Guide to Visiting Gooseberry Falls State Park

Minnesota is home to SO MANY gems in the great outdoors. With 67 state parks and countless miles of trails, it is the PERFECT state to explore with your pup! Gooseberry Falls State Park is one of the most beautiful and unique parks to add to your Minnesota Bucket List.

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How to get to Gooseberry Falls State Park?

Gooseberry Falls State Park is located along Minnesota’s beautiful North Shore. Gooseberry can be found in the small city of Two Harbors, located at 3206 Highway 61 East.

When’s the best time to visit?

• Winter (December-Feb) 26/10 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Spring (March-May) 47/30 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Summer (June-August) 72/52 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Fall (Sept- November) 53/37 Degrees Fahrenheit

Although the park is beautiful year-round, the temperatures do vary greatly! Each season will leave you with different beautiful views. You are able to swim in the waterfalls in the summer, view the vibrant fall colors in the fall, search for wildflowers in the spring, and marvel at the frozen waterfalls in the winter.

Tip: Minnesota winters can be BRUTAL, but can also lead to peacefulness and super cool frozen waterfalls. If planning on visiting in the winter, just make sure to check the forecast and dress in MANY LAYERS.

Where to stay

If camping isn’t your cup of tea, but you are still looking for that adventure, there are still numerous places to stay in Two Harbors. Here are my favorites:

• Country Inn of Two Harbors: Located less than 20 minutes from Gooseberry Falls State Park, CountryInn features an indoor pool, free breakfast, and mini-golf on-site!
• Superior Shores Resort: Overlooking a beautiful private Lake Superior beach, this resort is beautifully decorated and dog-friendly!

Tip: If you want other options, be sure to use the HotelsCombined Search engine as it will search ALL THE most popular booking sites to find you the BEST deal OR check out Weelerz for all your RV and campervan rental needs!

Other Details to know before your visit:

• Gooseberry is open daily from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
• Plan ahead. You can buy your vehicle permit online (Vehicle permit is $35 for a year-round pass to all 75 Minnesota State Parks and recreation areas or $7 for a daily pass.)
• Be prepared in case the building facilities are not open. Bring all the necessary gear that you might need for your daily adventures. 
• Follow the Stay Safe MN Guidelines (Covid guidelines)

Things to do at Gooseberry

Camping

There are numerous campsites in the park. These campsites are regulated by the MN Department of natural resources (DNR). If you plan to camp, be sure to make your reservations, and review all the rules and regulations set forth by the DNR to ensure that the campsites and the park stays beautiful and healthy!

Hiking

There are 18 miles of hiking trails throughout the park along with 8 miles of mountain biking trails. Unfortunately, Gooseberry does not allow fat-tire bikes in the park, but take a short drive to Split Rock which grooms trails for them! To add a little fun to your hikes, see if you can find all 5 waterfalls that Gooseberry has to offer! Don’t forget to also find the beautiful overlooks of Lake Superior!

Be sure to download the Gooseberry Falls app on your phone to have the park in your pocket!

Wildlife in the Park?

Gooseberry has recorded over 225 species of birds that nest or visit the park, 46 species of mammals, and ten species of reptiles and amphibians. Other animals that you might see while visiting the park are white-tailed deer, black bears, gray wolves, pine martens, migratory Lake Superior salmon and trout, and a variety of conifer-dependent birds, ravens, and the herring gulls.

Things to do near Gooseberry Falls State Park

• Split Rock Lighthouse: Located less than 10 minutes away, Split Rock Lighthouse is a must-see along the Minnesota North Shore. You can tour the lighthouse, have a picnic on the beach, or just marvel at the beauty!
• Tettegouche State Park: This is my personal favorite state park along the North Shore. There are seven different trails and four amazing waterfalls. I recommend hiking to Two-Step Falls to jump in then up to High Falls to marvel from the overlook.
• Two Harbors: If you need a break from hiking, you can head down to explore the quaint shops and cute restaurants in Two Harbors. You can grab a drink at Castle Danger Brewery or tour the Lake County Historical Museum.
• Ropes Course and Zipline: Just 15 minutes away, you can soar and climb among the great outdoors! North Shore Adventure Park is open during the summer months!
• Lutsen: If you are wanting to extend your road trip further north, head to Lutsen. It is a super cute “mountain” town about 50 miles from Gooseberry Falls State Park. Here you can ski, snowboard, ride the gondola, and even ride an alpine slide!
• Duluth, MN: Duluth is my hometown, so I may be a bit biased, but it is so much fun! I recommend visiting Canal Park and walk the Lakewalk for beautiful views of Lake Superior. After your walk, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the closeby restaurants, try your hand at indoor rock-climbing, or window shop the local shops.

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