Iona MinnesotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Iona, Minnesota.
1. Murray County Historical Society Museum
LOCAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY
The Murray County Historical Society Museum offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of the region surrounding Iona. The museum features well-curated exhibits of artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of early settlers and development in Murray County. Visitors can explore multiple galleries showcasing everything from Native American history to agricultural development and pioneer life in the area.
2. End-O-Line Railroad Park And Museum
HISTORIC RAILROAD LANDMARK
End-O-Line Railroad Park And Museum preserves the historic endpoint of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad branch line in southwestern Minnesota. The park features a functioning turntable, historic depot, and various railroad equipment that transport visitors back to the golden age of rail travel. Visitors can tour authentic railroad buildings, view exhibits of railroad memorabilia, and even enjoy a ride on the manually operated turntable during special events.
3. Lake Shetek State Park
SCENIC OUTDOOR RECREATION
Lake Shetek State Park offers visitors beautiful natural landscapes centered around the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota. The park provides excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping, with modern facilities to accommodate overnight stays. Hiking trails wind through prairie and woodland areas, allowing visitors to observe diverse wildlife and learn about the area's natural and cultural history through interpretive displays.
4. Painted Prairie Vineyard
LOCAL WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE
Painted Prairie Vineyard welcomes visitors to sample locally produced wines in a charming rural setting near Iona. The vineyard grows cold-hardy grape varieties specifically developed for Minnesota's climate, producing unique wines that reflect the regional terroir. Guests can enjoy tastings on a scenic patio overlooking the vineyards and often experience special events featuring live music and food pairings throughout the summer and fall seasons.
5. Iona's Beach
PINK STONE SHORELINE
Iona's Beach curves in a salmon-colored crescent for over 300 yards along Lake Superior's North Shore, creating one of Minnesota's most distinctive beaches. The beach is characterized by its unique pink rhyolite stones that create a mesmerizing sound as waves push them back and forth, earning it the nickname 'The Singing Beach.' Visitors can walk through stands of pine trees to reach this beautiful natural area bounded by a 30-foot high cliff of pink rhyolite to the north and grey basalt headlands to the south.
6. Minnehaha Falls
ICONIC URBAN WATERFALL
Minnehaha Falls features a spectacular 53-foot waterfall that has been captivating visitors since it was made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem 'The Song of Hiawatha.' Located in Minnehaha Park, the falls are surrounded by limestone bluffs and lush vegetation, with scenic hiking paths leading down to the creek below. Visitors can enjoy the adjacent park's playgrounds, gardens, and historic buildings, making it a perfect day-trip destination when exploring the greater Minnesota area.
7. Blue Mounds State Park
BISON AND PRAIRIE VIEWS
Blue Mounds State Park preserves a rare Sioux quartzite cliff line that rises dramatically 100 feet from the surrounding prairie, providing exceptional views of the landscape. The park is home to a managed herd of American bison that roam the restored native prairie, offering visitors a glimpse of how the Great Plains might have appeared centuries ago. Hiking trails wind through diverse habitats including prairie, woodlands, and rock formations, with opportunities to see prickly pear cactus, native wildflowers, and a variety of wildlife throughout the different seasons.
8. Interstate State Park
DRAMATIC RIVER GORGE
Interstate State Park straddles the St. Croix River on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, featuring dramatic river gorges and unique glacial potholes formed thousands of years ago. The park's geological wonders include deep, cylindrical holes carved into solid rock by the swirling action of glacial meltwaters, some reaching depths of 60 feet. Visitors can hike along scenic trails offering spectacular views of the St. Croix River Valley, explore the unusual rock formations, and learn about the area's fascinating geological history through interpretive displays.
9. Gooseberry Falls
CASCADING NORTH SHORE WONDER
Gooseberry Falls showcases a series of magnificent waterfalls that drop in three spectacular tiers along the Gooseberry River as it flows toward Lake Superior. The falls are easily accessible via short walking paths from the visitor center, making them one of the most photographed natural features on Minnesota's North Shore. For those seeking a more secluded experience, the Fifth Falls can be reached via a three-mile loop trail that takes hikers away from the crowds to enjoy a peaceful forest setting with fewer visitors.
10. Split Rock Lighthouse
HISTORIC LAKE SUPERIOR BEACON
Split Rock Lighthouse stands majestically on a 130-foot cliff overlooking the vast waters of Lake Superior, serving as one of Minnesota's most iconic landmarks. Built in 1910 following a series of shipwrecks, this historic lighthouse offers guided tours where visitors can learn about the life of lighthouse keepers and the important role the beacon played in Great Lakes shipping. The surrounding state park features hiking trails, including the Day Hill loop that provides spectacular views of the lighthouse, and beaches where visitors can search for sea glass while taking in the magnificent coastal scenery.
11. Gitchi Gami State Trail
SCENIC LAKESIDE PATH
The Gitchi Gami State Trail offers cyclists and pedestrians a scenic paved pathway that winds along Lake Superior's magnificent North Shore. The trail, which runs adjacent to Iona's Beach, provides stunning views of the lake and connects multiple state parks, historic sites, and charming coastal communities. When completed, this ambitious project will stretch for 89 miles from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, allowing visitors to experience the natural beauty of Lake Superior's coastline at a leisurely pace.
12. Twin Points Water Access
LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE ACCESS
Twin Points Water Access provides visitors with a convenient entry point to experience the majesty of Lake Superior's shoreline near Iona's Beach. The access area allows boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders to launch their watercraft and explore the breathtaking coastal areas of the North Shore. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Lake Superior's vast waters, observe diverse bird species, and experience the ever-changing moods of this mighty freshwater sea throughout different seasons.
13. Casey Jones State Trail
HISTORIC RAILWAY PATH
The Casey Jones State Trail follows the route of the historic Chicago Northwestern Railroad line, offering a peaceful path through the rural landscape near Iona. This multi-use trail provides opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and in winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling through the rolling prairie. Named after the famous railroad engineer, the trail connects visitors to the region's rich railroad heritage while providing access to natural areas and small communities in southwestern Minnesota.
14. Pipestone National Monument
SACRED NATIVE AMERICAN SITE
Pipestone National Monument preserves the historic quarries where Native Americans have extracted red pipestone (catlinite) for ceremonial pipes for centuries. The site features a ¾-mile Circle Trail that takes visitors past ancient quarry pits, native tallgrass prairie, and the beautiful Winnewissa Falls. Cultural demonstrations at the visitor center allow guests to watch Native American artisans carve the soft stone into pipes and other items, continuing a tradition that has been practiced at this sacred site for generations.
15. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
PIONEER AUTHOR'S HERITAGE
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum celebrates the life and legacy of the beloved author who once lived in Walnut Grove and immortalized her experiences in the 'Little House on the Prairie' series. The museum complex includes multiple buildings housing period artifacts, replicas of pioneer settings, and exhibits detailing the Ingalls family's life in southwestern Minnesota. Visitors can explore a dugout house similar to the one the Ingalls family lived in, view memorabilia from the popular television series based on the books, and gain insight into the challenges and joys of pioneer life on the Minnesota prairie.