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