Gooseberry Falls State Park

As the gateway to the North Shore, Gooseberry Falls earns popularity for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. Listen to the thunderous roar of the Gooseberry River’s Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls as it rages through a rocky gorge. Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch.

Gooseberry Falls State Park sits roughly 13 miles from Two Harbors and 12 miles from Beaver Bay.
You can park at the Visitors Center and access the trails close by.

Hiking at Gooseberry Falls

Each hiking trail begins by crossing the footbridge over the Gooseberry River and heading up to the highway overpass. The Middle and Lower Falls Loop splits off to the right, and the Upper and Fifth Falls Loop proceeds left under the highway overpass.

The Middle and Lower Falls Loop, a 1.2 mi (2 km) route, takes you along the Gooseberry River on the Gitchi Gummi Trail. From there, you can either return to the Visitor Center or continue on the Upper and Fifth Falls Loop.

The Upper and Fifth Falls Loop is a 2 mi (3.2 km) trek that leads you along the Gooseberry River via the Fifth Falls Trail.

You can easily hike both loops for a total 3.5 mi (5.6 km) route, which is marked on the map below. Look for the black arrows labeling the loops.

Winter Recreation at Gooseberry Falls

Gooseberry Falls State Park is a North Shore mecca of outdoor activity in the winter months. The park features:

• Groomed ski trails,
• Snow-cleared hiking trails
• Ungroomed snowshoeing trails

For snowshoers, you can choose two popular loops that follow along the Gooseberry River, visiting two waterfalls on each loop.

Gooseberry Falls hosts numerous snowshoeing events throughout the winter. Visit the Minnesota DNR Website for a list of scheduled events. While Gooseberry hosts snowshoeing events, they do not offer snowshoe rentals; however, a limited number of adult snowshoes are available for those participating in a scheduled event.