The Most Underrated Towns In Minnesota
If you're not familiar with these small towns in Minnesota, consider this an introduction. They may be underrated, but they are far from ordinary. In Pipestone, tribal members still quarry red stone for ceremonial pipes, continuing a tradition more than 3,000 years old and setting the stage for scenic hikes rich in ancient history. In Henderson, you can zipline across the Minnesota River Valley. Wabasha is home to a ski resort and the National Eagle Center. Other towns on the list include Red Wing, with its bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, and New Ulm, with its rich German heritage. Here is the case for why each of these towns in Minnesota deserves a spot on your next itinerary.
Pipestone
Pipestone is home to a landscape where an indigenous tradition has continued for more than 3,000 years. Pipestone National Monument protects over 300 acres of tallgrass prairie and active pipestone quarries, where enrolled members of federally recognized tribes still extract the soft red stone used to make ceremonial pipes. Visitors are welcome to hike the Circle Trail, which leads through prairies and ancient quarries, along a creek, and past a waterfall.
Back in downtown Pipestone, the Pipestone Commercial Historic District is another highlight. Many of its notable structures were constructed with locally quarried Sioux quartzite, giving the area a pink-gray appearance rarely seen elsewhere in Minnesota. Within the district, the Pipestone Performing Arts Center adds a cultural dimension, hosting live music and other performances year-round in an 1897 Sioux quartzite building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Owatonna
Owatonna is a lesser-known waterfront town on the Straight River. It is home to the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum, a former state school that operated from 1886 to 1945 and now features photographs, artifacts, and exhibits highlighting the stories of more than 10,000 children. Visitors can also explore a restored 1923 boys' cottage to see its original architecture. For more history, one can step back in time at the Village of Yesteryear, home to 15 historic structures. One such site is the Dunnell Mansion, built in the 1860s and featuring period furnishings, highlighting Italianate-style architecture.
Meanwhile, Owatonna's Mineral Springs Park lets nature lovers stroll on serene paths or picnic with views of natural springs, greenery, and a waterfall. For more adventure, Kaplan's Woods Park spans 225 acres around Lake Kohlmier, offering opportunities for fishing and swimming, along with nearly 7 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through wooded areas.
Wabasha
Wabasha on the Mississippi River is home to the National Eagle Center. Located along the banks of America's second-longest river, this center offers opportunities to see and get up close to bald eagles through daily programs, river cruises, and an observation deck offering views of the majestic creatures.
In addition to its reputation as the eagle capital of America, Wabasha's Coffee Mill Ski Area is one of the area's most beloved winter attractions, featuring 14 ski trails and three lifts, setting the stage for a fun, family-friendly experience. The ski area typically opens in December, depending on weather and snow conditions. For golf lovers, the Coffee Mill Golf Course is a cool spot to book a tee time. The course features 18 holes and sits atop bluffs, offering sweeping views of the Mississippi River Valley.
Red Wing
Red Wing often flies under the radar, despite its natural scenery and concentration of historic and cultural attractions. This town sits on the Upper Mississippi River, surrounded by bluffs, notably Barn Bluff, a 340-foot cliff with trails offering views of the town and the river valley. Similar attractions are spread across the area, including Memorial Park, which sits atop a bluff and features picnic areas, open spaces, and trails offering additional views of the Mississippi and surrounding bluffs.
Beyond the outdoor scenery, downtown Red Wing offers attractions like the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, home to over 6,000 vintage crafts, ranging from stoneware to dinnerware and folk art, highlighting the region's craftsmanship. Also in this part of town, one will find the historic Sheldon Theatre, which dates to 1904 and hosts a wide variety of performances year-round, alongside star artists in a nostalgic setting.
