Waterfalls · Minnesota
Best waterfalls in Minnesota
Mapped8 falls
Easy access6 roadside / short walk
TallestHigh Falls of the Pigeon River
Max drop120 ft
Minnesota’s falls belong to the North Shore, where rivers tumble off the highlands straight into Lake Superior — Gooseberry, High Falls, and the eerie Devil’s Kettle, where half a river vanishes underground. Spring melt and fall color are prime, and most are a short, scenic walk.
High Falls of the Pigeon River120 ftthe tallest fall in Minnesota, on the Canadian border.
Gooseberry Falls60 fta North Shore favorite of upper, middle, and lower falls.
High Falls (Tettegouche)60 ftthe tallest fall entirely within Minnesota, on the Baptism River.
Minnehaha Falls53 fta city-park fall made famous by Longfellow’s poem.
Devil’s Kettle50 fthalf the river vanishes into a pothole that long baffled scientists.
Vermilion Falls40 fta powerful fall forcing a big river through a narrow gorge.
Illgen Falls35 fta quiet plunge on the Baptism River near Tettegouche.
Cascade River Falls25 fta chain of cascades plunging toward Lake Superior.Flows change with the season and recent rain — many falls roar at spring snowmelt and slow by late summer. Check conditions and any permit or reservation rules before you go.