Work at Minneopa restricts view of falls

Visitors to Minneopa State Park will have reduced views of the park's twin waterfalls while a 90-year-old bridge between them is rebuilt.

The Department of Natural Resources says the work will begin in mid-August and is expected to last into October.

DNR spokesman Scott Roemhildt says the best view of the lower falls won't be available from the easiest route during construction, although a roughly half-mile hike to the other side will get a visitor there. That route won't be handicap-accessible.

Views of the two falls from the bridge won't be available during construction either.

The rest of the park won't be affected.

The DNR says Minneopa means "water falling twice" in Dakota. The agency says the twin waterfalls' 45-foot total drop makes them the largest in southern Minnesota.