State Park · Minnesota
The gateway to Minnesota's North Shore: the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River, the Gitchi-Gami bike trail, Lake Superior shoreline, and a wooded campground.
Field briefing
Gooseberry Falls State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
The best plans reserve a campsite early, buy a state park vehicle permit, see the main falls early before the lot fills, and use the Fifth Falls loop or the Gitchi-Gami trail to escape the crowds.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool and wet, with powerful snowmelt flow at the falls and muddy trails.
Pack Waterproof boots, rain shell, and warm layers for cold lake wind.
Mild and very busy, with packed parking, falls crowds, and full campgrounds.
Pack Sun protection, bug spray, and an early arrival plan for the falls lot.
Crisp hiking weather and outstanding North Shore color, drawing peak crowds.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for short days, and traction for damp rock.
Cold and snowy, with frozen falls, snowshoeing, and reduced services.
Pack Insulation, traction, and gear for North Shore cold.
Falls View Trail
A short, often crowded loop to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, the easiest payoff in the park.
Fifth Falls loop
A quieter forest hike upstream to a fifth waterfall, away from the main falls crowds.
Gitchi-Gami State Trail and Agate Beach
A paved shoreline bike path and a Lake Superior cobble beach for agate hunting and kayak launching.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Gooseberry Falls State Park, make Falls View Trail the non-negotiable, add Fifth Falls loop only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Gitchi-Gami State Trail and Agate Beach as the flexible finish.
Turn Gooseberry Falls's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Gooseberry Falls State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Gooseberry Falls State Park packing list
0 of 23 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
23 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Gooseberry Falls asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Camp inside the park if you can get one of the 72 sites, which sit in the woods a short distance from the falls and the lake. Two Harbors, about 13 miles southwest, has the nearest hotels and services, and the wider North Shore corridor toward Beaver Bay and Silver Bay offers more lodging.
Camping reservations
The park has a 72-site wooded campground a short walk from the falls and Lake Superior. North Shore summer and fall-color weekends fill fast, so camping should be the first locked decision.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Minnesota state park campsites require a reservation before occupancy, including same-day stays, booked through the Minnesota DNR reservation system.
Where to book or verify
Official Minnesota DNR reservation portal, or call 866-857-2757.
Official DNR park page with falls, trails, campground, and alerts.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Build the arrival around the reservation.
Entry windows, permit pickups, and drive time should be checked before the itinerary gets crowded.
Getting there
Arrival note
Gooseberry Falls sits on scenic Highway 61 about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors and roughly 40 miles from Duluth.
Car strategy
A car is the practical way to reach the park and continue up the North Shore.
Car strategy
The main wayside lot is free to park and walk the trails, but driving into the campground, lakeshore, and picnic areas requires a vehicle permit.
Pair this with lodging: choose the base that keeps the reservation or permit pickup from becoming the hardest part of the day.
A Minnesota state park vehicle permit, $7 daily or $35 annual, is required to drive into the campground, lakeshore, and picnic areas. The main wayside lot is free to park in and walk the falls trails, but the permit is required for the rest of the park.
See the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls early in the morning before the main lot fills, then use the quieter Fifth Falls loop upstream or the Gitchi-Gami trail along Lake Superior to escape the busiest areas.
Yes. The park has a 72-site wooded campground a short distance from the falls and Lake Superior. All Minnesota state park campsites require a reservation before occupancy, including same-day stays.