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Hike to High Falls and Two Step Falls

Silver Bay, Minnesota

5.0/5
based on 5 reviews

Details

Distance

1.17 miles

Elevation Gain

253 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Lisa Groene

Take a relatively short, easy hike that leads to one of Minnesota's tallest waterfalls. As a bonus, you'll get two waterfalls within 1/2 mile from one another located on the Baptism River. This is a great area for photography year round.

Located within Tettegouche State Park, High Falls of the Baptism river is the highest waterfall entirely in Minnesota (High Falls of the Pigeon River is higher, but half of it lies on the Ontario border). The High Falls are one of the major highlights of Tettegouche State Park.

Depending on where you start, the trail that leads to both falls varies between 1.5 - 3 miles round trip. For a longer hike, begin at the Trailhead Parking lot; follow the road to the park's campground and trailhead parking lot (approximately 1.5 miles past the park's entrance). For a shorter hike, begin at the trailhead within the park's campground. Both trails are clearly marked and well established.

Once you get closer to the High Falls, you'll come upon a wooden platform with a great overlook of the falls from above. Continue along the trail and descend down the 100+ wooden steps before reaching a small suspension bridge. Once you've crossed the bridge, you will cross over a series of boardwalks and a few more steps before arriving to the riverbed and base of the High Falls. This area is a great spot to relax, chill out, snap some shots of the falls, and even dip your toes in the river to cool off.

To view Two Step Falls, head back up the stairs, cross the suspension bridge, and follow the signs on the trail to Two Step Falls. Two Step Falls is only a 1/2 mile up the trail from High Falls. Follow a series of steps off the trail that lead you to the falls. Two Step Falls is a nice little set of waterfalls where the river drops twice, with each drop about 10 feet each.

Head back up the steps and follow the trail back the same way you came to the parking lot trailhead or campground.

Tettegouche State Park is also a great spot for camping!

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Features

Chillin
Camping
Photography
Hiking
Family Friendly
Forest
River
Scenic
Waterfall

Hike to High Falls and Two Step Falls Reviews

Just one example of hiking opportunities within Tettegouche State Park! Beautiful falls with several photo spots.

Tettegouche State park has an amazing net work of trails and the Baptism River hike is an absolutely awesome example of that. The boardwalk work and suspension bridge are awesome. There is a large tourist information building near by that makes this a high traffic park but it is so worth it.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Tettegouche State Park Trail

Hike to Shovel Point at Tettagouche State Park

Hike along the Baptism River to Cascade Falls

Hike to Fantasia Overlook

Explore Illgen Falls

Explore Palisade Head