Gooseberry Falls State Park

In the area

  from Explore MN Tourism

Snow conditions

  closed  
closed

Melting like spring time. Packed what little snow we had up... More details

Current conditions

clear

Two Harbors: 32° F and clear.

forecast


Gooseberry Falls State Park

Park photo slide show. This slideshow requires the latest version of
Adobe Flash Player

Gooseberry Falls is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known 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 Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River as it plummets through a rocky gorge. Watch for waves, ships, or the moon rise on Lake Superior from an ancient lava flow known as the Picnic Flow.

Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch, and enjoy camping in modern campsites, picnicking, and relaxing along the Lake Superior shoreline or the Gooseberry River.

To get the most out of your visit, stop by the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center where you can find park information, interpretive displays, a park video, Nature Store, and more. Don't miss the Gateway Plaza for outdoor interpretive signs on area resources and history.

Tell me more about this park's wildlife, history, geology and landscape.

Visitor Alert!

New! Virtual Tour

Take a panoramic virtual tour of Gooseberry Falls State Park. Explore the various waterfalls, take a peek inside the visitor center, marvel at the view from the overlook, and admire the stonework in the historic Lady Slipper Lodge and campground shelter buildings. It's a great tool to help you plan your next trip to the park!
Panoramic tour| Accessible tour

Park Notes

Learn More about the Park:

Self-guided tour: Ideal for group outings, but also fun for families and any visitor to the park. (Information includes photos.)

Gift Cards:

Purchase a Minnesota State Parks Gift Card.

Gitchi-Gami State Trail Access:

The 2.5 mile segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail that runs through the park is now paved and ready for use - it's great for biking! The trail connects our lower picnic area to the rest of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail along Highway 61, so there is now continuous paved trail from Gooseberry to the town of Beaver Bay, with access to the Gooseberry Visitor Center, campground and the shores of Lake Superior.

Parking is available at our lower picnic area lot, which is adjacent to the trailhead. Due to frequent high levels of traffic, parking for longer than two hours is not always available at our visitor center lots.

Firewood Restrictions Information:

Minnesota has enacted legislation that restricts firewood being brought to or used on DNR lands. Learn more and review vendor lists.

Group Camps:

The group camps at Gooseberry Falls State Park can be reserved by phone or online through the centralized reservation system and can be made from three to 365 days in advance.

Birders:

Bird Checklist This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. at Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Park Highlights

tree Scenic Waterfalls/Lake Superior Shoreline

tree Visitor Center/Nature Store

tree Historic CCC Log & Stone Structures

tree Year-Round Naturalist

tree Multi-Use/Accessible Trails

tree Gateway Plaza

Events

view a printable version

Find more State Park events on the DNR Events Calendar!

02/18/12

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Learning to Snowshoe

02/18/12

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe, and Hike


Hours

Best time to contact the park:

Daily, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Contact

3206 Highway 61 East
Two Harbors, MN 55616

tel: 218-834-3855

fax: 218-834-3787

email: gooseberryfalls.statepark@state.mn.us

Getting There

From the town of Two Harbors, follow State Highway 61 northeast approximately 13 miles to the park.