The sweet history of Sugar Loaf bluff featured by CBS News: “Finding Minnesota”

Winona’s iconic Sugar Loaf landmark was highlighted in a “Finding Minnesota” story presented by CBS News on February 5, 2025.

Winona County Historical Society Executive Director Carrie Johnson shared images of the bluffside before quarrying in the late 1800s, and its current cone-like shape today that is recognizable by traffic along Highway 61/Great River Road and the Mississippi River. The City of Winona and the Recreation Alliance of Winona maintain a hiking and biking trail to the base of Sugar Loaf, towering 500 feet above the city. There are also anchor points on the rockface itself, specifically used for rock climbing to the pinnacle.

Nicky Buck shared the significance of the bluffs to the Dakota people hundreds of years ago, and that Sugar Loaf was regarded as a sister to He Mni Can-Barn Bluff in nearby Red Wing, Minnesota.