Ford Dam Scenic Overlook
Ford Dam Scenic Overlook sits at 804 feet along the Great River Road, facing south across terrain that drops 96 feet within 600 meters of the viewpoint. Several named features lie within a few miles to the south: Yardville Right of Way at 0.6 mile, Mní Ówe Sní (Coldwater Spring) at 1.0 mile, Coldwater Spring at 1.1 miles, Morris Park to the southwest at 1.2 miles, the Leonard H. Neiman Sports Complex at 1.7 miles, and Pilot Knob Preservation Site at 2.8 miles to the south-southeast, the highest of the listed points at 919 feet. Minneapolis is 5.4 miles to the northwest, Saint Paul is 5.7 miles east-northeast, and Bloomington is 8.2 miles southwest. Daylight hours vary by season, with sunrise and sunset ranging from a 05:27 sunrise and 21:04 sunset at the June solstice to a 07:48 sunrise and 16:35 sunset at the December solstice. This overlook follows Carver's Cave Overlook and precedes Minnehaha Falls View Area on the byway route.

What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Yardville Right of Way822 ftsouth-southwest · 0.6 mi
- Mní Ówe Sní (Coldwater Spring)813 ftsouth · 1.0 mi
- Coldwater Spring816 ftsouth · 1.1 mi
- Morris Park839 ftsouthwest · 1.2 mi
- Leonard H. Neiman Sports Complex812 ftsouth · 1.7 mi
- Pilot Knob Preservation Site919 ftsouth-southeast · 2.8 mi
Light
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:17 | 19:25 | 18:47 |
| June solstice | 05:27 | 21:04 | 20:18 |
| September equinox | 07:01 | 19:12 | 18:34 |
| December solstice | 07:48 | 16:35 | 15:46 |
Local time (America/Chicago). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Minneapolis5.4 mi northwest
- Saint Paul5.7 mi east-northeast
- Bloomington8.2 mi southwest
Take the scenic way to Ford Dam Scenic Overlook.
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How high is Ford Dam Scenic Overlook?
Ford Dam Scenic Overlook sits at about 804 feet (245 m).
What can you see from Ford Dam Scenic Overlook?
From Ford Dam Scenic Overlook: Yardville Right of Way (SSW, 0.6 mi); Mní Ówe Sní (Coldwater Spring) (S, 1.0 mi); Coldwater Spring (S, 1.1 mi); Morris Park (SW, 1.2 mi).
What is the nearest town to Ford Dam Scenic Overlook?
Minneapolis, 5.4 miles NW of Ford Dam Scenic Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Ford Dam Scenic Overlook?
Minnehaha Falls View Area is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Ford Dam Scenic Overlook.
Drive to Ford Dam Scenic Overlook with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Twin Cities · 2 mi
- Minneapolis/Southeast · 5 mi
- Minneapolis · 6 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Ford Dam Scenic Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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