Minnesota’s state parks offer some of the most spectacular waterfall experiences in the Midwest, from thundering cascades that plunge into Lake Superior to hidden gems tucked away in dense forests. These natural wonders were carved by ancient glacial rivers and shaped by billions of years of geological activity, creating the perfect backdrop for unforgettable hiking adventures.
Whether you’re seeking an easy family stroll or a challenging backcountry trek, Minnesota’s waterfall trails deliver stunning scenery and the therapeutic sound of rushing water. Here is a list of 20 incredible waterfall hikes waiting to be explored in Minnesota’s state parks.
Upper Falls – Gooseberry Falls State Park
The Upper Falls at Gooseberry Falls State Park thunder through a rocky gorge as part of the park’s spectacular series of waterfalls along the Gooseberry River. This accessible waterfall can be reached via a short walk from the visitor center, making it perfect for families and photographers alike.
The suspended walkway offers excellent viewing opportunities and connects to other trail options throughout the park.
Middle Falls – Gooseberry Falls State Park
Middle Falls is one of Minnesota State Parks’ most visited waterfalls. It features a spectacular viewing platform where visitors can observe the frothy lava-flow formations that help create these cascades. The falls showcase the dramatic erosion patterns that occur when fast-moving water encounters different types of hardened lava rock.
Look for cave formations created by water erosion of softer minerals in the rock face.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Lower Falls – Gooseberry Falls State Park
The Lower Falls complete the trio of major waterfalls at Gooseberry Falls State Park, accessible via the Falls View Loop trail. This waterfall offers a more secluded experience compared to its upstream neighbors.
The trail to Lower Falls provides excellent opportunities to observe the park’s diverse forest ecosystem and geological formations along the way.
Fifth Falls – Gooseberry Falls State Park
Fifth Falls can be reached by hiking or skiing through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch, offering a more wilderness-like experience within the park. Located deeper in the forest away from the main visitor areas, this waterfall provides a quieter alternative for those seeking solitude.
The trail offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and seasonal wildflower displays.
High Falls – Tettegouche State Park
High Falls is the highest waterfall in Minnesota, at roughly 70 feet. It is located on the Baptism River and accessible via a 1.5-mile hike from the visitor center. The trail passes over the park road and under Highway 61, with stairways leading down to Two Step Falls along the way.
This waterfall provides particularly striking views during spring snowmelt and offers picturesque vistas year-round.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Two-Step Falls – Tettegouche State Park
Two Step Falls provides a perfect intermediate stop on the hike to High Falls, offering its own unique character and photo opportunities. The falls demonstrate the step-like erosion patterns that give this waterfall its name.
Visitors can enjoy close-up views of the water cascading over multiple rock ledges in this scenic setting.
Cascades Falls – Tettegouche State Park
The Cascades waterfalls can be reached via a 1.5-mile round-trip hike along the trail on the west side of the river, which is the park’s only trail that closely follows the river. This trail offers continuous water views and the sound of rushing water throughout the hike.
The falls themselves create a series of cascading drops that are particularly impressive during high water periods.
Temperance River Falls – Temperance River State Park
The Temperance River Falls Loop at Temperance River State Park features waterfalls, rapids, and stunning views of the Temperance River along Lake Superior’s shoreline. The park offers great hiking trails with dramatic gorges and massive potholes carved by the river’s relentless flow.
The trail includes stone steps and well-maintained pathways, though hikers should prepare for rocky terrain and roots along the route.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Cascade Falls – Cascade River State Park
Cascade Falls at Cascade River State Park is a gentle cascading water feature along the North Shore’s 60-mile North Shore Scenic Drive. The falls are easily accessible and offer excellent opportunities for photography and peaceful contemplation.
The surrounding forest provides a lush backdrop that changes dramatically with the seasons, from spring wildflowers to brilliant fall colors.
Devil’s Kettle Falls – Judge C.R. Magney State Park
The Devil’s Kettle is a remarkable natural phenomenon where the Brule River splits around a mass of rhyolite rock. One side plunges 50 feet down a waterfall, while the other falls into a deep pothole.
On the 1.5-mile trail from the parking area, hikers should prepare for steep stairs and rocky terrain. Recent scientific studies have solved the mystery of where the ‘disappearing’ water goes, confirming it rejoins the main river downstream.
Upper Falls – Judge C.R. Magney State Park
Upper Falls drops 25 feet and is located a short distance upstream from the famous Devil’s Kettle Falls. This waterfall provides a more traditional single-drop experience compared to the split-flow oddity of Devil’s Kettle.
