Waterfall Season in Cook County

After the snow melts, experience the raw power of North Shore waterfall season – a fleeting yet unforgettable spring wonder. Hundreds of thousands of acres of melted snowfall finds its way into Lake Superior and on the way, creates quite the show. The roaring rage of waterfalls in Minnesota is certainly a sight to be seen, heard and felt.

While they are at their peak in the spring season, waterfalls can be enjoyed all year long. In the winter time, the waterfalls freeze and create scenic ice sculptures. In the summer, the rivers are warm enough to take a hike through. Using caution, you can find hidden falls that can’t be seen by a hiking trail. In the fall, the blue rush of water is the perfect contrast to the fall colors.

From the smaller, pop-up falls all along Highway 61 to the North Shore’s most dramatic drops, Cook County has the most diverse range of waterfalls in Minnesota. Some of the more dramatic include Devil’s Kettle Falls in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, the ephemeral “phantom falls” that pour from the cliffs lining Highway 61, and the High Falls of the Pigeon River in Grand Portage State Park. At 120 feet, High Falls is the highest waterfall in Minnesota, and also serves as the border to Canada. No wonder it is sometimes called “Minnesota’s Niagara.” Viewing this waterfall is a bucket list item to cross off.

Other local favorites include Cascade River State Park in Lutsen, Cross River in Schroeder, and the Kadunce River just north of Grand Marais.

Download the Cook County Waterfall Map Guide below and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for spring updates on waterfalls.