Minnesota
Where Bluffs Meet the Mississippi
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Photo: Gene1138 / Flickr
Nestled in a dramatic bend of the Mississippi River, Red Wing sits at the northern edge of the Driftless Area, surrounded by towering bluffs that create one of the most stunning natural settings of any river town in America. The 340-foot Barn Bluff has served as a landmark for centuries, first for the Dakota people and later for steamboat captains navigating the great river.
Red Wing's remarkably preserved downtown features three historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The St. James Hotel, built in 1875, anchors a Main Street lined with 19th-century brick storefronts housing antique shops, galleries, and restaurants. The town's industrial heritage lives on through Red Wing Shoes—still manufactured here—and Red Wing Stoneware, whose distinctive pottery has been crafted locally since 1877.
The Sheldon Theatre, a restored 1904 jewel box auditorium, offers year-round performances, while the surrounding bluff country provides endless opportunities for hiking, biking along the Cannon Valley Trail, and soaking in Mississippi River views that change dramatically with every season.
Iconic 340-foot bluff with hiking trails and panoramic views of the Mississippi River valley
Three National Register districts with Victorian architecture and the grand St. James Hotel
Home to Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Stoneware, with museums celebrating both
20-mile paved trail connecting Red Wing to Cannon Falls through scenic river bluffs
Red Wing is located about an hour southeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul along Highway 61, the Great River Road. The town is especially beautiful in fall when the bluffs blaze with color. Stop at the historic train depot—still an Amtrak stop—which houses the visitor center. Don't miss Frontenac State Park nearby, one of the best birdwatching spots in the Midwest.