Basswood Falls is a low waterfall on the Basswood River in Lake County, Minnesota, a broad spread of cascades about 6 feet high where the river leaves Basswood Lake on the Canadian border. It lies deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 17.3 miles northeast of Ely, and is reached by canoe.
The falls
At the lake outlet the river splits around a large island. The larger channel carries the falls, the smaller one only minor rapids. Lidar measurements estimate the drop at about 6 feet; earlier inventories recorded it as two drops with no height.
Getting there
The U.S. shore is Forest Service wilderness, and the falls are reached by paddling and portaging. 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. Groups are limited to 9 people and 4 watercraft.
One educational outfitter runs a 45-mile loop that starts at Fall Lake, crosses Basswood Lake and follows the river past Upper and Lower Basswood Falls. Its carry around the upper falls is 340 rods, about 1.1 miles, the longest portage on any of its routes.
When to go
In September 2026 wildfire restrictions affected parts of the wilderness through October 1; check current alerts before entering.
On site
Paddlers travel this stretch of river by portaging around the falls and rapids rather than running them.
Nearby
Wheelbarrow Falls is about 2.2 miles away, and Lower Basswood Falls and Last Falls about 3 miles. Pipestone Falls is about 8.2 miles away. The same canoe loop continues to the Native American pictographs on the west shore of Crooked Lake.
Distances are straight-line.