Located along the meandering Minnesota River, the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway is a destination in itself. Close your eyes and imagine becoming an explorer for a day. Relax in the tranquility of Big Bluestem prairie grasses. Watch for Dakota skipper butterflies among purple coneflowers. Scan the expansive blue sky for bald eagles or wait quietly at the river’s edge to catch a glimpse of a deer at sunset.
Hover over a map point on the map for just a bit of information or click on the point for even more detailed information about that location. Use the filter to find activities you are interested in.
You can also view a complete list of all the Sites Along the Byway.
W Broadway Ave. | Browns Valley, MN, 56219
The city of Browns Valley is located along the Laurentian Continental Divide, a small rise in the land which influences whether water flows north to the Hudson or south to the Gulf of Mexico.
W Broadway Ave. | Browns Valley, MN, 56219
A historic cabin where you can learn about Browns Valley’s history.
TH 28/7 E | Browns Valley, MN, 56219
Uncovered in 1933, experts named the bone fragments “Browns Valley Man” and estimated it to be 9,000 years old.
35889 E Meadowbrook | Ortonville, MN, 56278
Nestled on the shores of Big Stone Lake, or Bde Iŋyaŋ Takiŋyaŋyaŋ, this state park offers visitors a quiet camping experience complete with fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching.
Hwy. 12 & Hwy. 75 | Ortonville, MN, 56278
A group of more than 15 historic properties along the shore of Big Stone Lake.
985 U.S. 12 | Ortonville, MN, 56278
Built on the site of Paul Bunyan’s anchor, this museum features many treasures of the past and interpretations about life as a pioneer.
44843 687th Avenue, County Highway 19 | Odessa, MN, 56276
Drive or bike the auto tour where you can enjoy the granite outcrops, wetlands and woodlands, prairie.
Odessa, MN, 56276
Appleton, Minnesota, 56208
Appleton, Minnesota
228 Main St. | Milan, MN, 56262
Sawdust art, handcrafts, vintage photos and pioneer items from the culturally rich Milan area, with historian and curator Billy Thompson who has stories to tell that will keep you laughing all day!
14047 20th St. NW | Watson, MN
Watson, MN, 56295
173 140th Avenue NW | Watson, MN, 56295
115 140th Ave NW | Watson, MN, 56295
250 8th Ave S | Madison, MN, 56256
Montevideo, MN, 56265
Montevideo, MN, 56265
151 Pioneer Drive | Montevideo, MN, 56265
301 State Road | Montevideo, MN, 56265
256 100th St SE | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
Granite Falls, MN, 56241
813 Prentice St | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
163 9th Ave. | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
98 Minnesota 67 | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
2450 540th St. | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
1st Ave. W | Hanley Falls, MN, 56245
5722 Travers Ln | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
5908 Minnesota 67 | Granite Falls, MN, 56241
300 5th Ave. | Sacred Heart, MN, 56285
79257 County Road 10 | Sacred Heart, MN, 56285
2136 600th Street | Echo, MN, 56237
76734 145th Street | Sacred Heart, MN
73715 County Road 6 | Renville, MN, 56284
In Vicksburg County Park, you'll find an interpretive panel that describes the beginning of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. You can imagine the conversations that took place on the other side of the Minnesota River - very important decisions.
Olivia, MN
913 W Bridge St. | Redwood Falls, MN, 56283
200 South Mill Street | Redwood, MN, 56283
333 S Washington | Redwood Falls, MN, 56283
31521 County Road 2 | Morton, MN, 56270
Jct of Renville Cty Hwy 2 and Hwy 18 | Morton, MN, 56270
441 N Park Dr | Morton, MN, 56270
35003 650th Ave | Morton, MN, 56270
32469 Redwood County Hwy. 2 | Morton, MN, 56270
39527 Res Hwy 1 | Morton, MN, 56270
The Lower Sioux Indian Community is a federally recognized Indian tribe and is host of the Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel.
28315 Co. Hwy 13 | Morgan, MN, 56266
72158 County Road 30 | Fairfax, MN, 55332
100 Oak St. NW | Sleepy Eye, MN, 56085
66250 County Road 21 | New Ulm, MN, 56073
County Road 11 | Brown, Minnesota, 56073
New Ulm, MN, 56073
Center & Monument Streets | New Ulm, MN, 56073
226 N. Washington Street | New Ulm, MN, 56073
4th N and Minnesota Street | New Ulm, MN, 56087
Riverside Park, 101 S. Front St. | New Ulm, MN, 56073
2 N Broadway St | New Ulm, MN, 56073
622 Center St. | New Ulm, MN, 56073
27 N. Broadway | New Ulm, MN, 56073
18th St. S & Schell St. | New Ulm, MN, 56073
1300 Summit Ave | New Ulm, MN, 56073
54497 Gadwall Rd | Mankato, MN, 56001
40923 Judson Bottom Road | Mankato, MN, 56003
3 civic center Plaza | Mankato, MN, 56001
100 Amos Owen Ln | Mankato, MN, 56001
900 Mound Avenue | Mankato, MN, 56265
224 Lamm Street | Mankato,, MN, 56001
This is Southern Minnesota’s most immersive and hands-on museum for kids.
