Devil's Kettle

About Devil's Kettle

At Devil's Kettle, the Brule River splits in two. Wikipedia says the east channel drops about 50 feet in two steps into a pool. The west channel plunges into a deep pothole, the kettle itself.

Did scientists solve the mystery?

For years, people wondered where the water in the kettle went. In fall 2016, Minnesota DNR hydrologists measured the river's flow above and below the falls to find out.

The DNR hydrologists recorded 123 cubic feet per second above the falls and 121 below. The DNR called those readings "essentially the same" within the tolerance of the equipment.

DNR hydrologist Jeff Green said the readings show no water is lost below the kettle. He said this confirms that the water resurges into the Brule River just downstream. The DNR announced the results on Feb 28, 2017.

Green and Calvin Alexander of the University of Minnesota had planned a dye trace for fall 2017. Wikipedia says the DNR later decided the test was not scientifically necessary, so it was never completed.

How deep is the kettle?

No measured depth has been published that we could find. The DNR describes half the river plunging 50 feet into a pool and the rest pouring into a massive pothole, but it gives no depth for the pothole.

About the park

The Brule River drops about 800 feet in its last 8 miles through the park, according to Wikipedia. Devil's Kettle sits about 1.5 miles above the river mouth.

The park highlights trout fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching and the Superior Hiking Trail. Fishing in the Brule needs a license and a trout stamp, the DNR map says.

Getting there and parking

The Devil's Kettle Trail starts at the Judge C.R. Magney State Park day-use lot on MN-61, which the DNR map marks 14 miles from Grand Marais. A state park vehicle permit is required.

From Grand Marais on MN-61

The park address is 4051 East Highway 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604. The DNR park map marks Grand Marais 14 miles away and Hovland 5 miles away along MN-61.

The map shows the trailhead lot west of the Brule River on the north side of MN-61, with a pay station and toilets. The trail crosses the river on a footbridge from the lot.

The DNR says the picnic area that was in the day-use lot has been combined with the one across the bridge, toward the Devil's Kettle Trail. WiFi hotspots are at the ranger station, the campground and the day-use lot.

Vehicle permit

Every vehicle needs a Minnesota state park permit. You can buy one online, at the park or before you arrive, the DNR says, and the map points to the pay station at the trailhead.

Minn. Stat. 85.055 sets $7 for one day and $35 for a year-round permit. The full price list is in the box above.

There is no office at the park. Staff are on duty daily from 8am to 4pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The rest of the year, the DNR says to contact Cascade River State Park at 218-387-6000. The park phone is 218-387-6300.

Judge C.R. Magney Campground

The park's campground has 27 drive-in campsites, according to the DNR map. Reserve at 866-857-2757 or through the DNR reservation site.

The campground closes, and no services are available, from mid-October to early May. Gathering firewood is against state park rules because it can spread tree-killing insects. Buy firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel.

Map and nearby falls

Devil's Kettle Trail and the stairs

The Devil's Kettle Trail follows the Brule River. The DNR park map lists it at 1 mile one way, so plan on about 2 miles round trip. The DNR suggests budgeting 1.5 to 2 hours.

Along the way you pass the Upper Falls, 0.71 miles from the trailhead, according to the map. The DNR describes steep terrain, rocky sections and a long, steep stairway of about 175 steps.

Other sources give different numbers. Wikipedia says the trail is 1.1 miles with nearly 200 stairs. Fox 9 quoted the DNR as saying hikers climb nearly 400 feet.

The DNR map warns that the hike can be strenuous because of the elevation changes and the stairway. It is not a wheelchair route. Because it is an out-and-back trail, you cover the stairs in both directions.

The park has about 9 miles of trails in total, Wikipedia says. The DNR says the Devil's Kettle Trail won first place for best hiking trail in the country in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

North of the kettle, the Superior Hiking Trail continues upriver. The DNR said in June 2026 that this riverside section has high water and some flood damage, and day hikes there are not recommended.

When to visit

The park is open daily from 8am to 10pm, and the trails are open year-round for day use, the DNR says.

In winter the park is minimally staffed, and the entrance road may not be plowed right after a snowfall. The campground is closed from mid-October to early May.

We found no official best season for flow and no DNR crowd figures.

For another Minnesota falls with a short walk from the lots, see Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, though its status is unconfirmed while south-side viewing areas are under repair. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Bond Falls has an accessible boardwalk, but its vehicle season usually ends in mid-October.

Safety and swimming

Photos

Devil's Kettle FAQ

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