The Largest Waterfall In Minnesota Can Be Found In This Picturesque State Park
By Betsy Rathburn|Published August 09, 2017
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but what about all of our waterfalls? From north to south, our state has plenty of scenic waterfalls that are well worth visiting. Many of these waterfalls are located in Minnesota’s state and regional parks. Among the most famous are Gooseberry Falls, with its 600,000 yearly visitors, and Minnehaha Falls, located in the heart of Minneapolis. These waterfalls are truly beautiful, but they shrink in comparison to Minnesota’s largest waterfall, located in a remote state park. Take a look:
Though Grand Portage State Park is well known, it is not often visited. The park receives about 35,000 visitors per year. This is likely due to its location on the Canadian border, more than 300 miles north of Minneapolis.
Grand Portage State Park is made up of 291 acres of forest, river, and lake. A series of trails runs through the park, including a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk just a half-mile in length.
Though the boardwalk trail leads to the most spectacular sight, it's worth stepping off the platform for other views. The unpaved Middle Falls Trail leads to a small yet impressive drop.
Those hike a little further from the Middle Falls trail will enjoy an even more stunning view. The highest view in the park, over 400 feet above Lake Superior, allows visitors to see over 20 miles in the distance.
Eventually, you'll find your way to what you've come to see: Minnesota's largest waterfall, at 120 feet tall. To put that into perspective, Niagara Falls is only 57 feet taller.
Multiple viewing platforms give plenty of opportunities to take photos or simply enjoy the sight and sound of this Minnesota treasure. You'll want to stay all day.
After the river falls, the show isn't over yet. Follow the water downstream, where it runs through a deep gorge lined with boulders. It's a truly breathtaking spot to relax near the river as it makes it way towards Superior.
