A reminder about safe viewing of Minnehaha Falls from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

While Minnehaha Falls is breathtaking in its current frozen state, visitors are reminded that the safest and only authorized areas to view this local treasure is from the footbridge above the falls or the overlook area near the pavilion/SeaSalt restaurant.

Because of moving water, boulders, slippery slopes and other unsafe conditions, it is unsafe to access the base of the falls any time of year. In winter, the stairs leading down to the creek below the falls are cordoned off. Visitors accessing the falls area by sliding down or using ropes on the gorge's slopes are not only putting themselves at risk for injury, they are also endangering the lives of police and other emergency personnel who will need to respond when an injury does occur.