Hidden Falls (Saint Paul, Minnesota) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls in August 2013
Type	Urban park
Location	Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Created	1887
Status	Open all year
Website	Hidden Falls Regional Park

Hidden Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in a special natural area. This area is found along the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The waterfall is part of Hidden Falls Regional Park, which is a public park. The City of Saint Paul takes care of it.

The main attraction of the park is the small waterfall. It gets its water from a natural spring. Sometimes, if there hasn't been much rain, the waterfall might be dry.

Park History: How Hidden Falls Began

Maps from the early 1800s show this park area had different names. It was once called Rum Town and Lebanon Grove.

In 1887, a man named Horace Cleveland chose this spot. He wanted it to be one of Saint Paul's main parks. The park was actually built much later, between 1936 and 1937. This work was done by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. They built a cool limestone staircase. This staircase goes from the bottom of the falls up to East River Parkway.

In the 1960s, the park was updated. It was divided into four main parts. These included a nature preserve, a boat launch, a picnic area, and the scenic falls. Hidden Falls Regional Park is part of the larger Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

There are plans to improve the area around the park. A former car factory nearby is being redeveloped. This work might help more water flow over the falls all the time.

Fun Things to Do at Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls Regional Park has over 6.7 miles (10.8 km) of paved trails. You can use these trails for hiking or biking. To the north, these trails connect to the Watergate Marina and Crosby Farm Regional Park.

Hidden Falls is a popular spot for many activities. People love to ride bikes and walk here. It's also great for picnics and grilling food. You can go boating on the river. Many people enjoy watching birds or fishing in the park.

Images for kids

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  Storm sewer opening and falls. Rain runoff provides water for Hidden Falls as of 2021