Explore Frozen Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls Park in South Minneapolis is a big draw during the spring, summer and fall months. Experiencing an urban waterfall and scenic hiking trails in the middle of a major city is a treat. However, come wintertime, the falls freeze and a spectacular scene emerges. Many people flock to the frozen falls to climb and hike.

Park your car at one of the many lots on property at Minnehaha Falls Park and follow the sign toward the falls. Upon arriving at the top of the falls, you'll see a long, winding staircase leading to the base. Traversing the steep stairs is a bit challenging, as they are often completely iced over. Some portions of the stairs have small, man-made paths alongside so that people can slide down on their butts. Just before reaching the end of the staircase, you may notice a 'Do Not Enter' sign posted by the Minneapolis Park Board. Clearly, it is more of a recommendation than a mandate, as plenty of people climb over the rope to explore the frozen falls.

In order to capture the scale of the falls, I used a GoPro Hero3+ Silver. The wide-angle lens does a nice job of showcasing the massive falls and the tiny people below exploring. Because this GoPro model doesn't have a display on the back, I framed most of my shots using the GoPro app on my iPhone. I also used timelapse mode (one shot every 0.5 seconds) in order to capture a variety of pictures in a single take. To edit my photos, I like to use Snapseed.