Gooseberry Falls State Park

How to Get There

From Duluth, MN (40 mi): Take MN-61 E (North Shore Scenic Drive) northeast from downtown Duluth, following Lake Superior's shoreline for approximately 40 miles to the Gooseberry Falls State Park entrance on the right at 3206 MN-61.

Overview

Gooseberry Falls State Park is a state park of Minnesota, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The park is located in Silver Creek Township, about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota in Lake County on scenic Minnesota Highway 61. The park surrounds the mouth of the Gooseberry River and includes Upper, Middle and Lower Gooseberry Falls.

Things to Do

Experience the North Shore's Most Famous Waterfalls

Gooseberry Falls State Park is one of Minnesota's most visited state parks and a highlight of the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior. Located between Two Harbors and Silver Bay, the park is known for its spectacular waterfalls, rugged river gorge, historic stone structures, and breathtaking Lake Superior scenery. The park offers year-round recreation and serves as a gateway to the natural beauty of northeastern Minnesota.

See the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls

The Gooseberry River cascades through a series of dramatic waterfalls before reaching Lake Superior. The Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls are easily accessible and provide some of the most iconic waterfall views in Minnesota. Observation areas and trails allow visitors to enjoy the falls from multiple vantage points throughout the park.

Explore Lake Superior's Shoreline

The park features access to the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, where visitors can walk along beaches, search for agates, photograph waves crashing against volcanic rock formations, and enjoy panoramic lake views. The shoreline is especially beautiful during sunrise and during fall color season.

Discover Historic Civilian Conservation Corps Structures

Many of the park's bridges, retaining walls, buildings, and trails were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. These historic stone structures blend seamlessly into the landscape and contribute to the park's distinctive character.

Enjoy Four Seasons of Recreation

Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The park's location along the North Shore makes it a popular destination throughout the year.

Top Trails

Gooseberry Falls Trail

Length: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

This popular trail system connects the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. Numerous overlooks provide excellent views of the waterfalls, river gorge, and surrounding forest while making the falls accessible to visitors of all ages.

Fifth Falls Trail

Length: Approximately 2.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

This scenic trail follows the Gooseberry River upstream to the quieter Fifth Falls. Visitors enjoy beautiful forest scenery, river views, and fewer crowds than the main waterfall area.

Gitchi-Gami State Trail

Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Minimal to Moderate
Difficulty: Easy

Passing directly through the park, this paved multi-use trail offers outstanding views of Lake Superior and connects several North Shore communities and attractions. It is popular for walking, running, and cycling.

Superior Hiking Trail

Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

A segment of the renowned Superior Hiking Trail runs through the park, providing access to forested ridges, river crossings, scenic overlooks, and extended backcountry hiking opportunities along Minnesota's North Shore.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources official Gooseberry Falls State Park information, including details on the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, hiking trails, camping, Lake Superior access, CCC structures, and recreational opportunities. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00172
Additional information verified through Minnesota DNR visitor resources and Superior Hiking Trail Association information covering Fifth Falls Trail, the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, North Shore recreation, and year-round activities throughout Gooseberry Falls State Park.

History and facilities

The Minnesota Legislature authorized preservation of the area around Gooseberry Falls in 1933, and the area was officially designated Gooseberry Falls State Park in 1937. The rustic style resources in Gooseberry Falls State Park were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1934 and 1941. The structures are notable for their stone construction, using red, blue, brown, and black basalt. The designs were supervised by the Minnesota Central Design Office of the National Park Service and construction was supervised by two Italian stonemasons. In 1996, the Joseph N. Alexander visitor center was built, providing space for interpretive displays, a cinema screening room, and a gift shop. The visitor center hosts public events including nature, wildlife, astronomy, and music programs.

There are 18 miles (29 km) of hiking trails, including 8 miles (13 km) of mountain bike trails. The trails connect to the Superior Hiking Trail. There are popular picnic and swimming spots on the trails.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gooseberry Falls State Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0