At the 35-foot-high Vermillion Falls, nature and industrial history meet: in the 19th century, the falls powered a gristmill. You can visit the waterfall in Vermillion Falls Park. Historic buildings elsewhere in Dakota also offer insight into the region’s history.
History at Specific Sites
The Sibley Historic Site includes four of Minnesota’s oldest buildings, including the homes of Henry Hastings Sibley and Jean-Baptiste Faribault. The buildings document the American Fur Company’s control of the region’s Dakota fur trade between 1825 and 1853. Their architecture is therefore tied to a clearly defined chapter in the history of trade. Seasonal tours are offered at the Sibley Historic Site. If you plan to take a tour, check the schedule in advance.
Built in the mid-1860s, the LeDuc Estate in Hastings is an example of the design work of Andrew Jackson Downing. It offers a different architectural focus from the buildings at the Sibley Historic Site: here, the design tradition is central, while there, the focus is on the connection between buildings and the fur trade.
Parks Between Water, Trails, and Nature
Lebanon Hills Regional Park is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. In the Cannon River Valley, Miesville Ravine Park Reserve is a large nature reserve with miles of trails. These two places offer different perspectives on the landscape: one highlights the scale of a single park, while the other is a protected area with an extensive trail network.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park offers opportunities for active sports and quiet recreation year-round. At Lake Byllesby Beach, you can swim and relax during the summer season. The park is accessible via Harry Avenue; check project updates before your visit.
Spring Lake Park Reserve offers views of the Mississippi River. The Archery Trail has two loops, each with 14 stations; visitors can observe the bison herd in Bison Prairie. Within the same park reserve, visitors can choose between a trail with stations and wildlife viewing as specific experiences.
The Fawn Crossing Nature Play Area in Whitetail Woods Regional Park is designed for children as an outdoor play area that blends into nature. At Thompson County Park, a large picnic area offers views of Thompson Lake. The park’s wooded trails connect to the River to River Greenway.
Greenways and Routes Throughout the County
Dakota County’s park and greenway system offers more than 50 miles of summer and winter hiking trails. The named routes differ in their course, surface, and intended use: the Big Rivers Regional Trail is paved and scenic, and runs along the northern edge of Dakota County from Eagan to Lilydale. It offers views of the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. At the trailhead, you can access a nearly flat, paved path on a former railroad corridor.
The Mississippi River Greenway runs for 28 miles along the Mississippi River from St. Paul to Hastings. It is intended for non-motorized activities such as walking, cycling, and inline skating, and offers scenic river views. It is also connected to local parks, trails, and other destinations in the communities.
In Hastings, the 2.1-mile Vermillion River Greenway runs along the south side of the Vermillion River. It connects visitors to Vermillion Falls Park; its trailheads are in C.P. Adams Park and Vermillion Falls Park. This allows you to complement a visit to the waterfall with a named trail, without equating the stated distance with a walking time.
Discover more destinations: Burnsville, Lakeville, Inver Grove Heights, Apple Valley, Eagan, Hastings, Rosemount, Pennington County.
For the main travel overview: Minnesota.
