Grand Portage State Park

Grand Portage State Park is a protected area along the Canadian border that centers on the Pigeon River Falls. The waterfall plunges about 120 feet (37 meters) and represents the highest cascade in Minnesota near Lake Superior's shoreline.

The location became central to fur trade routes in the 1700s when merchants needed a portage trail to bypass the falls. This trade post remained important for the regional economy across many generations.

The land belongs to the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, and the waterfall holds deep meaning for the Anishinaabe people whose ancestors lived along this river. Walking through the park, you experience a place where Native heritage and natural beauty are inseparable.

The park is accessible year-round with multiple hiking trails leading to waterfall viewpoints at different heights. An on-site information center provides orientation and basic facilities for visitors exploring the grounds.

The park represents a rare example of co-management between the state and a Native American community for protecting natural spaces. This partnership shows how different approaches to land stewardship can work together.

Location: Cook County

Inception: 1989

Address: 9393 East Highway 61, Grand Portage, MN 55605

Phone: +12188778630

Email: grandportage.statepark@state.mn.us

Website: http://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/grand_portage

GPS coordinates: 48.01028,-89.61194

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:42