This park is right there in front of you - and most people don't even mention it. But boy is it worth the small hike up the trail to see the falls. What a gorgeous park!!
Loved the well-maintained trails and steps to the falls. Devil's Kettle is worth seeing!My husband had to rest on the stairs because we're a little out of shape. This would not be a disability-accessible trail, but there are some in the area.
Great place to hike, and although the crowds are heavy going up to Devils Kettle (relatively speaking), if you keep walking there are more discoveries to be had. The trail stays alongside the river for a few miles and its really beautiful.
Long hike with a lot of steps, but very relaxing and breathtaking! Wear tennis or hiking shoes as some parts of the trail can get steep.
For starters you had better be ready for a strenuous hike to get to the falls. There is a 150 step staircase down to the falls and back out again. The trail has some great scenic views of the falls from varying distances. The staircase brings you down to the bottom of the falls offering amazing views of the falls and some cooling mists on a hot day. After that there is another smaller staircase that brings you to the top of the falls that offers views of the Devils Kettle and the other falls that go into Lake Superior. No one really knows where the water that enters the Devils Kettle goes, so it is a great mystery as well as one of the prettiest places you can go and experience for yourself. Don't miss out on this North Shore Icon, it is so worth the time and effort to see.
Judge C. R. Magney is a beautiful Minnesota State Park full of great hiking [the legendary Devil's Kettle] and many lovely spots. We counted the steps up from the falls...176. You get to burn off desert in the bargain.
We hiked the Devil's Kettle Trail which is a one mile out and back (2 mi. total). The trail follows the Brule River and offers views of the Lower Falls and Devil's Kettle Falls. It has plenty of elevation changes through beautiful northern Minnesota woods and 177 wooden steps near the Devil's Kettle. Sneakers or tennis shoes may not be sturdy enough and I would recommend a walking stick or trekking poles and be sure to take along some water. The waterfall at the kettle is a large, black basalt rock face where the river splits into to streams over the falls. One stream cascades over the river into a plunge pool while the other falls into an almost perfectly round kettle and disappears. Locals told us that people have put dye, logs and other items into the kettle but have never discovered where the water from the kettle comes out. We saw another river like this out West and presume that the water from the kettle goes to an underground river.
The MN State Parks never disappoint. There are lots of great trails and it's always relaxing to get out in nature. Nice place for the whole family to go.
Amazing hiking (on the Superior Hiking Trail) and waterfalls, and right across the street from the lodge!