Stone Arch Bridge

Beautiful view of downtown Minneapolis ! There is meter parking, we arrived early and there was plenty of parking. (round 930am) beautiful park, you can walk around or just sit down and relax, there’s the stone arch bridge that crosses the Mississippi, it’s about 10 min walk, beautiful scenery all around you! A must !

The Stone Arch Bridge provides great views of the city, hydroelectric water power turbines, and the Mill Ruins below. Beautiful at any point in the day, but particularly lovely around sunset. It has both bike and walking paths so you can cross easily as a pedestrian (no cars competing with you on the pathways!). Definitely a must-​do in Minneapolis.

I take all my out-​of-​town friends & family here! Stone Arch Bridge is a beautiful place to walk around both during the day & at night. This is a historic bridge which is why you’ll see signs talking about the industrial area going back to the 1800s. The mill ruins makes this a unique spot, plus great views of the the Guthrie theater & Minneapolis skyline. It’s also one of the best places in town for July 4 fireworks and outside festivals. It gets super packed during these times though so go if you don’t like crowds, stay clear, but if you’re like me and thrive off that energy –go go go! What I also really like about this area is that it is one of the only offstreet well-​lit places to walk around in the evenings (the lakes aren’t well-​lit) so you’ll see a lot of us there at night to just be outside enjoying the weather. There’s also less hardcore exercise people here than Lake Calhoun (another popular spot) so you won’t feel out of place in work or street clothes.
Overall Recommendations:
— One of the best places to catch the sunset
— Watch out for the bikers & stay out of their lane!
— Make sure to check out the Mill Ruins Park under the bridge

Thanks to a recommendation from a waitress at Sanctuary, I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful bridge. The views at night are spectacular! You can stand in the middle and get a view of the city lights illuminating from downtown Minneapolis. You can also see the ruins of an old flour mill from the Minneapolis side of the bridge. At night the light reflects off the ruins and almost looks like it’s out of the middle ages. I would say this place is perfect for a night walk as the area is extremely safe or for a romantic end to date night. For the history buffs like me, it is a national civil engineering historic site!

I have numerous memories along this bridge and it’s a must-​see if you’re in town! You’ll encounter bikers, joggers, skaters and puppy dogs during the course of a day. The active community show their colors on this bridge, and it’s one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis.
The surroundings around the bridge are delightful. Perfect views of the city… you could say it’s a photographer’s dream! If you’re looking for either entertainment or cuisine, there are many nearby places to fulfill your needs. The bridge is located in such a central location that it’s perfect for an adventure. I’ve been here both during the day/​night and I can’t pick a favorite time of day to go. It’s so beautiful, so there is no way you can go wrong.
Take your friends out for a jog or your significant other out for a stroll… this bridge is sure to show you the beauty of Minneapolis.

The view is amazing. Great spot for running too.

Had the amazing opportunity to walk across the this fantastic piece of engineering around midnight last night.
What a strong feeling of power you feel when standing here witnessing the Great Mississippi flowing under your feet.
Definitely a sight to see if you are in the vicinity

I used to live in MN for college years and Loved it, except for the frigid winters! I Took my family to Mn last summer and this is such a gorgeous spot!!! It’s so peaceful and calm on the bridge! It was May, so perfect weather from above!

Is it prom season? There were high school kids all over this mother. That and a horse drawn carriage. All sorts of madness. But still cool to cross the river and see the St Anthony falls. Next time ill choose to walk mid week. It was crazy!

Best view in Minneapolis! You can bike, walk, run or hang out here and enjoy the view of this beautiful city.
In the summer my wife and I like to go down here and photo bomb the thousands of photoshoots and proposals happening daily.

Scenic, convenient and connects between downtown and Northeast. What’s not to love about it… the people who don’t have common courtesy to stay out of the way. Posing for pictures in the middle of a bike lane? Walking 5 people wide? Letting your kids run around unattended? Even with these issues it’s still a great place to go wether for the scenery or commuting with biking, walking to or from downtown. There are several trails that lead along the rivers edge for more adventurous types. Old caves and hidden areas.

