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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Cascade Falls (Cascade River)

Cook County County, Minnesota — about 30 ft, shorter than most.

Cascade Falls is the main drop on the Cascade River, where the river churns through a deep gorge dropping roughly 120 feet in its final quarter mile; the largest named falls is about 30 feet.

Height
30 ft
Type
Cascade
Access
Short Hike
Trail
0.5 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
Not documented
Best season
Spring and after heavy rain
Land manager
Minnesota DNR (Cascade River State Park)
Watercourse
Cascade 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 (Cascade River State Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cascade Falls (Cascade River) drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 527th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Cascade Falls / Cascade River Lower Loop reaches it about 0.5 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Lutsen. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Minnesota DNR (Cascade River State Park) for closures and current conditions.

Spring and after heavy rain. 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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