Gooseberry Falls State Park tops vacation destination list

Gooseberry Falls State Park has been named the nation’s Best State Park in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, highlighting northern Minnesota’s landmark on the North Shore. The park, established in 1937 near Two Harbors, spans about 1,682 acres and features five waterfalls formed by Gooseberry River as it descends toward Lake Superior. Park Supervisor Nate Springer notes the basalt bedrock and glacial geology, dating back 1.1 billion years, create the dramatic landscape visitors admire. With roughly 760,000 annual visitors, Gooseberry Falls has led Minnesota’s state park rankings for seven of the past ten years, drawing families who return for multigenerational experiences and scenic hiking.