I remember living in NE Minneapolis area. I was three blocks away from the Stone Arch Bridge. Yes, when I had to prep for a 5K this was the perfect spot. I would come here early morning to start my jog. I love it because the bridge doesn’t get crowded in the morning. Usually you would see people walking their dogs, biking, running or taking pictures during the day.
The bridge is long, well not that long. It is safe to walk on it. Also, the bridge is well kept. There are about 3 portable toilets. And I believe you have to find meter parking on St Anthony Main area. Or you can look for free parking on residential areas.
Enjoy!

Great place to run — fresh air and good views. Nice running/​biking/​walking paths on both sides of the bridge.

Pros: Pedestrian bridge spanning the Mississippi.
Cons: Super windy so bring a wind breaker.

Hands down the best place to chill on a warm summer night. The stone arch has an awesome view of the city and the falls. I would consider this one of the coolest stops in the Twin Cities. I always like hitting up the bike trail that is on this bridge and connects to the path along the river. Pretty perfect for a photo opp as well… I’ve seen weddings, engagements, senior photos, baby announcements, and families reunions all take place on this bridge… not that I spend all my time here or anything… that would just be weird.
There’s tons of parking around the bridge area, you just can’t drive on it.

Love this park. Views of the minneapolis skyline from the bridge are stellar not to mention the breathtaking view of the waterfall. Try hiking to get closer to the water. Sometimes it looks like there are homeless tucked away in the nooks of stairways but I’ve never felt too unsafe. I usually start my jog by gold medal park, loop around stone arch then return to my apartment via university ave.

Great views of the River, downtown and St Anthonys make this place a great destination. The day I went it was kinda windy with some snow in the air. It was my first time on the bridge andi was amazed at how good the views were. I was lucky enough to catch a sight of a bald Eagle perching on a tree even (check out my pictures)!
Either side of the bridge there is handy information kiosks detailing the history of the area which is nice and informative and helpful. It’s a real romantic place and on days like when I visited, quiet and peaceful.
It’s well worth the 10 minute walk from downtown and only a few blocks from the skyway system. I highly recommend checking it out!

This is my absolute favorite walk in Minneapolis. I try to get a walk in everyday and this is my main drag. I traditionally start from the St. Anthony Main/​NE side then head toward the downtown side, either circling back on Hennepin or strolling casually around the Guthrie and Mill City Museum area.
There’s so much to take in and see: the Minneapolis skyline, the old mill ruins below, Gold Medal Park just up the hill, farmers market on Saturdays, the Lock & Dam system, the river and the cast of characters on the bridge. Just the other day I saw a group having a picnic on the bridge during the evening, they went the whole nine yards with tables and chairs.
The Bridge offers breathtaking views of downtown and the river. A must-​see stop for any guest visiting Minneapolis or local.

This bridge gives you amazing views of the city — SEE PHOTO — (and what is left of its origins along the river — the «mill ruins.») If you’re there at the right time, you’ll see the river’s «lock» system at work.
It’s a great example of «reuse» rather than «replace» — it’s a former railway bridge that has been converted into open space for people to congregate, run, bike, walk their dogs, etc.
Definitely worth a visit while you’re in Minne — a lovely walk with lovely views.

First dates, last dates, meeting friends, saying goodbye to friends and avoiding that one ex boyfriend who rides down the bike path thinking he’s Lance Armstrong-​blech.
Kind of strange reviewing a bridge, but its not any old bridge. This bridge has a lot of history–
The bridge is truly one of the cities best and memorable places to visit.
Spectacular views of the city both day and night.
Great place to walk at lunch time.
Love the paths below when they are not too muddy and discovering all there is below. Geocashed here once.
Truly a remarkable site in Minneapolis and a definite place to bring out of towners.