The Cascades
Lake County, Minnesota
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Lake County, Minnesota
- Access status
- Partial guide: a reported indefinite trail closure has not been confirmed or cleared
- The walk
- About 1.8 miles return (2022 visitor figure)
- Ground & access
- Mostly easy riverside trail, a steep staircase, and an unmarked rock scramble at the end.
Walk down the park road from the Tettegouche visitor center or cart-in campground lot to the signed Cascades trailhead. The trail follows the Baptism River upstream with short spurs and stairs to the river, then a steep staircase near the end. The last part is unmarked and requires climbing over rocks for a full view of the falls. North Shore Visitor reports this trail closed indefinitely because of a damaged bridge, with no detour. Check with the park before going.
Plan your visit
Tettegouche visitor center area, Cascades trail upstream along the Baptism River
A 2022 visitor guide gives 1.8 miles out and back; North Shore Visitor gives a 2-mile there-and-back trail from the visitor center. Neither is an official DNR figure.
Mostly easy riverside trail, a steep staircase, and an unmarked rock scramble at the end.
Where to start
Tettegouche visitor center lot or cart-in campground lot. The DNR map says vehicle permits are required except at the visitor center lot.
Timing & water
North Shore Visitor lists the Cascade Falls Trail as closed indefinitely due to flood damage on a bridge. Current status unconfirmed.
Before you go
No reservation. Vehicle permit needed if parking anywhere except the visitor center lot.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Two Step FallsState park trail and 175 stairs; permit rule not confirmed13 ft (4 m) · Lake County, MN0.4 miN
- High FallsState park trail with many steps; permit rule not confirmed62 ft (19 m) · Lake County, MN0.6 miN
- Illgen FallsShort trail from a roadside pull-off39 ft (12 m) · Lake County, MN1.2 miN
- Kramer’s Choice RapidLake County, MN1.5 miNW
Beaver FallsRoadside view from the Highway 61 bridge walkwayLake County, MN7.1 miSW- Glenn Avon FallsVisitor directions documented; land ownership and parking permission unconfirmedLake County, MN8.4 miSW
Manitou CascadesState park trail; steep with stairs; vehicle permit required30 ft (9 m) · Lake County, MN11 miNE
Caribou FallsOfficial wayside trail to falls base; seasonal waysideLake County, MN12 miNE- Upper FallsShort accessible state park trail from the visitor center33 ft (10 m) · Lake County, MN18 miSW