Waterfalls near Duluth, Minnesota

How the list breaks down

Our mileages start at the internal point the Census Bureau sets for the city of Duluth. They run in a straight line, so road trips will be longer. The circle reaches 100 miles and holds only falls we have published.

Three falls line Highway 61 on the North Shore. Gooseberry Falls is 40.4 miles out, High Falls at Tettegouche is 59.0, and Hidden Falls on the Temperance River is 80.1.

To the southeast, Copper Falls near Mellen is 76.2 miles away. Two more North Shore falls sit past our circle. Devil's Kettle is about 122 miles out by our math, and High Falls at Grand Portage about 146.

For more falls, see our Minnesota waterfalls and Wisconsin waterfalls guides.

Wisconsin side: Amnicon and Big Manitou near Superior

Amnicon Falls State Park sits about 7 miles east of the Superior city limits, per the Wisconsin DNR. A 0.25-mile island trail shows the Upper, Lower and Snake Pit Falls. The DNR calls its river walks relatively flat and easy.

Big Manitou Falls is in Pattison State Park. The Wisconsin DNR says it is 165 feet high, the tallest in Wisconsin. A 0.5-mile overlooks trail runs from the main picnic area, and the DNR lists accessible overlooks.

As far as we can tell (Nov 11, 2026), Amnicon's trails and the road to the falls are open. The DNR says the campground is closed through May 27, 2027. At Pattison, as far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026), the DNR listed no trail or overlook closures.

DNR notices updated Aug 7, 2026 say Black River dam work starts in early 2027 and may affect the flow at Big Manitou.

North Shore on Highway 61: Gooseberry, Tettegouche and Temperance

Gooseberry Falls is a chain of drops in Gooseberry Falls State Park. A paved path reaches the Middle Falls in about 0.1 mile, per North Shore Visitor. As far as we can tell, the DNR alerts listed no trail closure on Oct 29, 2026. Call 218-595-7100 first.

High Falls at Tettegouche drops 63 feet on the Baptism River, per a Nov 24, 2025 DNR news release. The 2025 DNR park guide puts the High Falls Trail at 1.5 miles one way from the visitor center.

Tettegouche State Park is only partly open right now, as far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026). The DNR has closed the inland side of Highway 61 for a special hunt, Nov 7 to 22, 2026. The alert does not name the trail, but by our reading it is closed. Call 218-353-8800.

Hidden Falls is in Temperance River State Park, near Schroeder. The DNR guide lists a 0.25-mile Gorge Trail from the Highway 61 lot, paved to a viewing deck. As far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026), DNR alerts updated July 13, 2026 list no gorge closure.

Copper Falls to the southeast

Copper Falls State Park is about two miles northeast of Mellen, per the Wisconsin DNR. The DNR gives Copper Falls a 29-foot drop. The 1.7-mile Doughboys Nature Trail loop has overlooks of Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls and the Tyler Forks cascades.

The loop has rock stairs, and about 0.5 mile is universally accessible, per the DNR. Leave pets out of this loop, because the DNR bars them from the Doughboys trail.

As far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026), the DNR conditions page showed no notices. The park phone is 715-274-5123.

Permits and fees: Wisconsin sticker, Minnesota vehicle permit

The three Wisconsin parks need a vehicle admission sticker, per the Wisconsin DNR. Rates in effect since Aug 19, 2025 are $13 a day for Wisconsin plates and $16 for out-of-state plates. Twelve-month stickers cost $28 and $50.

The Minnesota parks use a state park vehicle permit instead. Minn. Stat. 85.055 (2025) sets it at $7 for one day or $35 for a year. A trip to parks in both states needs both the Wisconsin sticker and the Minnesota permit, by our reading of the two fee pages.

Two Minnesota lots are exceptions. The DNR says you don't need a permit to park in the Gooseberry Falls Visitor Center lots on Highway 61. The Tettegouche guide says permits are required "EXCEPT at the Tettegouche Visitor Center parking lot."

Winter visits

Snow changes the walks. At Gooseberry, the DNR says the only maintained winter walking trail goes to the Upper Falls. It adds that lower paths can be icy, and it recommends cleats.

The Wisconsin DNR allows snowshoeing and winter hiking at Amnicon. At Copper Falls, two DNR pages disagree on whether part of the Doughboys trail closes in winter, so call ahead.

The Temperance River guide does not say whether the Gorge Trail is cleared of snow. Ask each park about ice on stairs and rock before you drive.

Waterfalls near Duluth: FAQ