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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Caribou Falls

Lake County, Minnesota — about 35 ft, shorter than most.
Caribou Falls, a waterfall in Minnesota
Caribou Falls, Minnesota · Denali National Park and Preserve · Public domain

Caribou Falls is a two-tier waterfall on the Caribou River along Lake Superior's North Shore, reached from the Caribou Falls State Wayside via the Superior Hiking Trail. A set of stairs descends to the river at the base of the falls.

Height
35 ft
Type
Tiered
Access
Short Hike
Trail
1.3 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
203 ft
Best season
spring
Land manager
Minnesota DNR (Caribou Falls State Wayside / Superior National Forest)
Watercourse
Caribou River

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Minnesota DNR (Caribou Falls State Wayside / Superior National Forest) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Caribou Falls drops about 35 feet. That makes it the 512th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 26% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Caribou Falls Trail reaches it about 1.3 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 203 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Finland. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Minnesota DNR (Caribou Falls State Wayside / Superior National Forest) for closures and current conditions.

spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More Minnesota waterfalls

Sources

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