When the temperatures creep up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we northern folks like to cool off, usually in water and often in a lake or river. In some places with the right geography, we may even be fortunate enough to find a waterfall swimming hole in Minnesota. The lucky residents of Duluth, for example, not only have one of the best beaches in country, they have access to a river with several awesome waterfall swimming holes. Let’s check it out!

The Lester River tumbles down from the hills and bluffs that tower over Lake Superior, through Duluth's east end, and enters the lake at Lester Park.
Aaron Roe Fulkerson/Wikimedia Commons
The park follows the course of the river, as well as its Amity Creek tributary, and boasts miles of trails.
Landon Stark/AllTrails - Jul. 13, 2022
The trails are scenic and wooded - you can easily forget you're in a city of nearly 100,000 people.
Katie Rohman/AllTrails - Jul. 7, 2021
But the Lester River, itself, is the park's crown jewel. Especially on hot, summer days.
The Wicked One/Google Reviews
In the park, you'll find a series of pools below waterfalls, some as tall as 40 feet, in which folks love to cool off.
garyaverill1/TripAdvisor

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The best place to access the river is from the parking lot on Lester River Road, just north of Superior Street.
Rose Hanson/AllTrails - Aug. 15, 2021
There, you'll find a stone pedestrian bridge over the river.
The pool between this bridge and the Superior Street bridge is the calmest and, frankly, safest place to swim.
Shaun Mirk/Google Reviews
Remember, whenever swimming in a river, always check the flow levels, and never enter the river if it's swollen, flooded, or moving too fast. Also, always check the weather to make sure it's not raining upstream.
There are some other well-known swimming holes, such as The Shallows and The Deeps - which, as you can see from this 1904 postcard photo, has been a known spot for decades - where swimming is actually not recommended.
Detroit Publishing Co./Library of Congress
Over the years, swimmers and ill-advised divers have been injured, killed, or swept away in these parts of the river.
In its upper reaches, when its flow rate is higher, the Lester River is a popular whitewater spot.
Aerial Lift Bridge/Google Reviews
And it's outflow into Lake Superior can be strong enough to create a surfable wave in the right conditions.
Lialla/Flickr

So, yes – this waterfall swimming hole in Minnesota is an awesome spot to cool down, but use common sense and check conditions before you wade in, as it can be dangerous. You can always just take a lovely hike along the Lester River. For more information, visit the Lester Park page on the City of Duluth website.

Have you ever cooled off in the Lester River? Do you have another favorite swimming hole? Let us know in the comments!

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Lakeside/Lester Park, Duluth, MN 55804, USA