Minnesota waterfalls
30 waterfalls you can walk to, from Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis to the North Shore rivers that drop into Lake Superior. Type your city to see the closest ones, then check the walk: distance, stairs, whether it's paved, and the permit or fee.
30 waterfalls, A to Z
Big Falls of the Big Fork River
Big Falls City Park, Highway 71, Big Falls · Boundary Waters & Iron Range
A series of four falls dropping 40 feet in a quarter mile on the Big Fork River, next to Big Falls City Park.
Caribou Falls
Caribou Falls State Wayside, Highway 61, Lake County · North Shore
A 35-foot waterfall at the end of a short trail up the Caribou River from a Highway 61 wayside, with Superior Hiking Trail access.
Cascade Falls and the Cascades
Cascade River State Park, Lutsen · North Shore
A half-mile loop to the Cascades, a series of five small waterfalls, and Cascade Falls in a basalt gorge.
- Distance:
- 0.5 mi, loop (Cascade River Lower Loop) to the Cascades Overlook and Cascade Falls
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
Cascades of the Manitou River
George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, Finland · North Shore
Cascades on the Manitou River in a rugged wilderness state park, reached on a steep, rocky trail with stairs.
- Distance:
- 1 mi, one way on the Middle Trail; return the way you came
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
Chester Creek falls (Chester Park)
Chester Park, 1800 East Skyline Parkway, Duluth · Duluth & I-35
A loop through the Chester Creek ravine in Duluth's East Hillside, past several small waterfalls.
- Distance:
- 2.5 mi, hiking loop along Chester Creek (Visit Duluth); parking at the main lot off Skyline Parkway, where the map pin sits, or near 14th Ave. E. and 4th St.
Devil's Kettle Falls
Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Grand Marais · North Shore
The Brule River splits around volcanic rock here, half dropping 50 feet into a pool and the rest pouring into a large pothole.
- Distance:
- 1 mi, one way along the Brule River past the Upper Falls; plan 1.5 to 2 hours
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
Fifth Falls
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors · North Shore
A falls upstream of the main Gooseberry falls area, reached on a rugged, hilly gravel loop with boardwalks.
- Distance:
- 2 mi, loop from the visitor center up the Gooseberry River to Fifth Falls and back (Fifth Falls Trail)
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
Gooseberry Falls (Upper, Middle and Lower Falls)
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors · North Shore
Three waterfalls on the Gooseberry River a short walk from the visitor center, with an accessible trail to the Upper and Middle Falls.
- Distance:
- 1 mi, loop from the visitor center past the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls (Falls Loop Trail); a shorter accessible trail reaches the Upper and Middle Falls
- Fee:
- No permit needed at the visitor center/DOT wayside parking lot; Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round) elsewhere in the park
- Stairs
Hidden Falls (Nerstrand Big Woods)
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand · Bluff Country
A falls on Prairie Creek on the valley floor, reached by stairs and a boardwalk through Dwarf Trout Lily colonies.
- Distance:
- 0.5 mi, one way from the picnic area parking lot; the Hidden Falls Trail is a 1-mile loop
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
Hidden Falls (St. Paul)
Hidden Falls Regional Park, 1313 Hidden Falls Dr., St. Paul · Twin Cities & St. Croix
A creek falls in a Mississippi River bluff park below Lock and Dam 1, seen from a trail below or a viewing plaza above.
Hidden Falls (Temperance River)
Temperance River State Park, Schroeder · North Shore
A paved path from the Highway 61 lot leads to a deck with a view of Hidden Falls, then rock stairs climb along the narrow Temperance River gorge.
- Distance:
- 0.25 mi, one way on the Temperance River Gorge Trail from the Highway 61 parking lot on the northeast side of the river
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
High Falls of the Baptism River
Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay · North Shore
A 60-foot waterfall that the DNR calls the highest falls completely within Minnesota, on a steep trail with wooden stairs.
- Distance:
- 1.5 mi, one way from the visitor center via the mouth of the Baptism River; return the same way (High Falls Trail)
- Fee:
- No permit needed at the Tettegouche Visitor Center lot; Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round) elsewhere in the park
- Stairs
High Falls of the Pigeon River
Grand Portage State Park, Grand Portage · North Shore
Minnesota's tallest waterfall, a 120-foot drop on the Canada border, seen from three viewing platforms at the end of a wheelchair-accessible trail.
- Distance:
- 1.2 mi, round trip from the visitor center on the High Falls Trail (the park page says about one mile round trip); paved, ending on a 700-foot boardwalk
- Fee:
- Free (no vehicle permit required; all parking is rest area parking)
- Paved
Kawishiwi Falls
Superior National Forest, by the Winton power dam, Lake County · Boundary Waters & Iron Range
A short Superior National Forest trail that leads to Kawishiwi Falls, the Winton power dam and the Garden Lake to Fall Lake portage.
- Distance:
- 0.5 mi, round trip on the Kawishiwi Falls Hiking Trail, which also reaches the Winton power dam and the Garden Lake to Fall Lake portage
Kingsbury Creek falls
Fairmount Park and the Lake Superior Zoo, 72nd Avenue West and Grand Avenue, Duluth · Duluth & I-35
A falls on Kingsbury Creek, seen from inside the Lake Superior Zoo or on a short trail behind it through Fairmount Park.
