Best dog-friendly waterfall hikes in Minnesota
39 verified hikes from our directory of 83 Minnesota waterfalls.
What we mean by dog friendly
Dog-friendly means the land manager allows leashed dogs on this specific trail. State parks and National Forests usually do; National Park trails almost never. We mark dog_friendly only when we've confirmed the policy applies to the trail, not just the parking lot.
One caveat: Leash rules are enforced. Bring a 6-foot leash, waste bags, and water for the dog. Hot rock and pavement burn paws — check temperature with your hand for 5 seconds before letting them walk on it.
Gear hint: Our dog Brook carries her own water in a fitted pack; we carry her booties for shale and hot pavement. Cold-water tail-tuck on small breeds is real — keep them out of glacial plunge pools.
The 39 picks
Each opens to a full page with trail distance, elevation gain, parking, fee, best months, and live conditions when available.
Barrier Falls
20 ft · Superior National Forest
Big Spring Falls
height unverified · Banning State Park
Cascade Falls
height unverified · Cascade River State Park
Cross River Falls
height unverified · Temperance River State Park
Devil's Kettle Falls
height unverified · Judge C. R. Magney State Park
Devil's Kettle
height unverified · Judge C. R. Magney State Park
Devils Cascade
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Eddy Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Fifth Falls
15 ft · Gooseberry Falls State Park
Fiftysix Rapids
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Hidden Falls
height unverified · Temperance River State Park
Hidden Falls
height unverified · Superior National Forest
Hidden Falls
height unverified · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
High Falls
height unverified · Superior National Forest
High Falls
62 ft · Tettegouche State Park
Illgen Falls
39 ft · Tettegouche State Park
Kramer’s Choice Rapid
height unverified · Tettegouche State Park
Little Rock Falls
height unverified · Superior National Forest
Loon Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Lower Falls
20 ft · Gooseberry Falls State Park
Lower Falls
20 ft · Gooseberry Falls State Park
Lower Minneopa Falls
39 ft · Minneopa State Park
Manitou Cascades
30 ft · George Crosby Manitou State Park
Middle Falls
23 ft · Gooseberry Falls State Park
Minnemishinona Falls
42 ft · Minneopa State Park
Newton Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Newton Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Pipestone Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Portage Falls
height unverified · Superior National Forest
Rose Falls
height unverified · Superior National Forest
Saganaga Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Sioux Falls
height unverified · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Cascades
height unverified · Cascade River State Park
The Cascades
height unverified · Tettegouche State Park
Two Step Falls
13 ft · Tettegouche State Park
Upper Falls
height unverified · Judge C. R. Magney State Park
Upper Falls
33 ft · Gooseberry Falls State Park
Upper Minneopa Falls
20 ft · Minneopa State Park
Wolf Creek Falls
height unverified · Banning State Park
Before you go: 5 things we always check
- The official land manager's page for road and trail closures (linked on every individual waterfall page).
- The weather forecast for the area AND upstream — flash floods come from rain miles away.
- Recent ranger or hiker reports for slippery rock conditions.
- Whether the trail crosses a creek without a bridge — water levels change daily in snowmelt season.
- Cell coverage at the trailhead. Download offline maps in advance.
See our full safety disclaimer for the dangers we've flagged on individual waterfalls. Several have fatalities on record.