Waterfall Hikes in Minnesota (MN)

Waterfalls in Minnesota are found where the Laurentian Upland and Canadian Shield meet the Lake Superior North Shore, in the Driftless Area’s limestone bluff-and-gorge country in the southeast, and along river valleys and headwaters that cut through glacial tills and exposed bedrock across the interior. Hikes range from short, family-friendly boardwalks and a single drive-up site to predominantly moderate forest trails and backcountry scrambles with rocky crossings. The state’s mix of volcanic and shield bedrock on the North Shore, karst bluffs in the Driftless Area, and plentiful seasonal snowmelt-fed streams gives its cascades a distinctive combination of coastal drops, rugged gorges, and inland cascades. See waterfalls near major Minnesota cities .