The best hidden gem waterfalls in Minnesota are Beaver River Falls, Cascade Falls, Pigeon Falls and 7 more. Highly rated falls that few people review: 4.6 stars or better from 75 or fewer Google reviews.
See every waterfall on the Minnesota waterfalls page or the Minnesota waterfall map, or browse by town: Silver Bay, Grand Marais, Pipestone, Redwood Falls, Keewatin.
How we picked: We took the 14 publicly accessible Minnesota waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
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1. Beaver River Falls
Beaver River Falls near Silver Bay takes the top spot, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 15 reviews.
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Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 15 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 59 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Silver Bay, about 2.8 miles to the northeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Glenn Avon Falls, about 2.1 miles to the west.
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2. Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls, near Grand Marais, is next up, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 45 reviews.
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 45 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 102 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Grand Marais, about 9.3 miles to the east. The nearest other named waterfall is Hidden Falls, about 19.4 miles to the southwest.
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3. Pigeon Falls
Pigeon Falls, near Grand Marais, is next up, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 41 reviews.
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 41 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 297 photos of it on Google Maps. Older records also call it High Falls. The nearest town is Grand Marais, about 38 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Middle Falls, about 1.0 miles to the northwest.
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4. Winnewissa Falls
Winnewissa Falls near Pipestone is worth the drive, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 19 reviews. Visitors come here for walking and falls.
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Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 19 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 97 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "walking" and "falls". The nearest town is Pipestone, about 1.0 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Sioux Falls, about 37.6 miles to the southwest.
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5. Johnson Falls
Johnson Falls near Grand Marais rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 6 reviews.
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Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 6 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 16 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Grand Marais, about 22 miles to the south. The nearest other named waterfall is Portage Falls, about 11.4 miles to the east.
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6. Ramsey Falls
Head to Ramsey Falls near Redwood Falls, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 65 reviews. Visitors come here for trails, suspension bridge, and cleanliness.
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 65 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 177 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "trails", "suspension bridge", and "cleanliness". The nearest town is Redwood Falls, about 0.6 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Minnesota Falls, about 25.0 miles to the northwest.
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7. Partridge Falls
Head to Partridge Falls near Grand Marais, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 22 reviews. Visitors come here for gorgeous falls, rough road, and trail to falls.
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 22 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 73 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "gorgeous falls", "rough road", and "trail to falls". The nearest town is Grand Marais, about 28 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Portage Falls, about 8.8 miles to the west.
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8. Middle Falls
Middle Falls near Grand Marais rounds out this stretch of the list, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 21 reviews. Visitors come here for hike.
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 21 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 76 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "hike". Older records also call it Little Falls and High Falls. The nearest town is Grand Marais, about 38 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Pigeon Falls, about 1.0 miles to the southeast.
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9. Hidden Falls
Head to Hidden Falls near Silver Bay, rated 4.8 out of 5 from 15 reviews.
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Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 15 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 51 photos of it on Google Maps. The nearest town is Silver Bay, about 25 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Caribou Falls, about 9.5 miles to the southwest.
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10. Little American Falls
Little American Falls near Keewatin is worth the drive, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 30 reviews. Visitors come here for picnic, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful area.
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Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 30 Google reviews. Visitors have shared 83 photos of it on Google Maps. Reviewers mention "picnic", "peaceful atmosphere", and "beautiful area". The nearest town is Keewatin, about 44 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Deadmans Rapids, about 16.5 miles to the north.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hidden gem waterfall in Minnesota?
Beaver River Falls tops our 2026 list. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 15 Google reviews. It is near Silver Bay in Lake County.
How many hidden gem waterfalls are in Minnesota?
14 of the 42 waterfalls we track in Minnesota qualify. This page ranks the top 10; every waterfall in the state is on the Minnesota waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 14 publicly accessible Minnesota waterfalls rated 4.6 stars or higher on Google by between 5 and 75 reviewers, then ranked them by a weighted rating that gives more credit to ratings backed by more reviews.
Which counties are they in?
The 10 on this list are in Lake County, Cook County, Pipestone County, Redwood County, and Koochiching County.
More Minnesota Waterfalls by Type
- 6 Best Historic Waterfalls in Minnesota 2026
- 9 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Minnesota
- 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Minnesota
- 5 Most Visited Waterfalls in Minnesota
- 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Minnesota
Or browse every type on the hidden gem waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.