Great River Bluffs State Park

Great River Bluffs is a state park perched above the Mississippi River near Winona, featuring limestone cliffs that rise 500 feet above the water. The 2,100-acre property includes trails for hiking, a campground with drive-in sites, and cross-country skiing paths that weave through forests and open areas.

The park was established in 1971 to protect the native prairie and forest along this stretch of the Mississippi River. This protection saved natural habitats that had been disappearing from the surrounding landscape for over a century.

Native peoples made these bluffs their home for centuries, and the river below shaped their way of life and travel routes. Today's visitors can learn about these communities through guided programs offered throughout the year.

The park is most easily accessed from May through October when campgrounds are open with full facilities, though trails remain available year-round. Most paths are clearly marked and take between one and three hours to complete, making them suitable for various fitness levels.

The park protects rare dry bluff prairies with plants that thrive in thin rocky soils and extreme temperature swings between seasons. These specialized ecosystems have become scarce across the region, making this one of few places where you can see them intact.

Location: Winona County

Inception: 1971

Address: 43605 Kipp Drive, Winona, MN 55987

Phone: +15073122650

Email: greatriverbluffs.statepark@state.mn.us

Website: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00244

GPS coordinates: 43.94640,-91.39940

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:46