John A. Latsch State Park

It is not like a typical MN State Park with a ranger station. When you get in, it is a very small park area. The actual fun is the 300+ stairs up to the top of the bluff! It is hard and should take about 25-30 minutes to get up and about the same to get down. Well worth it though once you see the view at the top. A super rewarding hike.

A much shorter hike than I thought, but the steep stairs definitely make it more challenging! I counted 588 stairs total, but was huffing and puffing so that may not be the exact total. I saw some hikers taking small children up - probably not the best plan unless you’re up to carrying them on your back halfway through. The view was great, but the top was pretty overgrown with not much room.

Somewhat challenging but totally worth it. Its a 450 ft elevation gain over 0.7 miles. You should be fine if you take your time and a couple breaks along the way no matter your fitness level. There are stairs though they may get slick in the snow. We went a week or two before peak fall, but it was still a pretty hike. Past the vista, the trail extends deeper into the mountain. Its a short loop with lots of bush. The trail is narrow and not well maintained/traversed. Kind of hard to see and easy to get lost. I would not recommend continuing the trail past the vista.

This is such a fun hike. The views are amazing. You will need water and your binoculars to enjoy the top. The stairs will take their toll on you. My 4 year old enjoyed the hike, while some of those who were afraid of heights got scared. The top has a nice loop to hike but it is not visited often.

Only one path consisting of over 500 steps that lead to a very nice view of the Mississippi. The path that continues beyond the top is overgrown and blocked by downed trees and generally not worth it. Small parking area. No permit required. Some steps are loose and rotten, so be careful.

Dangerous in winter. But fun hike up like 80 floors of stairs to a great view.

Last climbed the 500+ steps here when I was 10 years younger and a good few pounds lighter. The climb is well worth it for the beautiful view you get. In season you can see breeding Peregrine falcons, bald eagles and many other birds. Some of the steps can be a little slippy and some are loose, so watch your footing. It's a beautiful spot with stunning views.

Nice short hike. Be prepared for lots of stairs! The view at the top is worth it! We spent an hour here and about 45 minutes of actual hiking.

We visited John Latsch State Park last summer on our way home from visiting another park. Frankly, we didn’t know anything about the park when we stopped and were a little surprised by how small the park is. The park consists of a parking lot, an unimproved bathroom facility, some picnic tables, plenty of mosquitoes at the base, and a trail consisting almost entirely of steps to the top of the bluff overlooking the river. The view from the top is beautiful! Our pre-K child was able to complete the climb almost by himself. The climb isn’t super difficult if you’re in moderate shape or better.

There were long steep endless steps up to the top but a panoramic view of Mississippi River was all worth it although I didn't get to see eagles flying below the bluff.