🌤 Weather at Garvin Heights by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26–72 °F | 61–85 °F | 30–75 °F | 11–32 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Winona, 2 mi away, elevation 652 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Garvin Heights is a city park and bluff-top lookout above Winona, Minnesota, run by the City of Winona. It is not a state park: Minnesota law listed it as the Garvin Heights Scenic State Wayside and transferred its 20.4 acres to the city effective July 1, 1961. Part of the site today belongs to Winona State University.
🏆 Mississippi Bluff Views — city lookout on the bluffs above Winona and the Mississippi River valley
The Garvin Heights Lookout sits on the bluffs above Winona and looks out over the city and the Mississippi River valley. The City of Winona directs visitors there from Highway 61: south on Huff Street, left onto Lake Boulevard, right onto Garvin Heights Boulevard, then left onto East Garvin Heights Boulevard. Volunteers from the Minnesota Driftless chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts help the city and the university restore the bluff, for example by removing buckthorn.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Winona, Winona County, MN |
| Operator | City of Winona |
| Former Name | Garvin Heights Scenic State Wayside |
| Region | Driftless Area (unglaciated) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garvin Heights a state park?
No. Garvin Heights is run by the City of Winona. Minnesota law listed it as the Garvin Heights Scenic State Wayside and transferred it to the city in 1961.
What is the Driftless Area?
The Driftless Area is the region of southeastern Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois that the last glaciers did not flatten, which left steep bluffs and deep river valleys such as the one below Garvin Heights.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Mississippi Blufflands State Trail (a short drive away) and John A. Latsch State Park (a short drive away).
🦅 Visit Garvin Heights
City lookout above Winona and the Mississippi River valley.
Things to Do
Drive up to the Garvin Heights Lookout for the view over Winona and the river valley, and take photographs of the bluffs and the city below.
Why this page changed
Editor’s note (October 2026): This page used to be titled “Garvin Heights State Park”, but Garvin Heights was never a state park. It now uses the name the City of Winona uses. We removed the earlier acreage, bluff heights, wildlife list and distances because we could not confirm them with the city or Minnesota records.
