13 Best Waterfalls in Minnesota, From Local Favorites to Hidden Gems

Minnesota is home to some wonderfully diverse geography, and thanks to this, you’ll find waterfalls in just about every corner of the state, from the prairies of the west to the Northwoods, and even right in the Twin Cities metro. Of the many wonderful cascades our state is blessed with, we think these are some of the best waterfalls in Minnesota. We think you will, too.

Ready to explore more waterfalls beyond the state border? From jaw-dropping cascades to swimmable emerald ponds, there are countless magnificent waterfalls found across the United States to explore.

Tallest Waterfalls in Minnesota

Thanks to the region’s unique geography, you’ll find most of the tallest waterfalls in the Land of 10,000 Lakes along Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior, which stretches from Duluth to the Canadian border.

1. Pigeon River High Falls, Grand Portage

• Location: Grand Portage State Park, Grand Portage, Minnesota
• Popularity: This park doubles as a rest stop at the Canadian border, so it can get busy. The trail to the waterfall is often uncrowded.
• Need to Know: Access to Grand Portage State Park and High Falls of the Pigeon River is free.

At 120 dramatic feet, the High Falls of the Pigeon River is the state’s highest waterfall. The river is the national border at this point, so the waterfall is split between Minnesota and Canada, and you may notice that you’re picking up Canadian cell service at certain places along the trail. You can reach the waterfall via a relatively easy, one-mile paved trail. There is some elevation and a few stairs to get to the overlooks, but overall, it is not a challenging hike.

2. Baptism River High Falls, Silver Bay

• Location: Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, Minnesota
• Popularity: The park can be very busy year-round, and the parking area for the High Falls trailhead is rather small. Weekdays are the best time to visit.
• Need to Know: An entry fee is required for admission to the state park by car.

At 80 feet, the High Falls of the Baptism River in Tettegouche State Park is the tallest waterfall, located completely within Minnesota’s borders. Getting to the falls requires a 1.4-mile, out-and-back hike that can be a little challenging, thanks to tree roots and rocks on parts of the footpath. The path meets the Superior Hiking Trail and runs along with it for part of the hike. But there are also overlooks and steps to the river below to get different perspectives.

Tettegouche is also home to two other waterfalls that you can access without a park permit. Two-Step Falls is accessible via a trail from the visitor center and rest area at Shovel Point (avoiding the entry fee), and you can get to the trailhead for Illgen Falls at a small parking lot just off of MN Hwy. 1 between Illgen City and Finland.

3. Caribou Falls, Little Marais

• Location: Caribou Falls State Wayside, Little Marais, Minnesota
• Popularity: This wayside can be busy, especially on weekends, as it also serves as a trailhead for the Superior Hiking Trail.
• Need to Know: There is no cost to stop at the wayside or visit the falls.

The height of Caribou Falls is up for some debate, with different sources measuring it anywhere from 30 to 70 feet. If its height is closer to the latter measurement, then Caribou Falls is the third-highest among the waterfalls in Minnesota. The hike to the falls is less than a mile (each way), and once you reach the overlook for the waterfall, you’ll also be treated to lovely views of Lake Superior.

Best Waterfall Hikes in Minnesota

Getting to many of the best waterfalls in Minnesota may require some hiking, but that’s okay by us because, given the beautiful state we live in, the hikes can be almost as beautiful as the waterfalls themselves. More remote cascades, like those in the Superior National Forest or the Boundary Waters, may require longer treks, but we’re including a trio of waterfall hikes in Minnesota that are short, sweet, and scenic. Stuff your pack, fire up your trailhead maps and apps, and let's go find some waterfalls.

4. Cascade Falls, Grand Marais

• Location: Cascade River State Park, Grand Marais, Minnesota
• Popularity: This park is busy on weekends year-round, and you can expect to meet others on the trail when you’re hiking.
• Need to Know: An entry fee is required for admission to the state park by car.

From the trailhead in Cascade River State Park—another beautiful North Shore park located between Lutsen and Grand Marais—you can access Cascade Falls via a short (less than a mile), relatively easy hike through the forest. Although there is a series of cascades on the river generally referred to as Cascade Falls, the river plunges its way through the park, so just about any stretch you encounter will be fast-moving and dramatic until it slows near its mouth at Lake Superior.

5. Devil’s Kettle, Grand Marais

• Location: Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Grand Marais, Minnesota
• Popularity: This park’s relative remoteness and rugged terrain mean you won’t usually find the trails too crowded, but you can expect to meet some other waterfall chasers.
• Need to Know: An entry fee is required for admission to the state park by car.

The hike to Devil’s Kettle is a two-mile, out-and-back hike from the trailhead in Judge C.R. Magney State Park. The trail can be rugged, with some stairs along the way, but the payoff is a unique double waterfall. One side plunges to the Brule River below, while another disappears into a chasm in the rocks—hence the name. The hike through the beautiful Northwoods is also quite a treat. While there may be some rocky or muddy terrain on your way to the falls, it's well worth the trek for the view.

6. Winnewissa Falls, Pipestone

• Location: Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, Minnesota
• Popularity: Although occasionally busy during special events, you will not feel crowded on the trail to Winnewissa Falls.
• Need to Know: There is no fee to visit Pipestone National Monument or Winnewissa Falls, so you can leave your America the Beautiful Pass at home.

You can reach Winnewissa Falls via an easy, paved trail across the tallgrass prairie and along the incredible Sioux quartzite rock formations that make this the most improbable of Minnesota waterfalls. In addition to the falls, be sure to spend some time exploring Pipestone National Monument and learning about the area’s fascinating cultural and geological history. Bonus: It's free to visit the monument and the falls, making it a great activity to bring along the whole family.