The trail to Upper Falls passes through beautiful North Shore forest and rocky terrain typical of the region.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Lower Falls – Judge C.R. Magney State Park
Lower Falls drops 7 feet over two steps near the mouth of Gauthier Creek, about 1 mile from the Lake Superior shoreline. This smaller waterfall offers a gentler introduction to the park’s water features and serves as a good warm-up for hikers continuing to the more dramatic falls upstream.
The proximity to Lake Superior also provides opportunities to explore the shoreline.
High Falls – Grand Portage State Park
High Falls at Grand Portage State Park offers lovely views of the river mouth flowing into Lake Superior and represents a significant waterfall experience near the Canadian border. The falls provide an excellent example of the dramatic water features found along Minnesota’s North Shore.
The trail is described as very easy with paved paths, making it accessible to visitors of all abilities.
Split Rock River Falls – Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
The Split Rock River waterfalls offer a wilderness-like experience accessible within a half-hour hike. They feature a 20-foot cascade over gray rock into a rock-edged pool.
The hike starts on the west side of the river, climbing half a mile through birch forests to reach this hidden gem. The park actually contains ten waterfalls along the Split Rock River, though they require moderate hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail to reach.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Upper Minneopa Falls – Minneopa State Park
Minneopa, meaning ‘water falling twice’ in Dakota language, features stunning upper and lower waterfalls that formed as Minneopa Creek cut through sandstone layers at different rates. Visitors can take a short, accessible walk along a paved sidewalk and cross the arched concrete footbridge between the falls.
The falls plunge 45 feet into the rocky gorge, offering panoramic views of exposed geological layers.
Lower Minneopa Falls – Minneopa State Park
The Lower Minneopa Falls completes the ‘water falling twice’ experience that gives the park its Dakota name. Like its upstream counterpart, this waterfall showcases the dramatic sandstone erosion that created these natural features over thousands of years.
The viewing area provides striking views of both falls and panoramic vistas of the exposed geological layers shaped by the creek’s gradual erosion.
Hidden Falls – Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Hidden Falls at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is reached via a one-half-mile trail and offers a graceful 20-foot waterfall hidden in the Big Woods forest. The park is known for its spring wildflowers, large hardwood trees, and spectacular fall colors, making it ideal for hiking in multiple seasons.
This park preserves one of the last remnants of the Big Woods, a deciduous forest that once covered much of south-central Minnesota.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Curtain Falls – Interstate State Park
Curtain Falls is a small intermittent waterfall accessible via the Sandstone Bluffs Trail, offering wildflowers and stunning overlooks of the St. Croix River valley. The trail includes over 200 stairs and provides vista views of the St. Croix River Valley.
While the waterfall itself may be seasonal, the trail offers excellent opportunities to explore the park’s famous glacial potholes and unique geological features.
Wolf Creek Falls – Banning State Park
Wolf Creek Falls and the historic ruins of Banning Sandstone Quarry can be visited. Both are accessed via hiking trails through dramatic sandstone rock formations.
The falls can be reached via a 4-mile round-trip hike from the picnic parking area, following the Quarry Loop Trail to Wolf Creek Trail. This hidden gem requires careful navigation over rocky terrain, with no guardrails at the top of the falls.
Big Spring Falls – Near Banning State Park
Big Spring Falls is located just south of Banning State Park, about 11 minutes from the park entrance near Sandstone. The falls provide an excellent place to step into the river and cool off on hot days, making it a popular swimming and wading destination.
While technically outside the state park boundaries, this waterfall provides a perfect complement to a Banning State Park adventure and offers easy access from Highway 23.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Where Waters Once Thundered
These 20 waterfall hikes represent more than just scenic destinations – they’re windows into Minnesota’s dramatic geological past and vibrant natural present. From the billion-year-old basalt formations at Interstate State Park to the glacial potholes carved by ancient meltwater floods, each waterfall tells the story of powerful forces that shaped the landscape we enjoy today.
The preservation of these natural treasures, from the last remnants of the Big Woods to the dramatic North Shore cascades, ensures that future generations can experience the same sense of wonder that draws us to these falling waters. Whether you’re seeking the thunderous roar of High Falls or the gentle whisper of Hidden Falls, Minnesota’s state park waterfalls offer the perfect escape into nature’s most captivating performances.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Best Beach Towns in the Carolinas
- 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
- 20 Destinations That Are More Magical Without an Itinerary
- 20 Underrated Adventures That Belong on Your Travel List
- 20 Cities Where You Should Just Wing It, No Planning Required
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.