City: Nearly Frozen Minnehaha Falls Not Safe For Public

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis city officials said Tuesday that even though Minnehaha Falls is nearly frozen over, visitors are warned that certain areas are not safe for walking or climbing.

Officials said the safest and only authorized areas of the falls to be on include the footbridge above the falls or the overlook area near the pavilion and Sea Salt restaurant. Visitors should not attempt to go anywhere near the base of the falls due to moving water, boulders, slippery slopes and other unsafe conditions.

The stairs that lead down to the creek are cordoned off. Those who access the falls area by sliding down the gorge's slopes are not only putting their lives at risk, but they're also endangering emergency personnel when they need to respond to a visitor who gets trapped or injured. It's also illegal and considered trespassing.