Explore the Great River Road in Little Falls, MN

Travel the Great River Road in Little Falls, MN

Little Falls, Minnesota is home to many wonderful things. It’s nine-thousand residents and hundreds of tourists can enjoy any number of things from stunning artwork throughout the city, history around every corner, museums of all kinds, delicious foods and spirits, wonderful outdoor recreation, and so much more. But did you know that Little Falls also has the Great River Road running through it? Grab your friends and family and cruise along this scenic drive!

Photo by Wandering Badger Media

What is the Great River Road?

The Great River Road is a national route following the Mississippi River from its beginning in Itasca, MN down through nine other states until it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The route is 3,000 miles long with 565 miles of it being in Minnesota. The route can be followed with a map that you can pick up at the Little Falls Chamber and Tourism or by keeping an eye out for the green and white signs featuring a pilot’s wheel and a river boat.

Photo by Wandering Badger Media

Interpretive Center

The Charles Lindbergh House and Museum is one of nearly one-hundred interpretive centers along the Great River Road. Interpretive Centers are historic sites that share integral stories connected to the Mississippi River. The story of Little Falls’ Interpretive Center is that of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh who was the first person to fly a non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. But, before he became one of the most well-known figures in history, Charles Lindbergh was simply a boy who fell in love with aviation. It was at his boyhood home along the Mississippi River where he heard and saw a plane for the first time in his life. Learn more about Lindbergh and his complex legacy by touring his childhood home and the museum.

Photo by Wandering Badger Media

Other Sites Along the Route

As you travel through Little Falls along the Great River Road, there are several other intriguing sites you will pass. Blanchard Dam is just south of Little Falls. Here, visitors and residents alike can follow the Soo Line Trail, take in the spectacular view of the dam, and scavenge for cross rocks. Cross Rocks, also known as “fairy stones,” are twinned staurolite crystals that are highly sought-after and often used as good luck charms or made into jewelry.

Another great stop is the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. Located along the banks of the Mississippi River, the museum is home the the Morrison County Historical Society and contains the entire history of Morrison County. The museum is free to visit and it has several exhibits to help you learn about Little Falls and the surrounding area.

If you’re looking to explore the great outdoors along the river, be sure to stop at Mill Park. Mill Park contains the ruins of what was once the Hennepin Paper Company which burned down in 2002. Pieces of the facility like a set of stairs, parts of the structure of the building, and pieces of equipment can be found here. Mill Park is also the trailhead for the Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail, a new bike trail that, when completed, will connect Crow Wing State Park and the Soo Line Trail. Mill Park is also one of the sites for the Little Falls Chamber and Tourism’s Wayfinding Project which highlights and celebrates the history of Little Falls and the Native American people.

Exploring Little Falls

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