Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls State Park is the beloved gateway to Minnesota’s spectacular North Shore of Lake Superior, one of the most popular and cherished parks in the state. Its centerpiece is a series of dramatic waterfalls — the Upper, Middle and Lower falls — where the Gooseberry River tumbles powerfully over dark volcanic rock on its way to the great lake, easily reached by accessible trails and viewed from bridges and overlooks.

Beyond the falls, the park offers rugged Lake Superior shoreline, miles of hiking trails through northern forest, river gorges, and some of the finest examples of Civilian Conservation Corps stonework in the country — the elegant stone walls, bridges and the historic Castle Danger structures built in the 1930s. As the first major stop on the North Shore drive up Highway 61, Gooseberry Falls welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the waterfalls, the lakeshore and the wild beauty of Minnesota’s great north.

Gooseberry Falls State Park offers accessible viewing of its series of waterfalls via paved and natural trails and bridges, plus miles of hiking along the Gooseberry River gorge, through northern forest, and out to the rugged Lake Superior shoreline. Visitors enjoy the falls, Lake Superior’s rocky shore, the Superior Hiking Trail connection, picnicking, camping, birding, and cross-country skiing in winter. The dramatic falls, the lakeshore and the historic CCC stonework make Gooseberry the beloved and popular gateway to North Shore recreation.

Spring brings the fullest, most thunderous flow over the falls from snowmelt, while summer is the busy peak for the falls, lakeshore and camping, and fall brings spectacular color to the North Shore forests — a premier autumn destination. Winter transforms the falls into dramatic ice and offers skiing. The falls are most powerful in spring; fall color along the shore is a highlight. The park is busy on summer and fall weekends, so arrive early to enjoy the waterfalls and Lake Superior.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is renowned for its Civilian Conservation Corps heritage — in the 1930s, CCC crews built the park’s elegant stone walls, bridges and structures from local rock, creating some of the finest examples of rustic CCC craftsmanship in the nation, much of which survives. The river’s name may derive from a French or Ojibwe source. As one of Minnesota’s earliest and most beloved North Shore parks, Gooseberry Falls preserves both the natural drama of the falls and the historic legacy of Depression-era conservation work.

Gooseberry Falls tumbles over dark volcanic basalt laid down more than a billion years ago during the great Midcontinent Rift, when vast lava flows poured across the region — the same ancient rift volcanism that shaped Lake Superior and the North Shore. The Gooseberry River has cut through these resistant lava flows, creating the series of waterfalls and the river gorge, while the rugged basalt shoreline meets the great lake. The ancient rift rock and the river’s erosion give the park its dramatic falls and rocky North Shore coast.

The northern forests, river and Lake Superior shoreline of Gooseberry Falls host white-tailed deer, black bear, moose (in the broader North Shore), foxes, and a rich community of birds, including boreal species, raptors and migratory birds along the Lake Superior flyway, while the river and lake support fish. The varied habitat of forest, river gorge and rugged lakeshore supports diverse northern wildlife. The park is a fine place for wildlife watching and birding on Minnesota’s North Shore.

Gooseberry Falls State Park protects a stretch of the North Shore’s boreal-influenced northern forest, the Gooseberry River and its gorge, and rugged Lake Superior shoreline, a rich transitional ecosystem where northern boreal and mixed forests meet the great lake. The river, the falls, the forest and the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior support diverse plant and animal life. Protecting the river’s water quality, the forest and the shoreline sustains both the ecology and the dramatic scenery of this beloved gateway to the North Shore.

Gooseberry Falls State Park holds a cherished place as the iconic gateway to Minnesota’s North Shore, the first great stop on the legendary Highway 61 drive up Lake Superior. Its series of waterfalls, its rugged lakeshore and its renowned CCC stonework have made it one of the most beloved and visited parks in the state, a defining symbol of the North Shore experience and the wild beauty of Minnesota’s great lake country, treasured by generations of visitors.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is on Minnesota’s North Shore along Highway 61, about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors and 40 miles up the shore from Duluth. A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required. The park offers a large visitor center, accessible paved trails and bridges to the falls, hiking trails, Lake Superior shoreline access, a campground and picnic areas, plus a connection to the Superior Hiking Trail. It is very popular. Check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for permits, conditions and access before visiting.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources protects the falls, river gorge, northern forest and Lake Superior shoreline of Gooseberry Falls State Park, along with its historic CCC structures. Visitors help by staying on trails to protect the fragile river banks and shoreline, keeping back from the falls and slippery rocks, packing out everything, protecting the river’s and lake’s water quality, respecting wildlife, and treating the historic stonework with care. Protecting the falls, the forest and the rugged lakeshore sustains both the ecology and the beauty of this North Shore gateway.

Gooseberry’s rocks are slippery, especially near the falls and along the Lake Superior shore, and the river’s currents and the cold lake are dangerous — keep back from the edges of the falls and the rushing water, watch footing on wet rock, and supervise children closely, as slips into the river or lake can be fatal and Lake Superior is frigid. Do not climb on the falls or wade in fast water. Wear sturdy footwear, take care in icy conditions, and respect the power of the river and the great lake.

A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required. Stay on designated trails and back from the falls and river and lake edges. Camp only in the designated campground. Follow Minnesota fishing regulations and licensing. Treat the historic CCC stonework with care. Pets must be leashed. Drones generally require authorization. Collecting is prohibited. Pack out all trash. Check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for current rules, permits and conditions before visiting.

The town of Two Harbors lies down the shore, and the North Shore’s string of state parks — Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, Temperance River and more — stretches northeast along Highway 61, with the Superior Hiking Trail linking the shore and the city of Duluth about 40 miles southwest. Lake Superior and its rugged coast define the region. Gooseberry Falls is the beloved first stop on a North Shore tour of waterfalls, lakeshore and northern forest in Minnesota’s great north.

Start your North Shore tour at Gooseberry Falls — walk the accessible trails and bridges to see the Upper, Middle and Lower falls, best in spring high water or after rain — then explore the rugged Lake Superior shoreline and the historic CCC stonework. Keep back from the slippery rocks and the falls, wear sturdy footwear, and bring a state park permit. Visit in fall for spectacular color, arrive early on busy weekends, and continue up Highway 61 to Split Rock and Tettegouche.