Waterfalls in Minnesota

Overview of waterfalls in Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls is on Lake Superior's North Shore, where the Gooseberry River drops over basalt in tiers usually called the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls. Wikipedia places Gooseberry Falls State Park on Highway 61, about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors. Duluth lies about 39 to 40 miles southwest of the park, according to North Shore Visitor and CBS Minnesota. From the Visitor Center, a paved path of about 0.1 mile leads to the Middle Falls, North Shore Visitor says.

Devil's Kettle sits in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, near Grand Marais in Cook County, where the Brule River divides into two channels. Wikipedia gives the east channel's drop into a pool as about 50 feet, while the west channel pours into a deep pothole. In fall 2016, DNR hydrologists measured almost equal flow above and below the falls. DNR hydrologist Jeff Green said the matching readings confirm that the kettle's water rejoins the river just downstream.

Minnehaha Falls is a city trip instead: a 53-foot plunge, per Wikipedia, in Minnehaha Regional Park in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) runs that park, while the Minnesota DNR runs Gooseberry and Judge C.R. Magney. Which agency is in charge decides what you pay and where you check conditions. In winter, see our frozen waterfalls guide for Gooseberry's and Minnehaha's winter rules.

North Shore waterfalls on Highway 61

Two of the three Minnesota falls on this site are on Lake Superior's North Shore, off Highway 61. Both are in state parks run by the Minnesota DNR.

• Gooseberry Falls comes first heading northeast from Duluth. Wikipedia puts the park about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors, and North Shore Visitor and CBS Minnesota put Duluth about 39 to 40 miles away. A paved path of about 0.1 mile runs from the Visitor Center to the Middle Falls, and the Visitor Center lots need no permit. As of Oct 2026 it is open, with no trail closure on the DNR alerts tab.
• Devil's Kettle is in Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais. The DNR map lists 1 mile each way with about 175 stairs. Every vehicle needs a state park permit, $7 a day or $35 year-round. As of Oct 2026 it is open.

Minneapolis: Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls is the one city waterfall in this guide, a 53-foot plunge in Minnehaha Regional Park, per Wikipedia. It is a short walk from the park's lots to the viewing areas above the falls.

Entry is free, and no state permit applies. MPRB lists a pay lot, a free lot and on-street parking kiosks, with the rate posted at the pay station. As of Oct 2026 its status is unconfirmed: the park and the north-side viewing area are open, but the south-side viewing areas and stairs remain closed.

Minnesota state park permits and Minnehaha parking

Gooseberry Falls and Devil's Kettle use the Minnesota state park vehicle permit, $7 a day or $35 year-round, while Minnehaha Falls has free entry and city parking.

Gooseberry Falls and Devil's Kettle (state parks): both parks use the Minnesota state park vehicle permit. Minn. Stat. 85.055 sets these prices, sales tax included, and we found no 2026 change. The DNR permit page lists the same amounts.

• Day permit: $7, or $5 for a one-day group permit
• Year-round permits: $35 for your first vehicle, $26 for each added vehicle and $30 for a motorcycle
• Disability permit: $12 a year for Minnesota residents who show a Federal Access Pass or a Minnesota disability plate or hang tag

The DNR lists discounted or free permits that disabled veterans and active-duty military may qualify for. It lists a year-round permit as lasting one year, counted from the month of purchase. The DNR lists three places to buy: online (one-day permits go through Yodel), staffed park ranger stations, or the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Rd, St. Paul.

Gooseberry's permit-free lots: the DNR's park map and Visitor Center page say the Visitor Center and DOT Wayside parking on Highway 61 needs no permit. Everywhere else in the park needs one, including the lakeshore and Picnic Flow areas.

Devil's Kettle: every vehicle in Judge C.R. Magney State Park needs the permit.

Free days: the DNR waives the vehicle permit at all state parks on set free days each year, including the Friday after Thanksgiving. The 2026 free days were Jan 19, Apr 25 and Jun 13, and the last one is Nov 27, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Camping and other user fees still apply.

Minnehaha Falls (Minneapolis city park): there's no entry fee and no state permit. MPRB lists a pay lot, a free lot and on-street parking kiosks, with the rate posted at the pay station.

