Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Minnesota

In the Dakota Sioux language Minnesota is the word for “w

ater” and while Minnesota is better known for its 10,000 lakes it does have some very nice waterfalls primarily along its rivers as they flow into Lake Superior.

Here are the most beautiful waterfalls in Minnesota.

High Falls of the Pigeon River

The High Falls of the Pigeon River is located in Grand Portage State Park on Minnesota State Highway 61 at the Minnesota/Ontario, Canada border along the Pigeon River before it empties into Lake Superior. This beautiful waterfall is 120 feet high which makes it the highest in Minnesota. Also sometimes simply called Pigeon Falls.

Devil's Kettle Falls

Devil's Kettle is a fascinating waterfalls because the Brule River splits into two as it goes over the falls and the right side of the falls continues downriver but the left side of the falls disappears into a glacial pothole known as Devil's Kettle. Nobody has ever been able to determine where the water goes from the Devil's Kettle and scientists have tried using colored dyes. Devil's Kettle and Devil's Kettle Falls are located in Judge C. R. Magney State Park along Minnesota State Highway 61 on the North Shore of Lake Superior 14 miles northeast of Grand Marais.

Source (Water vanishing into Devil's Kettle Pothole never to be seen again)

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls is located in Minnehaha Park along Minnehaha Creek shortly before it merges into the mighty Mississippi River in a large city park located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Minnehaha Falls is beautiful in its own right but is really famous today because it is the waterfall of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem “Song of Hiawatha”. The waterfall is 55 feet high and the park is located off of Hiawatha Ave (Route 55).

High Falls of the Baptism River

The High Falls of the Baptism River is located in Tettegouche State Park along Minnesota State Highway 61. The High Falls of the Baptism River is roughly 100 feet high and quite picturesque.

Gooseberry Falls

(Upper Gooseberry Falls)

Located in Gooseberry State Park along the north shore of Lake Superior along Highway 61 some 12 miles northeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota are the three falls of the Gooseberry River. The Upper Falls are some 35 feet high, while the Middle and Lower Falls are very close together near the parking area.

Minneopa Falls

Minneopa Falls is located in Minneopa State Park in Mankato, Minnesota. The falls are 39 feet high. There is also a smaller Upper Falls in the park just above Minneopa Falls, seen behind bridge top of photo, along the Minneopa Creek shortly before it joins the Minnesota River.

Illgen Falls

Upstream from the High Falls on the Baptism River is the also picturesque 45 foot high Illgen Falls.

Winnewissa Falls

Winnewissa Falls is located in Pipestone National Monument in southwest Minnesota.

Temperance River Gorge Falls

Water tumbles down numerous falls inside this pretty river gorge just before the Temperance River drains into Lake Superior between the towns of Schroeder and Lutsen, Minnesota along Highway 61.

Cascade Falls

Along the Cascade River in Cascade River State Park on Highway 61 is the Cascade Falls.

Caribuo Falls

Also along Highway 61 is Caribou Falls which can be reached via a trail from the parking lot at Caribou State Wayside.

Vermillion Falls

Vermillion Falls is located right in downtown Hastings, Minnesota in Vermillion Falls Park on 26th Street just off of Vermillion St. The falls were once used to power a mill operated by Alexander Ramsey, one of the leading citizens of early Minnesota. Vermillion Falls are 35 feet high.

Upper Falls of the Brule River

Located downstream from Devil's Kettle Falls in Judge C. R. Magney State Park is the 25 foot high Upper Falls of the Brule River.

St. Anthony Falls

(The Falls of St. Anthony by Albert Bierstadt prior to collapse)

Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls was the only natural waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River until 1869 when it collapsed and was replaced by a man-made apron. In the 1950's the apron was replaced by a series of locks and dams creating the present day look of the falls.