Spend The Day Exploring Waterfalls In Minnesota's Lake County

Stretching from the North Shore of Lake Superior to the Boundary Waters at the Canadian border, Lake County is home to some of the most beautiful – and beloved – waterfalls in Minnesota. Many of the falls are located right along the North Shore, but if you’ve got a little extra time to explore you can add a few more to your itinerary.

Google Maps

Tap or click on the map above for easy navigation to the falls described below.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA

Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState

Gooseberry Falls State Park is the most visited state park in the state - and for good reason: It's home to several beautiful waterfalls. The iconic Middle and Lower Falls are easily accessible from a wayside adjacent to the park's visitor center. Those who want to stretch their legs a little more can access the Upper and Fifth Falls with a little bit of a hike (less than two miles, round trip).

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Split Rock River TH, 2437 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA

Mr. Moment/Flickr

Just before you reach the main entrance to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, where Hwy. 61 crosses the Split Rock River, you'll see a small parking lot on the inland side of the road. This is a trail head and access point for the Superior Hiking Trail. The spur, known as the Split Rock River Trail, lies within Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and if you're willing to take a short hike (a little over a mile out and back), you'll be rewarded with a pair of lovely waterfalls along the river for which the trail is named.

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Beaver River Falls, Beaver Bay Township, MN 55614, USA

Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState

The stunning Beaver River Falls are visible from Hwy. 61 in Beaver Bay. Just before you reach the waterfall (traveling north/east), you'll find a wayside where you can pull off and get an up-close look.

Tettegouche State Park, 5702 MN-61, Silver Bay, MN 55614, USA

Brett Whaley/Flickr

Tettegouche State Park is home to several waterfalls, including Two Step Falls and the Baptism River High Falls. The latter is the highest waterfall that lies entirely within Minnesota. (Pigeon River High Falls is taller, but we share it with Ontario, Canada).

Illgen Falls, Beaver Bay Township, MN 55614, USA

Sharon Soligny/Google Reviews

Illgen Falls also lies within Tettegouche State Park, but it's also accessible from a wayside along Minnesota Hwy. 1. Accessing it this way allows you to skip a much longer hike and opt for a short (less than a quarter of a mile) walk to the falls.

Caribou Falls State Wayside, 7232 MN-61, Silver Bay, MN 55614, USA

inlandcoast/Flickr

A few miles northeast of Tettegouche State Park, along Hwy. 61, you'll come across Caribou Falls State Wayside. A short walk from the parking lot will reward you with views of a lovely and refreshing waterfall along the Caribou River.

Lake County is home to several other cascades, many of which are located within the Boundary Waters or are less easy to access. You could easily add waterfalls like those in George Crosby Manitou State Park or Kawishiwi Falls – which are also in Lake County – to this itinerary. (I’ve included them on the map above just in case!) But those I’ve described here are not only some of the most beautiful, they are some of the most accessible waterfalls in Minnesota. When you’re out chasing waterfalls, be sure to take along AllTrails Plus, so you can easily navigate the trails with your mobile device – even when you don’t have service.

How many of these Lake County waterfalls have you visited? What’s your favorite waterfall in the area? Let us know in the comments!