Judge C.R. Magney State Park

Visit: July 2021

Kids: Age 9 & 11

Time spent there: Approx 3 hours

Devil’s Kettle is a unique waterfall located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park. As the Brule River navigates its way to Lake Superior, its kind enough to create some gorgeous water falls and scenery. It really outdid itself with Devil’s Kettle, however. I wrote more about this in my Minnesota Diary section but basically just as the river is approaching the top of a waterfall, it divides in half. One half goes over the waterfall. The other half, in a very unexpected plot twist, plunges into a giant hole in the ground.

For decades, no one knew where the hole went. In various questionable experiments they poured in ping pong balls and dye, as well as ridiculous items, like television sets and even a car, in an effort to see if anything magically popped up elsewhere. Nothing appeared. However, scientists have since measured the water flow above and below the falls and they’re exactly the same, leading to the assumption the water going into the hole somehow reappears back underneath the falls. But it makes for an amazing, slightly spooky, sight and the hike is worth it.

The trail follows a ridge along the edge of the river and is approximately 2 miles roundtrip. It first leads to Upper Falls, which is a picturesque waterfall and then continues on to Devil’s Kettle.

Getting up and down to the river to view the actual Devil Kettle falls involves a lot of steep stairs that will make your legs whine and cry. Try to limit this to just your legs. We don’t want to disturb the peaceful nature sounds with a bunch of adults whining and crying. There was a 5 year old on our trip and she did just fine. If needed, there is a platform in the middle of the stairs to stop and drag in oxygen.

It is worth it to note that portions of the trail are cut into the side of a steep hill. Falling off the edge would not be terribly difficult. The rapid descent would involve bouncing off several trees as you picked up speed and then crashing into rocky, cold, fast-flowing water.

Therefore, I would recommend keeping pets and impulsive children on a short leash.

Handy things to know

• This park is easy to access, it’s right off Route 61, but it’s rustic, so come prepared. There was one composting toilet beside the parking lot. No running water. No visitor center. Just a parking lot, the toilet and the trail head.
• The trail to High Falls and Devil’s Kettle is well-marked, well-traveled and very easy to follow. There are wooden stairs, hand rails, viewing platforms and benches along the way. I did not verify this but someone counted 192 wooden stairs in the staircase going down to the falls.
• As with all Minnesota state parks, you need a parking permit. They are $7/day or $35/year.