I came across the book Hiking Waterfalls in Minnesota - A Guide to the State's Best Waterfall Hikes by Steve Johnson. There are quite a few waterfalls that I would like to see that are mentioned in the book. Some of the waterfalls I have already been to and pictures of them are included. I hope that I have the chance to see all of these waterfalls within the next couple of years:
- Minnemishinona Falls - .8 mile, easy, from Mankato, follow US 169 north to US 14. Head west on US 14 to CR 41. Go south on CR 41 (Rockford Road) for 1.5 miles to Judson Bottom Road. As the road curves right, the parking and falls area is on the left. In St. Peter.
- Caron Falls - .8 mile, easy, in Caron Park in Faribault.
- Hidden Falls - Nerstrand Big Woods State Park - .8 mile, easy, 970 170th Street East, Nerstrand.
- Little Cannon Falls - .4 mile, easy, From US 52 in Cannon Falls, exit at MN 19 and head east for .7 mile to the Cannon Valley Trail parking lot area. Cannon Falls.
- Vermillion Falls - .2 mile, easy, in Vermillion Falls Park, Hastings.
- Hidden Falls - .6 mile, easy, from MN 5 at the Mendota Bridge, head north across the Mississippi River. Exit on Mississippi River Boulevard and head north for 1.3 miles to the park entrance.
- Minnehaha Falls - .4 mile, easy, Minneapolis.
- St. Anthony Falls - .5 mile, easy, Minneapolis.
- Fairy Falls - .4 mile, difficult, Stillwater. Off of MN 95. Go on 96 west for about .1 mile to CR 11 (Boom Road). Turn right onto Fairy Falls Road and turn left up the hill to Orwell Avenue. Turnout parking is available on Orwell. Look for the footpath heading into the woods directly across from Orwell Avenue.
- Marine Mills Falls - .2 mile, easy, Marine on St. Croix.
- Curtain Falls - Interstate State Park - 1-mile lollipop loop, moderate with steep steps, Taylors Falls. The tiny waterfall depends on snowmelt and seasonal rains.
- Big Spring Falls and Wolf Creek Falls - Banning State Park - 1 mile for Wolf Creek and .2 mile for Big Springs Falls, moderate, Sandstone.
- Swinging Bridge Falls and St. Lous Falls - Jay Cooke State Park - .3 mile, easy.
- Oldenburg Cascades - Jay Cooke State Park - 1.4 mile, difficult. It's near the Oldenburg Point picnic area.
- Kingsburg Creek Falls - 1.4 mile lollipop loop, moderate, Duluth. From I-35 in Duluth, take the Grand Avenue exit and head south for one mile to the zoo entrance. The trailhead is at the northwest corner of the lot.
- Falls of Miller Creek - .8 mile, easy, Duluth. From I-35 in Duluth, take the 27th Avenue exit. Turn left and follow 27th Avenue for eight blocks to 3rd Street. Turn right and go one block to the Lincoln Park entrance on the left.
- Falls of Chester Creek - .4 mile, moderate with some steep sections, Duluth. From Superior Street in Duluth, follow 15th Avenue to its blend with Chester Park Drive. Continue on Chester Park Drive to the parking area for Chester Park. From the main parking area, follow the stone steps on either side of Skyline Parkway down to the creek and the trail. The waterfalls start here and continue downstream.
- Falls of Tischer Creek - 1.2 mile loop, easy, Duluth. From London Road (MN 61) in Duluth, follow 32nd Avenue North to its junction with Congdon Park Drive. At East 1st Street, turn right to reach the creek. Follow the craggy stone steps down to the creekside trail.
- Falls of Amity Creek - Amity and Lester Parks - .8 mile for the first waterfall and .1 for the second and third falls, easy, Duluth. From London Road, follow North 60th Avenue north to East Superior Street. Turn right. After two blocks, turn left on Occidental Boulevard. Park in the turnout. Follow the rustic path about the creek. The second waterfall is .4 mile north on Seven Bridges Road. Bike or drive to the bridge. View the falls from the bridge or social trails. For the third waterfall, follow Seven Bridges Road .9 mile to a turnout on the east side of the road. Follow the trails to the river.
- Falls of Lester River - Lester Park - .6 mile, easy to moderate, Duluth. The lower trailhead is at the junction of 61st Avenue East and East Superior Street.
- French River Falls - .2 mile, easy, Duluth. From Duluth, follow the MN 61 Expressway for 6.5 miles north to Ryan Road, just before reaching the French River bridge. Park along Ryan Road.
- Trestle Bridge Falls - .7 mile, easy, Duluth. From Duluth, follow the MN 61 Expressway for 6.5 miles north to Ryan Road. Turn right on Ryan Road and follow it .3 mile to Scenic Highway 61. Turn left, cross the French River bridge and park in the lot on the right, at lakeside.
- Schmidt Creek Falls - .1 mile, easy, Duluth. From Duluth, follow the MN 61 Expressway for 6.5 miles north to Ryan Road. Turn left on Ryan Road and go .5 mile to a right turn at Old North Shore Road. Cross the French River and shortly turn right on CR 290. Follow this gravel road for .4 mile to a dead end at Schmidt Creek.
