The North Shore is home to dozens, if not hundreds of waterfalls. Sometimes, especially in the spring, it seems like waterfalls are everywhere along Minnesota’s North Shore. Some are found within one of the area’s many state parks. Meanwhile, while others are a bit more off the beaten path. Some waterfalls are always there, even if sometimes in frozen form. Others are temporary and only appear after heavy rains.

While we mostly think of visiting waterfalls as Waterfall Season and summertime activity, climbing frozen waterfalls is become a more popular hobby sport. So, no matter what time of the year, visitors and locals alike flock to the area’s many waterfalls.

Dotted along the North Shore are hidden waterfalls that take some effort to get to, such as the falls at the Stairway Portage near Rose Lake. Others are much easier to find and explore. Below you’ll find a list of our favorite easier-to-get-to North Shore waterfalls so you can start planning your Waterfall Season trip to visit as many waterfalls as possible! You can also print off our Waterfall Checklist and use it as your Waterfall Bucket List!

Duluth and Two Harbors Waterfalls

Lester River Falls
Superior Street Bridge, Duluth, MN
View the falls from the Superior Street Bridge, or park your car to walk the trail along the river.

Gooseberry Falls State Park Waterfalls
Gooseberry Falls State Park 3206 Highway 6, Two Harbors, MN
These popular falls are easy to access via a short paved trail in Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Split Rock State Park Waterfall

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Two Harbors, MN
You’ll need to get out your hiking boots to see the cascades on the Split Rock River. At the state park, take the Split Rock River Loop Trail. One of our favorite North Shore day hikes to get a close-up view of the river gorge and waterfalls.

Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, Finland Waterfalls

Beaver Falls
Beaver Bay, MN
The falls are just a short walk from the wayside rest parking area in Beaver Bay. These cascading falls on the Beaver River can also be seen from Highway 61!

Tettegouch State Park High Falls, including Illgen Falls
Tettegouche State Park, 5702 MN-61, Silver Bay, MN
The 60-foot High Falls are downstream from the 40-foot Illgen Falls on the Baptism River. Enter Tettegouche State Park and continue past the Visitor Center. Start the hike to the High Falls at the park trail center.

Manitou Falls
George H. Crosby-Manitou State Park, 7616 Lake County Road 7, Finland, MN
George H. Crosby-Manitou State Park will take you off the North Shore’s beaten track. Leave the park’s main parking lot for a rugged hike to the falls.

Schroeder, Tofte, Lutsen Waterfalls

Caribou Falls
Highway 61 between Little Marais and Schroeder, MN
This stop is easy to miss! Access the falls via the Superior Hiking Trail. Park at the Caribou River rest stop on Highway 61 (near mile marker 70).

Cross River Falls
Schroeder, MN
You’ll see this waterfall as you drive on Highway 61. Park your car in one of the parking lots and view the falls from the pedestrian bridges. You’ll get a great birds-eye view.

Temperance River State Park Waterfalls
7620 West Hwy 6, Schroeder, MN
View the series of falls and river gorges with a short quarter-mile walk from Highway 61. Follow the trail north of the highway to see the Hidden Falls.

Onion River Stair Step Falls
Ray Berglund State Wayside, between Tofte and Lutsen, MN
This small set of cascades is reached via a walking trail from the wayside rest on Highway 61. Climb the stairs on the north side of the parking lot to access the hiking trail.

Poplar River Falls
Superior Hiking Trail Near Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen, MN
Another Superior Hiking Trail connected waterfall that is often overlooked as it is not located inside of a state park. These cascading waterfalls can be seen just a short hike in from Lutsen Mountains Recreation and Ski Area.

Grand Marais Waterfalls

Cascade River State Park Waterfalls
Cascade River State Park, Highway 61 between Lutsen and Grand Marais
Park in the lot next to Highway 61 for a short, easy hike to the Cascade High Falls. Continue up the stairs to the left of the first waterfall to reach the Cascading Falls further up the river.

Fall River Falls
On the outskirts of Grand Marais, MN
For accessible access from Grand Marais- park anywhere near “the top of the hill” in town where you can access the Gitchi Gami Trail on the lakeside of Highway 61. You should be able to get close to 1.5 miles out. Take the trail out of town until you reach the bridge. Alternatively, you can park at the Cutface Creek Wayside Rest area just outside of Grand Marais. This section of the Gitchi Gami State Trail starts right behind the rest areas. You will be about 2.5 miles from the bridge coming from this side.

Hovland and Grand Portage Waterfalls

Judge CR Magney State Park Waterfalls, including the Devil’s Kettle
Judge Magney State Park, 4501 W MN-61, Grand Marais, MN
Devil’s Kettle Falls is the most well-known of these three falls. The falls split in two with one side heading downstream and the other into a deep mysterious hole. No one knows where the water in this hole goes.

Grand Portage State Park Waterfalls
Grand Portage State Park, 9393 MN-61, Grand Portage, MN
This waterfall, the tallest in Minnesota at 120 feet, can be viewed from observation decks at the end of a half-mile paved trail. Located right inside Grand Portage State Park, this is one of the most photographed waterfall during waterfall season. We even highlighted it in this article, it is pictured above.

So hit the trails and track down our favorite North Shore Waterfall on your next trip Up North!