Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring)

A leaf covered trail at Mni Owe Sni

NPS/Neil S.

Quick Facts

Location:

5601 Minnehaha Park Dr S, St Paul, MN 55111

Significance:

Sacred to the Dakota and additional Tribes; critical habitat

Designation:

Traditional Cultural Property, National Register of Historic Places

Amenities

8 listed

Accessible Sites, Beach/Water Access, Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Rack, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trailhead, Wheelchair Accessible

Introduction

Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring) is a sacred area for the Dakota and additional Tribes. Mni Owe Sni’s primary feature is the spring which begins in the upland area of the site and flows down to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The Mni Owe Sni area is managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Tribes. The area is steeped in millennia of history but its most recent chapter began in 2010 when the National Park Service started restoring the area from what was an abandoned Bureau of Mines administrative campus.

Since 2010 the National Park Service, partner agencies, and hundreds of volunteers have worked to restore the native oak savanna and prairie that surrounds the spring today. In the coming years, the National Park Service has the goal to continue landscape restoration down to the shores of the Mississippi River.

Visiting the site offers a unique opportunity for personal connection and reflection. We encourage you to experience this sacred place with quiet respect; the lessons you learn here go beyond any written account and resonate deeply within the landscape.

Land Management

The lands of the Mni Owe Sni area are managed in partnership to protect, preserve, and enhance its natural and cultural resources.Since 2010, great progress has been made restoring the western end of the Mni Owe Sni area to oak savanna. In the next decade, the National Park Service and partners will be working on the eastern area to establish endangered mussel habitat and restore critial floodplain forest habitat.

The map below shows the Mni Owe Sni area that the National Park Service manages in partnership with landowners.

History

Mni Owe Sni holds deep cultural significance as a traditional gathering place for the Dakota people and multiple Indigenous nations. For centuries, this remarkable site has been associated with healing and community, embodying a place of peace.

In recent history, Mni Owe Sni served as a gathering and camping location, where various Tribes, including the Anishinaabe/Ojibwe, converged to engage in trade and build relationships, particularly in connection with Fort Snelling. The arrival of European settlers prompted soldiers to relocate here, drawn by the spring's clean water, which contributed to its reputation as a foundational location in Minnesota's history.

For generations, Dakota people and others coexisted peacefully around Mni Owe Sni, engaging in trade, intermarrying, and fostering a sense of community. Despite challenges posed by land use changes and road construction in the area, the spring remains a site for ceremonies and reflection.

The property was last home to the Bureau of Mines: Twin Cities Research Center. The research buildings were constructed primarily during the late 1950s through the early 1960s. Federal funding for the Bureau of Mines was permanently eliminated in 1996; by 1997, the buildings were vacated and gradually fell into disrepair. They remained vacant until their demolition in 2011 as the National Park Service restored the area to native oak savanna.

Activities

The park features a crushed limestone trail for walking to the spring and other trails for enjoying the site. Additionally, there are many opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Birdwatching is a popular activity at Mni Owe Sni as the savanna/prairie restoration matures and attracts a larger number of species. Turkeys, river otters, deer, and even coyotes are not uncommon and native wildflowers bloom throughout the growing season. Visitors can start their trip at the spring and then hike down to the riverfront where Mni Owe Sni's outflow meets the Mississippi River.

Additional Information

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 meters) in length. This area is home to fragile habitat and cultural resources, please respect these resources and the law by leashing your pet. 
• WARNING: Water from the spring house and reservoir is not potable. Do not drink or use for personal consumption. Our tests indicate the water that runs from the spring's recharge area is not filtered sufficiently by natural processes to be safe for human consumption.
• See the Superintendent's Compendium for additional rules.
• Open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Address: 5601 Minnehaha Park Dr S, St Paul, MN 55111 (Not all electronic maps use this address for this location, and you may want to use the GPS coordinates below.) Driving directions: From Hiawatha Ave, turn east on 54th Street East and then immediately south on the frontage road. Paid parking is available along this street. (Parking at Mni Owe Sni is limited to disability parking only.) From the west, drive east on 54th Street East and turn south on the frontage road after passing through the Hiawatha Ave intersection.
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