Accessible Waterfalls in Minnesota (No Hiking Required)

We are also fortunate in Minnesota to have several falls you can get to with just a short walk from a parking lot. These super accessible waterfalls in Minnesota can be found throughout the state—especially in southern Minnesota—but we wanted to highlight three no-hike waterfalls that you can find on the rugged North Shore of Lake Superior, where you may not expect them.

7. Gooseberry River Middle Falls, Two Harbors

• Location: Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, Minnesota
• Popularity: Extremely busy, especially during the summer and on weekends.
• Need to Know: The waterfalls are accessible without a fee from the parking lot of the visitor center, which doubles as a rest area. An entry fee is required for admission to the rest of the park by car.

The Middle Falls of the Gooseberry River—commonly called Gooseberry Falls—is the centerpiece of Gooseberry Falls State Park, which is the most visited of the Minnesota State Parks. The falls are somewhat visible from the North Shore Scenic Byway (MN-61), but a short walk (a few hundred feet) from the parking lot, along a paved, accessible trail will get you up close and personal with the waterfall. If you’re up for a little more walking, hit the trail for the beautiful hike down to the Lower Falls, then upstream to Upper Falls and Fifth Falls—three more beautiful waterfalls in the park.

8. Cross River Falls, Schroeder

• Location: Cross River Wayside, Schroeder, Minnesota
• Popularity: The wayside is rarely crowded.
• Need to Know: There is no cost to stop at the wayside or visit the falls.

Cross River Falls is visible from MN Hwy. 61, however, if you really want to enjoy the waterfall, pull into the parking lot on the west side of the bridge. From there, you can walk right up to the falls and have a moment of waterfall zen. Pro tip: Less than 5 minutes east of the Cross River, you’ll find Temperance River State Park, which also has free wayside parking. If you hike down toward Lake Superior from the wayside, you’ll find a beautiful series of small waterfalls there, as well.

9. Beaver Falls, Beaver Bay

• Location: Beaver Bay Wayside, Beaver Bay, Minnesota
• Popularity: The wayside is rarely crowded.
• Need to Know: There is no cost to stop at the wayside or visit the falls.

On the west side of the Beaver River in the small community of Beaver Bay, you’ll find a small wayside with information about the Superior National Forest and the town. Take a few steps toward the river, though, and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of Beaver Falls, where the river takes its final series of plunges on the way down to Lake Superior. No time to stop? Then, be sure to look upstream as you cross the MN Hwy. 61 bridge over the Beaver River.

Best Waterfalls Near Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

When folks think of waterfalls in Minnesota, they may tend to think of the rugged terrain and rushing rivers of the state’s northern reaches. But we are also lucky to have a fair number of waterfalls in southern Minnesota—many, in fact, are even in or near the Twin Cities, like this quartet of lovely Minnesota waterfalls.

10. Minnehaha Falls, Minnehaha Falls Regional Park

• Location: Minnehaha Falls Regional Park, Minneapolis
• Popularity: This is a very popular park in the heart of Minnesota’s largest city, so expect crowds, especially on warm weather days and evenings.
• Need to Know: There is no fee to visit the park or the waterfall, but expect to pay for parking at a meter or in one of the pay lots near the park. Cost varies by time, day, and length of stay.

Along with Gooseberry Falls, Minnehaha Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in the state, thanks to its relative accessibility and location in a large metro area. The fact that this 50-plus-foot waterfall is also picturesque helps a lot. The changing moods of Minnehaha Falls—particularly dramatic when frozen in the winter and swollen in the spring—make it worth visiting several times a year. If you're looking for a fun daytime activity or a stop along your Minnesota roadtrip, this Minneapolis natural wonder is a must-see.

11. Vermillion Falls, Hastings

• Location: Vermillion Falls Park, Hastings, Minnesota
• Popularity: The park can be crowded on weekends and during events.
• Need to Know: There are also some fascinating ruins in the park, so be sure to take some time to explore.

Vermillion Falls is located on the river of the same name as it makes its final run toward the Mississippi. The waterfall was once harnessed to power a mill, the ruins of which still stand near it, so this cascade is less wild than others on this list. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful waterfall that’s located in the southeast corner of the Twin Cities metro. It's one of the most peaceful natural wonders right in the heart of a bustling city.

12. Minneopa Falls, Mankato

• Location: Minneopa State Park, Mankato, Minnesota
• Popularity: This is a very popular park in the city of Mankato; expect to see others.
• Need to Know: An entry fee is required for admission to the state park by car.

Minneopa Falls is located within Minneopa State Park in Mankato. It’s a little over an hour from the Twin Cities, depending on traffic, but as the largest waterfall in southern Minnesota, this beautiful double cascade is definitely worth a visit. The waterfalls are easily accessed via a paved walkway, so that you can get to them with relative ease. After you’ve enjoyed Minneopa Falls, take some extra time to drive through the park’s bison range—it’s a unique Minnesota experience.

13. Hidden Falls, Nerstrand

• Location: Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, Minnesota
• Popularity: This park is rarely crowded.
• Need to Know: An entry fee is required for admission to the state park by car.

Hidden Falls is located within Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, about an hour south of the Twin Cities. The waterfall is small, but it’s pleasant and really just an excuse for a gorgeous hike through a stand of deciduous forest that’s also home to some incredible wildflowers. We recommend visiting in the spring when the falls are flowing fast and the wildflowers are blooming, or in the fall when the foliage is at its peak.

There you have it: 12 of the best waterfalls in Minnesota. Next time you're searching for waterfalls in the Bold North, just check out this list, and you're likely to find one that's reachable from where you are. Nevertheless, with so many cascades in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we're sure we may have missed a favorite or two of yours. Start planning your trip to your must-sees today using Only In Your State's itinerary planner to guide your plans.