- First Falls - Knife River - .2 mile, easy, Duluth. From Duluth, follow the MN 61 Expressway for 13 miles northeast to the wayside and historical marker just past the river bridge. A trail at the west end of the parking area leads to the river and waterfall.
- Middle and Lower Falls - Gooseberry Falls State Park.
- Upper and Fifth Falls - Gooseberry Falls State Park.
- Split Rock Creek Falls - Split Rock Lighthouse State Park - 3-mile loop with tails, easy with one short, difficult climb to the top of Day Hill.
- Beaver River Falls - .5 mile, easy to moderate, Beaver Bay. The falls are visible from the MN 61 bridge in Beaver Bay. Park at the Beaver Bay Wayside at the Lax Lake Road and MN 61 intersection, or along the highway shoulder.
- Upper Beaver Falls - 2 miles out and back, moderate, Beaver Bay. From Beaver Bay, turn on Lax Lake Road (CR 4) and head north about .8 mile to a parking area for the Superior Hiking Trail. Start on the gravel road.
- Glen Avon Falls - .2 mile out and back, easy, Beaver Bay. From Beaver Bay, turn north on Lax Lake Road (CR 4), heading north for 1.6 miles to CR 3. Turn left and follow CR 3 for 1.2 miles to a skinny dirt road on the left. Pull in on this dead-end road and park within sight of the river.
- High Falls and Two Step Falls - Tettegouche State Park - 1.4 miles out and back to High Falls; 1.8 miles out and back to Two Step Falls, difficult, Silver Way.
- Cascade Falls - Tettegouche State Park - 1.6 miles out and back, moderate, Silver Bay.
- Illgen Falls - Tettegouche State Park - .2 mile out and back, easy, Silver Bay.
- Falls of Manitou River- George H. Crosby Manitou State Park - 2.4 mile loop, difficult.
- Falls of Caribou River - 1.4 miles out and back, moderate. From Little Marais, follow MN 61 north for 5 miles to Caribou Falls State Wayside at mile marker 70.
- Two Island Falls - .4 mile out and back, easy. From Schroeder, follow MN 61 south for 2 miles. Near mile marker 77. Park on the side of the road or in the gravel parking area on the lake side.
- Cross River Falls - 100 yards out and back, easy, Schroeder. Park on the lot on the west side of MN 61, across from the Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder. The waterfall is in clear view directly from the Highway 61 bridge at the Cross River Falls Wayside.
- Falls of Temperance River - Temperance River State Park - 1.8 miles out and back, easy to moderate, Schroeder.
- Upper Falls - Poplar River - .8 mile out and back, easy, Lutsen. From MN 61, turn north onto CR 5 (Ski Hill Road) and head up to the ski area. Look for the gondola parking area. Hike the gravel road to the start of the trail. A Superior Hiking Trail sign leads the way to the South Oberg Trail and then to the falls.
- Lower Falls - Poplar River - 100 yards or so, easy. Lutsen. From MN 61, turn south onto Resort Road and follow it to the east side of the lodge at Lutsen Resort. A sign for the River Trail leads to the waterfall.
- Thompson Falls - .3 mile out and back, easy, Lutsen. From MN 61 in Lutsen, follow Caribou Trail (CR 4) north for 17 miles all the way to its end at the junction with FR 153, locally known as "The Grade." Turn right and head east for 2.4 miles to FR 158 (Bally Creek Road) and turn right again. About .2 mile south is a turnout and sign for Thompson Falls on the right. The trail to the falls leaves from the parking area.
- Cascade Falls and The Cascades - Cascade River State Park - .5 mile out and back, easy to moderate (with stairs).
- Hidden Falls - Cascade River - .8 mile out and back, easy. From MN 61, .8 mile northeast of Cascade River State Park, head northeast on CR 7 for 1.9 miles to CR 44. Turn left (north) and go .5 mile to CR 45. Go left and in 2.5 miles look for a parking area at the Cascade River bridge.
- Rosebush Falls - .2 mile out and back, easy. The Fall River bridge is located 2 miles south of Grand Marais on MN 61, near mile marker 107. Park on the highway shoulder. A skinny trail at the north side of the bridge leads through the woods to the falls.
- Falls of Kadunce River - 1.7 miles out and back, moderate. From Grand Marais, head northeast on MN 61 for 9 miles to the Kadunce River State Wayside. Cross the highway to the Superior Hiking Trail spur trail, which leads to the falls.
- Lower Falls - Judge C.R. Magney State Park - 1.4 miles out and back, moderate.
- Upper Falls and Devils Kettle - Judge C.R. Magney State Park - 2.3 miles out and back, moderate to difficult. Grand Marais.
- Portage Falls - .3 mile out and back, moderate, Hovland. From Hovland on MN 61, head north on the Arrowhead Trail (CR 16) for 13 miles to Shoe Lake Road. Turn left and park in the turnout on the left. Hike back across the Arrowhead Trail and take the skinny trail into the woods and to the falls.
- High Falls - Grand Portage State Park - 1 mile out and back, easy.
- Middle Falls - Grand Portage State Park - 5 miles out and back, difficult. It's about a 3.5 hour hiking time.
1 comment:
Wow! I never knew there were that many waterfalls in my home state. I think I've only seen and the one by Stillwater. Great book to have for destinations! :)
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