Falls Park

Falls Park is the scenic heart and namesake of Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city — a beautiful urban park where the Big Sioux River tumbles in a series of waterfalls and cascades over ledges of rose-colored Sioux quartzite, dropping about 50 feet over the course of the falls and moving an average of 7,400 gallons of water per second.

The pink-and-purple quartzite, the rushing water and the historic ruins of the old Queen Bee Mill give the park a distinctive beauty in the middle of the city. Visitors stroll the paths and bridges among the falls, climb the viewing tower for an overview, visit the visitor center and café, and enjoy the winter holiday light display. Easily accessible and lovely in every season, Falls Park is a treasured natural and civic icon of South Dakota.

Falls Park invites visitors to walk the paths and bridges among the waterfalls and quartzite ledges, climb the five-story viewing tower for a panorama of the falls and city, explore the historic mill ruins, visit the visitor center, café and seasonal farmers market, and enjoy the bike trail along the Big Sioux River. The winter Winter Wonderland light display draws crowds. Viewing and photographing the falls, walking among the rose-colored rocks and climbing the tower are the signature draws. The combination of scenic waterfalls, historic ruins and easy city access makes Falls Park a beloved destination.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful falls as the Big Sioux River runs high with snowmelt and rain, while summer offers lush surroundings and the full visitor season, and fall brings color along the river. Winter transforms the park with ice and the popular holiday light display. The falls are lovely year-round but most powerful in spring; the light at sunrise and sunset enhances the rose-colored rock. Spring for the fullest falls and the winter holiday lights are highlights — come anytime, with spring for the most dramatic water and the cooler hours for the best light.

The falls of the Big Sioux River have drawn people for thousands of years, including the Native peoples of the region, and gave the city of Sioux Falls its name. Settlers harnessed the falls’ power, building the seven-story Queen Bee Mill in 1881 (whose picturesque ruins remain) and other industry. The city created Falls Park around the falls, restoring it as the scenic centerpiece of downtown. Falls Park preserves these beautiful waterfalls, the historic mill ruins and the heritage of the city, a treasured icon of South Dakota.

The falls of Falls Park tumble over Sioux quartzite — an extremely hard, ancient rock (over 1.6 billion years old) formed from sand laid down in a primeval sea and tinted rose, pink and purple by iron — one of the oldest and hardest rocks exposed in the region. The Big Sioux River drops over the resistant quartzite ledges in a series of falls and cascades. The ancient, hard, rose-colored quartzite and the river dropping over its ledges created the distinctive waterfalls that give Sioux Falls its name.

Despite its urban setting, Falls Park and the Big Sioux River corridor host Canada geese, ducks and other waterfowl, gulls, songbirds and the occasional raptor, with fish in the river and small mammals along the greenway. The river and its banks form a wildlife corridor through the city. While Falls Park is visited mainly for its waterfalls and history, the river and its greenway offer urban wildlife and bird watching, especially waterfowl on and around the falls and the Big Sioux River.

Falls Park protects the Big Sioux River and its falls as a natural and recreational corridor through Sioux Falls, with the river, its banks and the surrounding greenway providing habitat and a green ribbon through the city. Urban water quality and river health are ongoing concerns addressed by the city and regional efforts. The river corridor and its riparian edges are valuable urban habitat. Protecting the river’s water quality and its greenway sustains both the ecology and the scenic beauty of Falls Park and the Big Sioux River through the city.

Falls Park holds a treasured place among the icons of South Dakota — the scenic heart and very namesake of Sioux Falls, the state’s largest city, where the Big Sioux River tumbles over rose-colored quartzite past historic mill ruins. Beloved by residents and visitors and central to the city’s identity, the falls embody the meeting of nature and city. Falls Park is a cherished natural and civic icon of South Dakota, the beautiful centerpiece of Sioux Falls.

Falls Park is in downtown Sioux Falls, in southeastern South Dakota, just north of the city center off Falls Park Drive, easily reached from Interstate 90 and 29. There is no entrance fee. The park has paved paths, bridges, a five-story viewing tower, the historic mill ruins, a visitor center with an observation deck, a café, and connections to the city bike trail. It is open year-round and is fully accessible in its main areas. Check the City of Sioux Falls for hours, the visitor center, events and the winter light display before visiting.

The City of Sioux Falls maintains and protects Falls Park and the Big Sioux River corridor. Visitors help by staying on the designated paths and behind barriers (the wet rocks are extremely dangerous), protecting the river’s water quality, not littering, respecting the historic mill ruins, keeping pets leashed and cleaning up after them, and following park rules. The river, its water quality and the historic structures are cared for by the city. Protecting the river and the park sustains both the ecology and the scenic beauty of this beloved urban waterfall park.

The rocks around the falls are extremely dangerous — they are deceptively slippery (wet, with algae) and people have been swept into the powerful water and died, so stay on the designated paths and behind barriers, never climb on the wet rocks or wade in the river near the falls, and watch children closely. The current and cold water are deadly. In winter, ice makes paths slippery. Respect the barriers, the deadly slippery rocks and powerful current, and keep well back from the water’s edge at the falls.

There is no entrance fee. Stay on the designated paths and behind barriers; do not climb on the rocks near the falls or enter the river (it is dangerous and prohibited in the falls area). Pets must be leashed and cleaned up after. Do not litter; pack out or use bins. Drones, special events and commercial photography may require city permits. Respect the historic mill ruins. Follow all posted rules and any seasonal closures. Check the City of Sioux Falls for hours, rules, permits and event schedules before visiting.

Downtown Sioux Falls with its shops, restaurants and riverfront, the Big Sioux River greenway and bike trail, the SculptureWalk and other city attractions, and the surrounding prairie of southeastern South Dakota lie near the park. The city of Sioux Falls and the Big Sioux River define the region. Falls Park is the scenic heart of Sioux Falls, a centerpiece of an eastern South Dakota visit, easily combined with downtown Sioux Falls, the river greenway and the city’s cultural attractions.

Stroll the paths and bridges among the rose-colored quartzite and rushing water, climb the five-story viewing tower for the best overview, and explore the historic Queen Bee Mill ruins — come in spring for the fullest, most powerful falls, or during the winter holidays for the Winter Wonderland light display. Visit at sunrise or sunset for lovely light on the pink rock, stay on the paths and well back from the deadly slippery rocks and current, and pair your visit with downtown Sioux Falls and the river greenway.