| The sight is mesmerizing: sheets of water plunge | | | | gorge. Walled overlooks provide views of the falls. |
| over a rocky ledge, crashing into a pool of water | | | | High Falls of the Baptism River Tettegouche State |
| far below, sending rainbowed sprays of mist over | | | | Park Hwy. 61; 4 miles NE of Silver Bay These |
| the rocky river banks. It's only natural-travelers | | | | falls, with a 70-foot drop, are second only to |
| seek out waterfalls when they go exploring. The | | | | those on the Pigeon River. |
| wild, dazzling, headlong rush of waterfalls never | | | | From the main parking lot at the park office, it's a |
| fails to inspire awe. | | | | 1.5 mile hike to an overlook of the falls. They can |
| All along the North Shore of Lake Superior, | | | | also be viewed from the bridge that crosses the |
| wilderness streams tumble from the heights of | | | | river above the falls. A spur along the trail heads |
| the forested Sawtooth Mountains and spill into the | | | | down a long flight of stairs to a smaller, two-step |
| big lake. | | | | falls. |
| The numerous, spectacular waterfalls and | | | | Gooseberry Falls Gooseberry Falls State Park |
| cascades are favorite sights along the North | | | | Hwy. 61, 15 mi. NE of Two Harbors Easily seen |
| Shore. Elsewhere in Minnesota, some small creeks | | | | from the highway bridge, these waterfalls are one |
| and rivers are crowned by waterfalls of their | | | | of the most popular sights on the North Shore. |
| own. | | | | The first falls, above the bridge, drop about 30 |
| Here is a selection of Minnesota's most scenic, and | | | | feet into a pool, flowing under the bridge to the |
| accessible, waterfalls. The waterfalls are at their | | | | two-tiered, 60-foot middle and lower falls. A short, |
| peak during the spring run-off and after periods | | | | ADA accessible trail offers views of the middle |
| of heavy rain. (Heights of waterfall drops are | | | | and upper falls, and a somewhat longer loop trail |
| estimates, but give some idea of the size of the | | | | features views of all the falls. |
| falls.) North Shore Waterfalls High Falls of the | | | | Waterfalls Elsewhere Minnehaha Falls Minnehaha |
| Pigeon River Grand Portage State Park Off Hwy. | | | | Park, Minneapolis Godfrey Parkway, just east of |
| 61, 40 miles NE of Grand Marais Spanning the | | | | Hwy. 55 This 50-foot waterfall, immortalized in |
| border with Canada, Minnesota's biggest waterfall | | | | Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 poem |
| plunges almost 120 feet. It's an easy half-mile | | | | "Hiawatha," is set in a lovely city park on the |
| walk back to the falls, with three overlooks | | | | banks of Minnehaha Creek. Parking, picnic area and |
| providing terrific views. The trail and one of the | | | | café adjacent to the falls. |
| overlooks are handicapped accessible. | | | | Minneopa Falls Minneopa State Park, Mankato Off |
| Devil's Kettle on Brule River Judge C.R. Magney | | | | Hwy. 169 just west of town Minneopa means |
| State Park Hwy. 61; 13 miles NE of Grand Marais | | | | "water falling twice," describing this double |
| The river splits as it falls; one side drops 50 feet | | | | waterfall that falls first in a 7-foot jump, then in a |
| to a pool below, the other side plunges into a | | | | 30-foot drop. A short walk from a parking lot and |
| huge hole in the rock and mysteriously disappears. | | | | picnic area leads to views of both falls. |
| There is also a set of smaller falls. The trail | | | | Ramsey Falls Alexander Ramsey Park, Redwood |
| through the forest back to the falls is about a | | | | Falls Off Grove St. (Co. Rd. 31) A short walk leads |
| mile-long, much of it uphill, and even up a long | | | | to vistas of this 35-foot waterfall on Ramsey |
| flight of stairs, but the view is well worth the | | | | Creek in this vast, wooded city park. The |
| effort. | | | | overlook is handicapped accessible, with adjacent |
| Cascade Falls Cascade River State Park Hwy. 61, | | | | parking reserved for the handicapped. |
| 17 miles NE of Tofte From the wayside rest | | | | Elsewhere in the park, another trail leads to the |
| parking lot, it's just a few minutes walk to the | | | | smaller falls of a cascade on the Redwood River. |
| 45-foot-drop Cascade Falls. A short walk further | | | | Winnewissa Falls Pipestone National Monument |
| along the river leads to The Cascades, rapids | | | | Hwy. 75 just N of Pipestone This small (14-foot) |
| tumbling down a series of rocky ledges. | | | | waterfall is notable for its setting, a quarry that |
| Temperence River State Park Hwy. 61; 26 miles | | | | has provided red stone for ceremonial pipes for |
| NE of Silver Bay A series of small waterfalls | | | | several tribes of Plains Indians, from four |
| (20-30 feet) plunge through a narrow rocky | | | | centuries ago to this day. Shop and |
| gorge, just a short hike from the parking area. | | | | demonstrations of Indian crafts on site. A 3 |
| Over thousands of years, churning water carved | | | | 4-mile paved, wheelchair accessible, loop trail winds |
| potholes into these rocks, eventually forming this | | | | through the quarry and past the falls. |