Nature hike today (inspired by @novemberprojectmsp) being intentional to take the less travelled routes. The Vermillion Falls in Hastings have a large park and trail system. Many paved though it is deeper into the woods I found myself. The Vermillion Falls once was used to provide power for gristmills in the area. Remains of a mill operated by Alexander Ramsey are in a park surrounding the falls. A nonprofit conservation group and it's volunteers have done much to restore the river and adjoining upland areas. The word Vermillion is derived from the French for "red" and thought to be used due to ochre deposits in the area used by Indigenous People for body painting. Native-Land.ca indicates the land there was originally home to the Wahpekute Tribe, one of the 7 primary divisions of the Dakota. Google has a free book titled "History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota" which includes more early history of that area. #npmsp_continues #np_continues #novemberprojectmsp #veganlife (at Vermillion Falls Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB4UfGEJSTh/?igshid=1pj6gfrkyhao