Rose Falls

Cook County, Minnesota

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Cook County, Minnesota
Access status: Documented wilderness trail; free day permit; distance figures differ
The walk: About 7 to 9 miles return; sources differ
Ground & access: Rugged trail with steep, slippery descents, roots and rocks, and some scrambling after the Moss Lake overlook.

BWCAwild: Entry Point 82, Border Route Trail (Center) and Caribou Rock Trail

From the small Caribou Rock Trail parking lot on Hungry Jack Road, cross the road to the trailhead (BWCA Entry Point 82). Pass overlooks of West Bearskin Lake and Moss Lake. The trail then becomes much harder before ending at Rose Lake, Rose Falls and the Stairway Portage, just past the Border Route Trail junction. Return the same way.

Plan your visit

Caribou Rock Trail from Hungry Jack Road to Rose Falls and Stairway Portage

BWCAwild says the Caribou Rock Trail is about 9 miles out-and-back, and on the same page gives 3.5 miles to the Border Route Trail junction near Rose Falls (about 7 miles return). The exact figure is not settled.

Rugged trail with steep, slippery descents, roots and rocks, and some scrambling after the Moss Lake overlook.

Where to start

Small lot on the right side of Hungry Jack Road, 1.9 miles from the Gunflint Trail (about 29 miles from Grand Marais). The trail starts across the road.

Timing & water

BWCAwild was last visited May 2024. Current trail conditions not verified. No winter maintenance was described.

Before you go

The last part of the trail is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Day hikers fill out a free BWCA day permit at the trailhead box.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Minnesota

Waterfall location

Cook County, Minnesota.

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