Barn Bluff
All trails

Barn Bluff is a colossal detached bluff that provides commanding views of the Mississippi River and the town of Red Wing. There are three main trails on the bluff, and this hike will follow all of them.

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There is a quote from Jonathan Carver on one of the many informational signs along the trail that sums things up best:

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"The most beautiful prospect that imagination can form. Verdant plains, fruitful meadows, and numerous islands abound with the most varied trees... But above all, reaching as far as the eye can extend, is the majestic, softly flowing river".

Approach

From the junction of Interstate Hwy 61 (Main Street) and Bush St. in Red Wing Minnesota, follow Bush St. southeast 0.2 miles (3 blocks) to W. 5th St.

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Take a left onto W. 5th St. and follow it roughly northeast for 0.8 miles. After you pass under Hwy 61, you will find a small parking pullout on your right.

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Coordinates for the hike: 44.5681000,-92.5183400

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Parking / Trailhead amenities

The parking lot is a simple gravel pullout off of E. 5th Street. There is room for only a small number of cars. There are no facilities near the parking lot or along the trail.

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Trail observations

The trailhead starts directly across 5th street. Ascend the flight of stairs - at the top you will find a kiosk that provides a wealth of information.

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From the kiosk you will be heading uphill to pick up the Midland Trail. I like to hike the Midland trail rather than the wider South trail because the highway noise along the South trail can reach painful levels.

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The Midland trail merges with the southland trail after it's climbed about 1/4 of the height of the bluff.

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From there you will take the South trail to the Prairie trail, first to the east overlook, then to the west overlook, finally returning on the far side of the bluff via the North trail. Note that the Prairie trail is usually draped in prairie grass which can be a bit sharp. I strongly recommend wearing long pants.

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Do NOT do this trail if it has been raining recently. The section of dirt trail after the Kiwanis stairway is steep and there is nothing to hold onto to help you climb.

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The North trail is also slippery when wet - use good sense when taking this hike!

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Trail statistics

The trail is 2.52 miles long. The sum of all the uphill climbs is 192 feet.

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Trail waypoints

0.09 mi	Trailhead	Trailhead
0.10 mi	Kiosk	Trail map
0.13 mi	Up the stairs	Go right, up the stairway
0.16 mi	Follow Midland	Take a left onto the Midland Trail
0.27 mi	Runoff	Erosion gully - stay left on the trail
0.44 mi	Merge w/ south	Merge onto the South trail - keep going up
0.58 mi	Big stairway	Kiwanis Stairway - start climbing
0.65 mi	Follow east overlook	Go right on to the east overlook trail
0.66 mi	Steep dirt trail	Steep dirt trail - Impassable when wet
0.68 mi	Go right	Tee - go right to the east overlook, then return here
0.95 mi	East overlook	East overlook
1.51 mi	Keep right	Branch - keep right
1.58 mi	West overlook	West overlook
1.59 mi	Head down	North Trail - take the stairway down
2.01 mi	Quarry	Quarry
2.15 mi	Bench	Bench
2.25 mi	Left and down	Branch - go left and down
2.52 mi	Trail end	Trail end