High Falls
- Height
- 120 ft
- Hike
- 1 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
High Falls drops about 120 ft on Pigeon River in Cook County, Minnesota. Reaching it is a 1 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
Stay on the boardwalk and viewing decks at High Falls; wet rock and river gorge edges are hazardous. As of September 30, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 120 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | 120-foot High Falls on the Pigeon River is Minnesota's tallest waterfall, at the U.S.-Canada border. |
Access
| Hike | 1 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | On MN Highway 61 at the U.S.-Canada border northwest of Grand Portage; park entrance west of the Grand Portage border station. |
| Parking | Day-use parking near the visitor center and High Falls boardwalk trailhead. |
| Fee | Free day-use access; Minnesota state park vehicle permits are not required at Grand Portage State Park. |
| Hours | Daily 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Grand Portage State Park) |
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is High Falls open?
Stay on the boardwalk and viewing decks at High Falls; wet rock and river gorge edges are hazardous. As of September 30, 2026. Hours: Daily 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
How tall is High Falls?
High Falls drops about 120 ft.
How long is the hike to High Falls?
It's a 1 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. On MN Highway 61 at the U.S.-Canada border northwest of Grand Portage; park entrance west of the Grand Portage border station. Parking: Day-use parking near the visitor center and High Falls boardwalk trailhead.
Do you need a reservation for High Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at High Falls?
Yes. Free day-use access; Minnesota state park vehicle permits are not required at Grand Portage State Park.
When is High Falls flowing?
120-foot High Falls on the Pigeon River is Minnesota's tallest waterfall, at the U.S.-Canada border.
What are the rules at High Falls?
Camping is not allowed.
Nearby
Nearest camping
Public land
Just outside: Grand Portage National Monument (under 0.1 mi) .
Sources
3
- https://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/compass/feature_detail.cgi?id=spk00173&type=stprk (accessed September 30, 2026; backs waterbodyName / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / access.hikeDistanceMi, access.fee)
- https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00173 (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / rules.camping / access.roadNote / access.parking / hazardNote, waterfall.ephemeral)
- https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00158 (accessed September 29, 2026; backs access.roadNote / access.roadSurface / identity)
More: Minnesota waterfalls