7+ mesmerising waterfalls in Minnesota you must visit

Minnesota is known for being the land of lakes, with more than 10,000 glorious lakes and 140 waterfalls which are an ultimate source of attraction for nature enthusiasts. People come to enjoy these waterfalls which offer hiking, fishing, camping, and camping. If you also want to take a step back and marvel at the gorgeous waterfalls of Minnesota, the following places are all the affirmation you need.

There are various waterfalls in Minnesota where along with taking in all the serenity of the environment, you can enjoy activities like biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, camping, and many more. Based on whatever pleases you the best, you can pick the waterfall you want to visit the most from the list below.

Mesmerizing Waterfalls in Minnesota You Must Visit

Following is the list of the most stunning waterfalls in Minnesota you have to visit; if you don’t want to miss out on their breathtaking sceneries and hike trails.

The High Falls, as the name suggests, are magnificent. To enjoy the view and the hike alongside these falls, you take a drive to the scenic Minnesota Highway and travel to the US-Canadian borders, where the Grand Portage State Park is located. Although you can enjoy several views of this waterfall from Minnesota, for the closest view, you will have to travel across the border and enjoy one of the most gorgeous sceneries this fall has to offer!

You can also hike up to this 120-foot tall fall and submit yourself to the enchanting views of this breathtaking fall. As soon as you enter the park, there is a deck where you can stand and enjoy the peaceful views of the flowing Pigeon River. From the deck, there is a paved path that guides you throughout your hike. The hike takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The hiking trail offers different angles of this waterfall. This hike is really fun and adventurous, filled with views that do the work of nature therapy. The hiking path to these falls is very well-made and wheelchair friendly too, and the views on the sides of the trails are out of this world. You can enjoy a picnic with your family and friends too.

You can’t camp inside the state park as there are no lodgings available nearby, what you can do instead is, you can rent rooms or hotels in the State, however, you can find various eateries available near the waterfall.

PRO TIP: Try to visit the waterfall on a weekday for an uncrowded & peaceful time as it gets quite busy on the weekends.

Gooseberry Waterfalls are a series of three waterfalls Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, which make their way to the Gooseberry River, which further falls into Lake Superior. The hike trails are very nicely built, which makes it easier for people to do this hike while enjoying the gorgeous views of these waterfalls in closer proximity.

When you reach the parking area of Gooseberry Falls State Park, there is a Tourist center from where you can gather information about the various hiking tracks. The best trail is the Trail One, however, which takes you first to the Upper Falls, and then, as you come down, you can enjoy the incredible sceneries of the middle and Lower Falls. After reaching the top of the hike, you can absorb the staggering views of the upper waterfalls, and then, you can go further down on the stair path that leads you to the other two falls.

The front view of the middle and the lower falls has to be the most photogenic site you will witness in the entire hike. After reaching the lower waterfall, the path will take you further down to the west side of the Gooseberry River.

You can also enjoy camping here as there are various camping sites in this park. There are many picnic spots too where you can enjoy yourself with your loved ones. Various motels, restaurants, and souvenir shops are also here within this park.

This place is always pretty crowded because of the hype around it, but yeah, that hype is truly worth it!

Similar Places: Waterfalls In Wisconsin

If you don’t want to go away from the city, Minnehaha Falls is the one for you. These falls are 53 feet and take only about 19 minutes to complete a hike. Minnehaha Falls is located inside Minnehaha Park which is located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, quite close to the city.

You can enjoy a hike or a bike tour of these waterfalls.

There are also free guided tours that can take you to the falls and also tell you about the location of the place, its history, and everything.

However, the trail is easy to go on your own, as the path is marked by the plants on each side that takes you to the top. As soon as you park your car, you can see the pools and swings for children. The trail starts from there that takes you to these falls. This hike is not very difficult as the path is nice, however, be sure to take plenty of water with you to keep yourself hydrated.

As soon as you reach the top, you can see the beautiful scenery. This fall has to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls ever. The clean water with the native plants around, and all the nature is so calming and relaxing.

There is so much more than you can enjoy around, apart from the waterfalls, as there are a lot of historical landmarks and sites there. An eatery is there within the park where you can have food and enjoy with your family and friends at the picnic spots.

The place is also kids friendly, with various fun things to do for kids.

Pro Tip: Remember before planning your trip that the stair path is closed during the winter, so it’s best to plan your visit in the summer.

This waterfall is in Hastings, Minnesota. It is an urban waterfall that used to be a hotspot for tourists back in the day, as the remains of the trails suggest. There are also the ruins of The Ramsey Mill nearby which makes this place gorgeous & spooky at the same time.

After parking your car in the parking area, there is a small walk that takes you to the place, from where you can overlook the waterfalls. There are also trails for bikes and hiking, but since they are not maintained, you can just see whatever is remaining from the past.

