Curtain Falls is a waterfall in St. Louis County, Minnesota, where water pours out of Crooked Lake into Iron Lake on the Canadian border. It lies in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness about 23.2 miles north of Ely, in a remote area reached only by canoe.
The falls
The falls drop about 30 feet overall rather than in a single vertical plunge, with a powerful current. No surveyed height has been published.
Getting there
The U.S. shore is Forest Service wilderness in the Superior National Forest. Overnight paddling trips from May 1 to September 30 need a quota permit from Recreation.gov: $16 per adult and $8 per youth per trip, plus a $6 reservation fee. Non-motorized day visitors fill out a free self-issued permit.
Paddling routes reach the area from Entry Point 23 at Mudro Lake, with a 139-rod portage beside the falls between Iron Lake and Crooked Lake. In spring 2026 the Lac La Croix Ranger District announced a new map showing alternative landings at historically dangerous spots, Curtain Falls among them.
When to go
In September 2026 wildfire restrictions affected parts of the wilderness through October 1; check current alerts before entering.
On site
On May 18, 2024, two canoes carrying four paddlers went over Curtain Falls. Two were rescued; the other two died, and high water slowed the search for nearly two weeks. The survivors said they had not been wearing life jackets. Wear a life jacket and carry around the falls on the portage.
Nearby
Lower Basswood Falls and Last Falls are both about 12.4 miles away, Wheelbarrow Falls about 12.9 miles and Basswood Falls about 15 miles.
Distances are straight-line.