Minnesota waterfall closures and conditions (Oct 2026)

As of October 2026, Devil's Kettle and Gooseberry Falls are open, and Minnehaha Falls' status is unconfirmed, with its south side closed.

• Gooseberry Falls: open. Northern News Now, FOX 9, CBS Minnesota and MPR reported that flooding on April 24-27, 2026 closed every trail beside the Gooseberry River. On October 29, 2026, the DNR alerts tab (updated July 29, 2026) listed no trail closure. It says construction vehicles may be on or near trails by the historic buildings. The lower campground shower building is also closed. Call 218-595-7100 before you go.
• Devil's Kettle: open. The DNR alerts tab (updated June 3, 2026) posts no closure for the park or the Devil's Kettle Trail. It says the Superior Hiking Trail north of the kettle has high water and flood damage, and day hikes there are not recommended. The park is open daily 8am to 10pm, and the campground is closed from mid-October to early May. The park office number is 218-387-6301.
• Minnehaha Falls: status unconfirmed. The park is open, and MPRB says the north-side viewing area and staircase remain open. The south-side viewing areas and stairs have been closed since July 2024 because of deteriorating stairs, walls and slopes. As listed in October 2026, MPRB's project page shows the project in design, with no reopening date. Staircases in the park also close each winter for safety.

Winter at Minnesota waterfalls

All three falls can be visited in winter, with limits. The DNR lists Devil's Kettle trails as open year-round for day use, but its campground is closed from mid-October to early May.

Gooseberry's campground stays open year-round, though after snowfall only sites 42-44 stay drive-in, per the DNR. At Minnehaha, staircases close in winter for safety. Wikipedia notes that deep cold can freeze the falls into an ice column. Our frozen waterfalls guide covers more winter trips.

Planning tips: Gooseberry parking and camping, Devil's Kettle stairs

Permit-free parking, stairs, crowds and flow are the main planning points at Minnesota's three waterfalls on this site, per the DNR and MPRB.

• Use Gooseberry's Visitor Center lots if you have no permit. North Shore Visitor says these are the closest lots to the falls. The DNR says no vehicle permit is needed there. The lakeshore and Picnic Flow areas require one.
• Camp at Gooseberry year-round. The DNR lists 69 non-electric sites, and after snowfall only sites 42-44 stay drive-in. Every site needs a reservation. See camping at Gooseberry Falls State Park.
• Take the ADA segment at Gooseberry. A DNR search excerpt covers the paved Waterfalls Walk to the Middle and Upper Falls. It says the walk is ADA accessible via the ADA segment, not the stairs. The longer Falls View Loop to the Lower Falls has no ADA access, according to Explore Minnesota.
• Keep dogs on a short leash at Gooseberry. The DNR limits leashes to 6 feet. It also requires owners to stay with their dogs and clean up after them. Only service animals may go in buildings, including the Visitor Center, or on beaches.
• Expect crowds at Gooseberry. The DNR calls Gooseberry Minnesota's most-visited state park. It ranked first in 7 of the last 10 years, with more than 760,000 visitors a year on average.
• Plan for the stairs at Devil's Kettle. The DNR park map lists the Devil's Kettle Trail at 1 mile one way with about 175 stairs. The DNR suggests 1.5 to 2 hours. Wikipedia gives 1.1 miles and nearly 200 stairs. The DNR warns the hike can be strenuous, with elevation changes and a long, steep stairway, so wheelchairs can't use this trail. You meet the stairs both ways on this out-and-back route.
• Check Minnehaha's flow before you go. The falls rely on rain and snowmelt, and Wikipedia says they were reported dry in 2022. Deep cold can freeze them into an ice column that can last into spring, Wikipedia notes.
• Allow time to park in Minneapolis. An estimate cited on Wikipedia puts 2024 visits to Minnehaha Park at about 2.3 million.
• Stay out of the water where rules are unclear. The DNR map bans swimming at Gooseberry's Upper Falls because of deep pools and strong current. We could not confirm swimming or wading rules at Gooseberry's Middle and Lower Falls, Devil's Kettle or Minnehaha, so follow posted signs and stay on marked trails. For general advice, see our waterfall safety guide.

Minnesota waterfalls FAQ