The best historic waterfalls in Minnesota are Saint Anthony Falls, Kettle Falls, Newton Falls and 3 more. Falls with a written record: a USGS naming history, a gazetteer description or older recorded names.
See every waterfall on the Minnesota waterfalls page or the Minnesota waterfall map, or browse by town: Minneapolis, International Falls, Ely, Mendota Heights, Grand Marais.
How we picked: We took the 6 publicly accessible Minnesota waterfalls that have a written record in the USGS Geographic Names Information System (a naming history, a gazetteer description, or older variant names) and ranked them by how much of that record exists, then by Google review volume.
-
1. Saint Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis takes the top spot, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 84 reviews.
Read full write-up
Name history: "Named by a French missionary, because ""of the many favors received through the intercession of that saint.""" Older records also call it Hahamina and Falls of Saint Anthony. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 84 Google reviews. It is right in Minneapolis. The nearest other named waterfall is Shadow Falls, about 4.0 miles to the southeast.
-
2. Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls is a named waterfall about 36 miles east of International Falls. USGS notes: Falls on the international boundary between Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, N of Kettle Island; Province of Ontario
St. Louis County, MN (GPS 48.4993, -92.6390)
Read full write-up
The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Falls on the international boundary between Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, N of Kettle Island; Province of Ontario. Older records also call it Chaudiere Falls and Kettle Fall. The nearest town is International Falls, about 36 miles to the west. The nearest other named waterfall is Ash River Falls, about 11.8 miles to the southwest.
-
3. Newton Falls
Newton Falls, near Ely, is next up, rated 4.3 out of 5 from 3 reviews.
Read full write-up
The USGS gazetteer describes it as: A waterfall on the stream between Fall and Newton Lakes, 8 miles NE of Ely. (US-T121). Older records also call it Upper Pipestone Falls. Visitors rate it 4.3 stars across 3 Google reviews. The nearest town is Ely, about 8.1 miles to the southwest. The nearest other named waterfall is Pipestone Falls, about 2.3 miles to the north.
-
4. Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Falls near Mendota Heights is another strong option, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,855 reviews.
Read full write-up
Older records also call it Brown's Falls and Mini Haha. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 2,855 Google reviews. The nearest town is Mendota Heights, about 4.1 miles to the southeast. The nearest other named waterfall is Shadow Falls, about 2.0 miles to the north.
-
5. 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.
Read full write-up
Older records also call it Little Falls and High Falls. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 21 Google reviews. 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.
-
6. Pigeon Falls
Head to Pigeon Falls near Grand Marais, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 41 reviews.
Read full write-up
Older records also call it High Falls. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 41 Google reviews. 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best historic waterfall in Minnesota?
Saint Anthony Falls tops our 2026 list. Name history: "Named by a French missionary, because ""of the many favors received through the intercession of that saint.""" It is near Minneapolis in Hennepin County.
How many historic waterfalls are in Minnesota?
6 of the 42 waterfalls we track in Minnesota qualify. This page ranks the top 6; every waterfall in the state is on the Minnesota waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We took the 6 publicly accessible Minnesota waterfalls that have a written record in the USGS Geographic Names Information System (a naming history, a gazetteer description, or older variant names) and ranked them by how much of that record exists, then by Google review volume.
Which counties are they in?
The 6 on this list are in Hennepin County, St. Louis County, Lake County, and Cook County.
More Minnesota Waterfalls by Type
- 10 Best Hidden Gem 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 historic waterfalls by state page and the waterfall types hub.