332 Center Street | Mankato, MN, 56001
606 South Broad Street | Mankato, MN, 56001
424 Warren Street | Mankato, MN, 56001
3 civic center Plaza | Mankato, MN, 56001
120 S. Broad St. | Mankato, MN, 56001
100 N Riverfront Dr | Mankato, MN, 56220
209 N Riverfront Dr | Mankato, MN, 56001
310 Rock Street | Mankato, MN, 56002
Township Road 140 | Kasota, MN, 56050
101 S. Front St. | St. Peter, MN, 56082
100 Freeman Drive | St. Peter, MN, 56082
800 W College Ave. | St. Peter, MN, 56082
500 N Washington Ave. | St. Peter, MN, 56082
1851 N. Minnesota Ave. | St. Peter, MN, 56082
1851 N Minnesota Ave | St. Peter, MN, 56082
Follow the paths used by generations of Dakota and early French fur traders as you learn about the deeply complex historical significance of the site.
Ottawa Village Historic District, MN, 56058
118 N. Main St. | LeSueur, MN, 56058
Main St. between 5th and 6th St. | Henderson, MN, 56044
700 Main Street | Henderson, MN, 556044
600 Main Street | Henderson, MN, 56044
28238 Nature Center Ln | Henderson, MN, 56044
Belle Plaine, MN, 56011
- Explore fall and early winter by biking at one of the 6 state parks.
- Pack your bikes or roller blades and try the many paved trails in Mankato.
- Ride, walk, run, or rollerblade the trails in Montevideo or other byway communities.
- Take the 8 mile auto tour at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge to see the bison and other valley wildlife and plants.
- Visit Ft Ridgely State Park near Fairfax, or one of the other 5 state parks for winter wildlife viewing.
- Watch the migration of thousands of birds through the river valley.
- Pack up your family, tent or camper and head outdoors to visit any of the six wonderful state parks.
- Camp, picnic, visit the zoo. or golf at Alexander Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls.
- Camp in tipis in Upper Sioux Agency State Park.
- Swim in the outdoor sand bottom pool at Flandrau State Park.
- Experience wonderful ethnic food at Norsefest or Oktoberfest or at other local festivals.
- Bring your gear and ice fish on Lac qui Parle Lake (a portion of Minnesota River) or on other portions of the river.
- Hunt for pheasant, duck, gees or deer on the great public land along the byway.
- Explore fall and early winter by hiking at one of the 6 state parks.
- Pack your bikes or roller blades and try the many paved trails in Mankato.
- Ride, walk, run, or rollerblade the trails in Montevideo or other byway communities.
- Cross-county ski along one of the trails near Mankato or at other parks and trails in the river valley or try your downhill skills Mount Kato in Mankato.
- Try your sled or ice skates on the winter recreation hill on 9th Street in Henderson (complete with new warming house) or at many of the other local and state parks and recreation areas. Some locations like Ft. Ridgely State Park even rent tubes for their sliding hill.
Imagine geocaching along the 287-mile length of this nationally designated Byway as you progress up (or down) the valley while you enjoy all of the natural beauty associated with the Minnesota River.
Use the Byway as a destination for your hobby and see what you discover.
What is geocaching?
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt that has been popular in the Minnesota State Parks for several years. This activity uses the internet and a handheld GPS (global positioning system) to get coordinates. Once you have the coordinates and clues, you search for your hidden treasures or caches. For more information on geocaching, go to: geocaching.com.
This is a great family friendly activity integrating technology and getting you outdoors exploring new places or sometimes places that you drive by regularly but just never have had a reason to stop. Your only investment to get started is a hand held GPS (check with the people in your house that hunt, hike, fish, or ones with a newer cell phone – they may have a GPS already!). Otherwise you can find a GPS unit for as little as $100 at many large discount stores, sporting goods stores or online.
What you’ll need
- A handheld GPS unit. If you don’t have your own, Flandrau and Upper Sioux Agency State Parks have loanable GPS units and can train you to use one. Call ahead to reserve.
- A small trinket to trade for other items in the cache.
- Your sense of adventure!
Register an account on geocaching.com (it’s FREE) and start your adventure today!
Interested “Cache Masters” are encouraged to discuss operating a Byway-wide program by contacting the
byway [email protected]
To assist you in getting started we put together a list of cities and zip codes you can enter in to locate caches. I bet if you enter in your own zip code you would be amazed at the caches nearby!
Browns Valley
56219
Ortonville
56278
Appleton
56208
Montevideo
56265
Granite Falls
56241
Redwood Falls
56283
Morton
56270
New Ulm
56073
St Peter
56082
Le Sueur
56058
Henderson
56044
The Minnesota DNR website has a great description on geocaching!
- Enjoy a day of golf at one of the beautiful courses along the byway.
- See Explore Minnesota for courses and contact information.
- Try your paddle at the outstanding canoeing on the Minnesota River and its many tributaries.
- Canoe the MN River or one of the tributaries (bring your own or canoe rentals available).
- Check out those after Christmas sales at local shops in New Ulm or other byway communities.
- Visit the Meander upper Minnesota River Art Crawl – a five-county area with 50 prairie artisans showcasing a wonderful variety of artwork including willow furniture,norwegian influenced pottery, rosemauling, ironwork, paintins and drawing of all sorts.
- Visit local artisans and take home a unique piece of the Minnesota River Valley culture.
- Shopping for that perfect gift? Try one of the excellent German specialty shops in New Ulm.
- Visit the Traverse de Sioux History Center in St. Peter to see the fantastic displays of Dakota and river valley pioneer artifacts, stories and memorabilia.
- Buy that perfect Christmas gift at one of the great festivals.
