Top 8 Natural Monuments in Cook County

There are no designated trails in the Butterwort Cliffs SNA, so exploring the area alone is not recommended. Cascade River State Park occasionally offers interpretive walks through the Butterwort Cliffs Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). Please note that the area is closed from April 1 to July 15 due to its status as a bird sanctuary. It’s just nice to know it's there! Alpine butterwort, the namesake of the area, is a carnivorous flowering plant that is endangered in Wisconsin and listed as “of special concern” in Minnesota due to its declining habitat. This plant is carnivorous because it traps small insects that crawl across its sticky, ground-hugging leaves. The insects become stuck, and the plant digests them using specialized enzymes. Two brown SNA signs mark the location of the SNA, both located just off the shoulder of Highway 61: one at the northeast corner of the SNA and the other at the northwest corner of the property.

This beautiful lake lies on the international border between the United States and Canada, nestled within the Boundary Waters (BWCAW). The boundary line runs right down the center of the lake instead of following the land, resulting from a treaty establishing the border based on historical canoe routes used by voyageurs. The only access to the lake is by canoe through portages from Duncan Lake, or by hiking the Border Route Trail or Caribou Rock Trail. In many areas along the shoreline, cliffs rise 300 to 400 feet above the lake's surface, formed by hard slates that resist erosion, creating stunning natural scenic overlooks.

Bridal Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in all of the BWCAW. The falls can be found on the Border Route Trail (BRT), and the easiest way to reach the falls is by taking the Crab Lake Spur Trail to the BRT. The falls are named after their similar appearance to a bridal veil, especially when the water is quite high.

Upper Falls Can be found just downstream from Devil's Kettle Falls. While a relatively short waterfall, the amount of water going over the falls makes for an impressive sight.

Standing at 2,301 ft (701 m) Eagle Mountain is the highest natural point in the state of Minnesota. The summit offers great views of the surrounding wilderness and lakes. You can find a plaque at the top giving more information about the history of the area.

The views from the cliff top are spectacular, but be careful! Visitors have been known to have fallen in and swept to a watery demise.

The Gitchi-Gami State Trail crosses the Temperance River affording excellent views of the gorge.

This waterfall splits in two at an outcropping of volcanic rock. The water to the east side of the outcropping plunges into a pool below as expected. However, the water on the west side of the outcropping falls into a hole and disappears from view. Visitors have long wondered where the water on the west side of the waterfall ends. Recently, the Department of Natural Resources' geologists have determined that the water that falls into the hole rejoins the stream just downstream of the falls.