New Ulm
New Ulm stands as one of Minnesota's underrated gems with a distinctly European character. The town was founded by German immigrants and still reflects that heritage today in landmarks such as the 102-foot Hermann Heights Monument, topped by a 32-foot copper statue of the ancient Germanic chieftain Hermann. The town center feels like a place in Europe, with attractions like the Kaiserhoff New Ulm, which has been a local favorite for authentic German food for decades, and Schell's Brewery, a truly historic attraction. One of the oldest in America, this family-owned brewery was founded in 1860 and welcomes everyone to taste its craft beers, take beer history tours, and stroll through its gardens. Meanwhile, New Ulm is a few minutes from Flandrau State Park, an outdoor haven on the Cottonwood River featuring 8 miles of trails winding through wooded areas, a swimming beach, and dozens of campsites with hookups, cabins, and fishing opportunities.
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids sits in northern Minnesota, where over a thousand lakes and the Mississippi River create a melting pot of water-based recreation. Nature lovers can paddle or fish on the river, which flows right through the heart of town. For lake lovers, there are several lakes in the immediate town area, including Pokegama Lake, located just outside downtown and open for boating, fishing, and lakeside camping and lodging.
Grand Rapids also appeals to history lovers, featuring historic gems like the Judy Garland Museum, whose comprehensive collection includes Wizard of Oz artifacts and rare Judy Garland items. Additionally, the Forest History Center is in Grand Rapids, offering a historic and nature-inspired adventure, with opportunities to tour a recreated 1900s-era logging camp, five miles of trails winding through forests, wetlands, and grasslands, and a 100-foot fire tower with views of the forest.
Henderson
Henderson is easy to miss, with a population just below 1,000, but it is home to exciting attractions, starting with the Kerfoot Canopy Tour. The 14-line course ranks among Minnesota's top-rated zipline experiences, reaching heights of up to 175 feet above the Minnesota River Valley. The attraction offers zipline tours lasting over two hours and a rope course with over 60 challenges. Ney Nature Center is a quieter alternative, encompassing 446 acres of woodlands, prairie, meadows, bluffs, and creeks teeming with wildlife. Several miles of trails provide access to these natural gems, including the Ravine Trail, a challenging three-mile hike through a wooded ravine.
The Henderson Hummingbird Garden in town is among the region's most distinctive features and a must for nature and bird lovers. The flower gardens here are a magnet for ruby-throated hummingbirds, and several bird feeders throughout the colorful landscape further support them. The Hummingbird Garden also hosts other birds and butterflies, and there are picnic benches where one can just sit and enjoy the views.
Lanesboro
Lanesboro has only about 750 residents, yet it still supports a professional theater company, a historic waterfall dam, and one of the state's best-known bike trails. The Root River State Trail is a paved 42-mile route that stretches from Fountain to Houston and passes right through the heart of Lanesboro. Constructed on an abandoned railroad, the trail winds through farm fields, historic towns with local establishments, and forested areas, offering views of towering bluffs and wildlife such as wild turkeys and deer. In winter, about 25 miles of the trail are groomed for cross-country skiing.
In the meantime, the Commonweal Theatre Company stands as the town's cultural anchor. The company boasts a 200-seat theatre on the historic main street, where locals and visitors alike can enjoy a wide variety of performances during its season, typically running from April to December. The town is also home to the Lanesboro Stone Dam, a historic landmark built in 1868, representing one of only a handful of gravity arch dams still in existence in the US. Just visiting to admire the waterfall is a memorable experience. Several outfitters in Lanesboro also offer an exciting paddling and floating experience on the Root River, with Root River Outfitters providing tubes, kayaks, and canoes for rent.
These towns may differ in many ways, but one thing they have in common is that they remain underrated. Change that narrative today and head to these Minnesota towns to witness a side of the state often overshadowed by places like Duluth. Visit Red Wing and enjoy the bluff and river scenery of the Driftless Region, or head to Henderson and spend the entire time ziplining above the Minnesota River Valley and admiring hummingbirds and butterflies among the flowers. Minnesota is more than its tourist hotspots, and these towns stand as evidence of that.