Lester River and Amity Creek falls (Lester Park)
Lester Park, 61st Avenue East and Superior Street, Duluth · Duluth & I-35
City park in east Duluth with over 9 miles of trails between Amity Creek and the Lester River, passing several cascades.
Little American Falls
Big Fork River, Koochiching County · Boundary Waters & Iron Range
The Big Fork River drops over a six-foot ledge into a deep pool between 60-foot bluffs, with a county campground and picnic site on the bluff above.
Middle Falls of the Pigeon River
Grand Portage State Park, Grand Portage · North Shore
A 20-foot waterfall reached on a rugged trail with several hundred feet of elevation change.
- Distance:
- 4.5 mi, round trip on the Middle Falls Trail, which begins before the High Falls boardwalk; allow at least 3 hours
- Fee:
- Free (no vehicle permit required; all parking is rest area parking)
Miller Creek falls (Lincoln Park)
Lincoln Park, 25th Ave. W. and 5th St., Duluth · Duluth & I-35
A walking trail along Miller Creek in West Duluth's Lincoln Park, with cascades through rugged terrain.
- Distance:
- 1.5 mi, 1.5 miles of walking trails along Miller Creek (City of Duluth); neither source says one way or round trip; parking at 25th Ave. W. and 5th St.
Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Regional Park, 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis · Twin Cities & St. Croix
A waterfall on Minnehaha Creek in a park the state bought in 1889 as one of the first U.S. state parks, with steps to the lower gorge.
- Fee:
- Pay parking lot, free parking lot and on-street parking kiosks are available
- Stairs
Minnemishinona Falls
40923 Judson Bottom Road, Mankato (Nicollet County) · Prairie & Minnesota River
A 42-foot waterfall seen from a scenic overlook just off a county road west of Mankato.
- Fee:
- Free (no charge, open to the public)
Minneopa Falls
Minneopa State Park, Mankato · Prairie & Minnesota River
A double waterfall on Minneopa Creek, the upper drop 7 to 10 feet and the lower about 40, seen from a paved walk and footbridge.
- Distance:
- 0.18 mi, one way through the Waterfalls Area (about 3 city blocks); the trail down to Minneopa Creek is closed as of November 2026, so the falls are viewed from the concrete sidewalk
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
- Paved
Ramsey Falls
Alexander Ramsey Park, Redwood Falls · Prairie & Minnesota River
The falls in Ramsey Park, the largest municipal park in Minnesota, with 1930s CCC bridges and four miles of paved trails.
Saint Anthony Falls
Stone Arch Bridge and Water Power Park, downtown Minneapolis · Twin Cities & St. Croix
The Mississippi River falls that powered Minneapolis's lumber and flour mills, best seen from the Stone Arch Bridge and Water Power Park.
- Distance:
- 2 mi, loop on the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, which crosses the Stone Arch Bridge
Shadow Falls
Shadow Falls Park, 30 Mississippi River Blvd. N., St. Paul · Twin Cities & St. Croix
Shadow Falls is in a St. Paul city park with hiking and biking trails, between the University of St. Thomas and the Mississippi River.
Two Step Falls
Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay · North Shore
A falls on the Baptism River reached by a side stairway off the High Falls Trail.
- Fee:
- No permit needed at the Tettegouche Visitor Center lot; Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round) elsewhere in the park
- Stairs
Upper Falls (Temperance River)
Temperance River State Park, Schroeder · North Shore
The upper falls of the Temperance River, a longer walk upstream past Hidden Falls on rock and rock stairs.
- Distance:
- 1 mi, one way from the Highway 61 parking lot on the northeast side of the river, upstream past Hidden Falls and across the Gitchi-Gami Trail bridge; the map pin marks that lot
- Fee:
- Minnesota state park vehicle permit ($7 one-day or $35 year-round)
- Stairs
Vermilion Falls
Vermilion Falls Recreation Area, Superior National Forest, 27 miles northeast of Orr · Boundary Waters & Iron Range
The Vermilion River pours through a 10-foot-wide granite chasm, viewed from an accessible deck near Crane Lake.
- Distance:
- 0.25 mi, round trip from the picnic area parking lot to the falls and observation deck; trail and deck are accessible
Vermillion Falls
Vermillion Falls Park, 215 21st St E, Hastings · Twin Cities & St. Croix
A 35-foot waterfall on the Vermillion River in a Hastings city park, viewed from an overlook and linked to the city loop trail.
Winnewissa Falls
Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone · Prairie & Minnesota River
A falls on Pipestone Creek, passed on the national monument's 3/4-mile Circle Trail, with steps up beside the falls.
- Distance:
- 0.75 mi, the Circle Trail is 3/4 mile long and crosses Pipestone Creek below the falls; steps lead up beside the falls
- Fee:
- Free (no entrance pass required; admission and parking are free)
- Stairs
Sources: the Minnesota DNR, the U.S. Forest Service, city and county park agencies and the Superior Hiking Trail Association, checked November 11, 2026. Trails close for construction, hunts and storm damage, so check the official page before you go. Also see the Minnesota hike finder and the state park finder.