However, if you want to go to the top, you can still make your way up there.

There is also another Vermillion Falls in Minnesota near Crane Lake which is smaller but much more happening than the other one. Here you can park your car and follow the trail. There is a hiking trail and a biking trail which is very well-paved. The scenery is spectacular. You can enjoy boat riding, and fishing here as well. There are camping sites here too.

If you want to enjoy historic sightseeing along with the astonishing views of nature, then pick the Vermillion Falls in Hastings, and if you want a more adventurous trip, then Vermillion Falls near Crane Lake should be the stop for you.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that the water current here is high, so you need to be careful with yourself, especially your children.

St. Anthony Falls is a great historic and heritage site. Being the only naturally occurring major waterfall of the Upper Mississippi River it used to light up the whole of the city. On the hiking trail to these falls, you can spot various Flour Milling factories that used to be the major source of the economy back in the day. There are guided tours that take you to these falls and provide you with information on all the historic sites you will cross during the hike.

The hiking trail is nice and paved while being wheelchair and stroller-friendly which makes it easier to complete. You can complete this 2.7 km hike in only about 40 minutes.

There are also many parks and food places around the mall.

Various signs and marks on your way tell you about the history and importance of the place. You can also see the historic Stone Arch Bridge, the Upper St. Anthony Falls Dam, the Lower St. Anthony Falls Dam, and the remains of the mill that are now developed into a museum.

You can also walk over the Stone Arch Bridge which offers a fantastic view of the falls and is great for photos.

Winnewissa Falls is in the Pipestone National Monument, which is of great importance for various communities for religious purposes. The park has pipestone quarries that are still active to this day and are carved into various shapes by the communities for religious festivities.

There is a bridge above the falls from where you can get a good look at the waterfall from above, however, the best view is from the bottom. The waterfall is about 20 feet, and the hike is pretty easy.

These waterfalls are also termed the ‘Scared Waterfalls’ for being religiously important for Native American communities.

The Devil’s Kettle waterfalls along the Brule River are considered the most beautiful waterfalls in Minnesota.

You can also hike to the falls. A short hike on the Brule River leads to this cascade over volcanic rock that splits into 2 pools. The hiking trail is paved and moderately tough as it has a lot of stairs. The waterfall is in Judge C.R. Magney State Park.

The trail starts as soon as you get out of the parking lot and enter the area. You can see a paved path that leads you toward the waterfalls, that’s where the hike starts.

One might think that the water might still be falling and you just can’t see it, for those of you, you can drop a pencil or something, and it will not produce any sound as if it has disappeared into the void, just like the water. People have all sorts of questions as to where this stream goes. According to Hydrologists, there is as much water below the waterfalls as it is above. So the water via the underground channel reaches back to the stream of the river.

The waterfall is a piece of art along with all of its mystery. One must visit this waterfall for its stunning scenery and cool natural phenomenon.

Pro Tip: Bring water with you as there are a lot of stairs, and you will thank me later!

Waterfalls You Must Visit: Waterfalls of North Carolina You Should Not Miss

Things to consider before going to a waterfall

• Stay behind the railings — If you are going to a waterfall and find yourself hiking towards the top of the waterfall, there might be railings on either side of the trail. Do not go close to them or put your weight on them, also while taking pictures on the bridges, do not try to do any tricks as they are for your safety.
• Take the signs on the boards seriously — While on the hike to the waterfalls, keep a close look at the signs, as they tell you about the things that you need to be conscious of like; the water current is high, the path is steep, etc.
• Check the weather — Before planning your trip, check the weather. The path can be too steep if it has been raining, and it can be difficult for you to reach the top, or it could be too snowy. So just check the weather beforehand.
• Location — If you do not know the path of the hike, take a guided tour or use a GPS to track the right path or else you can be lost.
• Stay hydrated — While prepping for going on the hike, make sure to take water bottles with you. No matter how easy or short the hike might be, make sure to keep yourself hydrated as much as possible.

How Do We Pick Our Recommendations

Minnesota is home to around 140 waterfalls, which was enough information to convince us to pack our bags and visit as many of them as possible. While enjoying our tour of these breathtaking wonders, worth mentioning thing is that; the places around the waterfalls will also add to your experience, be it the eateries or the parks that provide you with a different view of the falls, you will be in for a treat. I, along with my team, visited all of these stunning places and made this list of the most mesmerizing waterfalls in Minnesota. This list is based on the serenity of the environment and how accommodating the place was for the visitors. We have also asked other people for their experiences, and have kept that under consideration while making this list too.

Lastly, if you have the wanderlust to experience similar attractions in the USA, don’t forget to check out our recent guides on Connecticut, Colorado, and Ohio waterfalls.