a pretty, old hill where We can hike together Barn Bluff, baby Barn Bluff, baby Barn Bluff, that's where we hike Barn Bluff, that's where we hike Huffin' and a-puffin', workin' off your muffin Hiking to the summit, keep on path and don't plummet! The big hill's rockin' Yeah the big hill's rockin' The big hill's rockin', when everyone's a wanderin' on up, And on up, and on up, and back down! Everybody's traipsin', everybody's trampin' around Crowds trekkin' up the trail just to trek down Everybody's traipsin', everybody's trampin' around Rockin' that bluff Rockin' out that bluff! Climb to the summit, it's an amazing view Where your crew can rendevoooous, Wear your hiking shoes, make sure that they're grippy, put em' on 'Cause loose rocks can get slippery! The Barn Bluff is a little old hill where We can hike together Barn Bluff, baby Your what? Barn Door's Open! Barn Bluff, baby Barn Bluff! Barn Bluff, baby Barn Bluff! After docking the bluff one "Uffda" for the sometimes ill-maintained paths and signage, I would give this beautiful and historic bluff four hearty (and possibly out of breath) "Uffdas". ~The Nosy Norwegian Sniffing out good deals and dusty trails so that you don't have to. read more

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Excellent views of Red Wing, MN! This is a fun day trip coming from the city. Be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs! Not for the weak! It's free and parking is a bit hidden around back and on the street for free. No bathrooms that we found. Wear a mask during COVID because it will get everyone hugging and puffing on those stairs! Nice trails at the top circling the hill with views on all sides! read more

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Hiking in Red Wing on a Saturday afternoon was relaxing. The trail seemed moderate. There appeared to be poor signage but we were still able to navigate our way around. There were a few high points on the trail to observe a great view of the Red Wing area. The park itself was easy to find and parking was accessible. The hike itself overall was ok. Be prepared for a few inclines and some stairs during this walk. I'd suggest making plans to have lunch and shop after in the downtown Red Wing area. I can't say that I was over the top impressed with this hike but it was definitely something to do. This was my first visit to Red Wing and this park was suggested as a place to visit. If you like the outdoors and don't mind walking a bit, you'll be satisfied. read more

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Beautiful. BEAUTIFUL! Two options for trails to accommodate hiking experience. My only disappointment: after reading about the history of the bluff--sacred to the Dakota--it was disappointing to see only an American flag at the top and not a Dakota flag with any of their tribal signs or emblems. There was a beautiful interactive display to the Dakota at the start of the trail which was educational/interesting and appreciated. The cement stairs at the top of the trail which had names of the limestone mine/quarry workers carved into them were a wonderful testament to their back breaking work. Bottom line: beautiful place to visit. Pay tribute to Dakota at the top of the bluff. read more

Short little trail, with beautiful views at the different lookouts. The North Trail is closed, so I don't recommend making a long trip to Red Wing just for this. Rather, this is a nice outdoor activity if you are in the area and have the proper attire. I would recommend hiking shoes as there is a steep grade on much of the trail... I wore tennis shoes, and while I could definitely make the walk, I really wished I had my boots. read more

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My 2nd favorite hill in Red Wing (a close second) after the much larger Sorin's Bluff AKA memorial park. I once walked up the hill at dusk and the trail was full of fire flies, making for a cool hike that day. The main view everyone goes to see is overlooking the bridge to Wisconsin and the town of Red Wing, I would also advise taking a look at the other end of the hill going towards the Xcel Energy coal plant which still has the old "NSP" sign on it. Here, you can see hills going towards lake city, and I think you can see the historic Correctional facility in the distance, which is a cool looking building. This view is a bit less impressive than the other side, but still worth checking out. For some history, check out the Kiln on the back of the bluff near the rail road tracks, head straight back before taking the stairs up, it almost looks like a small castle and dates back to 1882, easy walk to get to this area. The hike is not too difficult for a person of average age and health but can be challenging depending on your condition and how fast you go up, so take that into consideration. If these are issues for you, check out Memorial park which is not far from this location, you can drive right up to the top and check out the view of town and the river. read more

Like nothing in MN. Absolutely beautiful trails, although only one is open to go all of the way to the top currently, which is unfortunate. Only way up is to take the main trail, then the stairs and continue up to the downtown views or the prairie. Don't go up anything else unless you're planning on rock climbing. Great for a nice summer or fall hike. The views of the lake and downtown Red Wing are gorgeous. read more

This place isn't for the faint of heart, but it's well worth the view. There are multiple trails to choose from, but I highly recommend taking a photo of the map with your phone before starting (it saved our butts in the end). The North Trail is the toughest, but worth it. The South Trail is easy and will take you straight to the top of the bluff, though get ready for a steep climb. We headed up the South Trail first which lead us to an amazing view. At the top of the bluff there are little trails that lead closer to the edge. Be careful when you take them, but they lead to the ultimate view of the town and river below. There's also a lookout platform that will give you some great photos. We then took the North Trail down, which is narrow and leads along the side of the bluff. Eventually it dead ended and we got a bit lost (this is where our picture of the map saved us), but we simply backtracked a bit and took another trail down to the main road. Tips: Bring comfortable shoes and water! Also when you get back to the parking area walk along the bluff toward the old NSP plant. To your left will be a gated dirt road and just up that are the ruins of a beautiful 1800's era kiln. Well worth the short walk! read more