In Lake County, there are more than 12 waterfalls, the most of any county in Minnesota. Find Beaver River Falls in Beaver Bay alongside a wayside stop on Lax Lake Road. Follow the pedestrian path to catch the cascades as they flow into Lake Superior. The wayside stop also has a picnic area and restrooms.

In Silver Bay, get to the Caribou Falls State Wayside by taking a half-mile hike along the Superior Hiking Trail near the Caribou River. Steps will lead you down to the stars and is a hidden gem among locals and parking is available.

Follow Lake Superior’s shoreline about 30 miles southwest to see Minnesota’s most unusual waterfall: Devil’s Kettle on the Brule River. Visitors can park or camp at Judge C.R. Magney State Park north of Grand Marais and hike to the waterfalls where the water splits. One side tumbles 50 feet into a pool that flows to Lake Superior, and the other plunges underground and disappears. Where that water went was a mystery to onlookers and geologists alike, until 2017 when DNR scientists were able to confirm that the water resurfaces somewhere downstream. 

The Waterfalls Walk within Gooseberry Falls State Park is a short route that highlights the middle and upper falls, and can be ADA accessible if you use the ADA trail segment instead of the stairs. The Falls View Loop is a non-ADA accessible and longer route that features the park's Middle, Upper and Lower Falls. 

Gooseberry Falls is one of the biggest draws on the 60-mile North Shore Scenic Drive between Lutsen and Two Harbors, where you can find the gentle Cascade Falls at Cascade River State Park; marvel at dramatic gorges and massive potholes carved out at Temperance River State Park; admire Cross River Falls right on the highway at Schroeder; and hike back to High Falls or Illgen Falls at Tettegouche State Park. The region also boasts Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, which has its own beautiful 20-foot waterfall along a section of the Superior Hiking Trail. 

Still not satisfied? Be sure to drive 20 minutes past Lutsen to find the Gitchi Gami State Trail and Fall River Falls. The Grand Marais landmark has lovely views of the river mouth in Lake Superior.  

About one hour south of Minneapolis is Hidden Falls at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Walk along a one-half mile trail to get to the waterfall and at the trailhead is a picnic area and parking lot. 

You have to head north — right around the Canadian border — to see Minnesota’s highest waterfall as it plummets 120 feet down the Pigeon River at Grand Portage State Park. Fur traders used the Snake River in the late 1700s-early 1800s, and it’s quickly apparent why they carried their large canoes around this daunting waterfall, which can double in size during the spring.   

At George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, enjoy the cascades of the Manitou River after a gorgeous and rugged hike. The walk to the falls is about one mile each way and the park has minimal facilities. 

Minnesota's most popular waterfall anchors Minnehaha Regional Park, where you can hike, rent a bike, catch a concert or kick back on the patio at the seasonal outdoor dining standby Sea Salt Eatery and its new side hustle The Sandwich Room. Don't miss it during the winter, either; as you can see in the above shot, it's about as majestic as Minneapolis gets during the colder months. 

For a more secluded experience in the Twin Cities, head to Hidden Falls, a popular regional park among locals that also includes Crosby Farm. 

Southern Minnesota’s largest waterfall can be found at Minneopa State Park. Its gentle creek burbles through the hardwood forest until it falls like a curtain across two terraces in a mossy gorge west of Mankato. On the other side of the Minnesota River, about eight miles away, Minnemishinona Falls cascades into a narrow ravine along the scenic Judson Bottom Road. 

About 140 miles southeast of the Twin Cities, almost to the Iowa border, you can find an unusual twist on the typical waterfall on the outskirts of Harmony. The catch? You must head underground on a Niagara Cave tour to see the almost 60-foot-high waterfall. It’s one of the unique features of this cave, which was once popular for underground weddings. (It still boasts a small chapel among its natural features.)

Ramsey Falls is tucked into 219-acre Ramsey Park, the state’s largest municipal park and a popular spot for camping, hiking and visiting a small zoo with buffalo, deer, prairie dogs and waterfowl.  

St. Anthony Falls along the mighty Mississippi River has attracted people for thousands of years for its religious significance to the Dakota people, its economic importance to the area, and its beauty. For one of the best viewing points, walk across the iconic Stone Arch Bridge and stop at the nearby visitor center.

Vermillion Falls Park is popular for picnics, exploring, and, of course, its spectacular, 35-foot star. After your visit, explore Hastings' charming downtown area to find restaurants, antique shops, a brewery, and more. 

Southwest Minnesota is known more for prairie and farm land than waterways. That makes the majestic Winnewissa Falls at Pipestone National Monument a surprise when walking among pink quartzite rocks and learning about the area’s continued spiritual significance to American Indians. 

The Kettle River in Sandstone — a hot spot for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and ice climbing in winter — is home to Wolf Creek Falls and Big Spring Falls within Banning State Park. About an hour away is the short Lester Park hike that'll take you to Lester River and Amity Falls. Elsewhere in the area, Congdon Park along Tischer Creek offers great hiking trails and views of a waterfall.