It’s Minnesota

Judge C.R. Magney State Park is a Minnesota state park near Grand Marais, covering 4,695 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.

Brule River water crashing over reddish rock at Devil's Kettle in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, with cedar on the banks.
Photo by Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plan It In Three Lines

About The Park

The DNR describes it: The park offers camping, picnicking and hiking. Come for the quiet, the solitude, and the famous Devil's Kettle waterfall! The most popular hike leads from the trailhead upstream along the Brule River to Devil's Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole.

Wildlife. Moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, and timber wolves are among the larger animals that inhabit the park. Smaller mammals include woodchuck, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, and chipmunk.

History. In 1957, a 940-acre parcel of forest along the Brule River was set aside as Brule River State Park. The park became Judge C.R.

Geology. The bedrock exposed along Lake Superior's North Shore has a geologic history that goes back some 1.1 billion years. During the dramatic volcanic activity of that time, molten lava poured through great fissures that developed in the Earth’s.

Visit Facts

Trails

SeasonTrail typeLengthNotes
SummerHiking—The park has nine miles of hiking trails.
WinterSnowshoe—Snowshoe anywhere in the park.

Camping And Lodging

TypeDetailNotes
Drive-in Sites—The park has 27 rustic drive-in sites. There is no winter camping.
RV Length Limit—The max RV length is 45 feet. Parking spurs vary in length from 30 to 50 feet.Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed.
Accessible Sites—Drive-in site 7 is accessible.

Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.

On The Water

The DNR lists no water recreation here.

Other Recreation

TypeDetailNotes
Picnic Area—The park has one picnic areas across the bridge towards the Devil's Kettle trail.

Amenities

TypeDetailNotes
Ranger Station—Visit the ranger station for vehicle permits and park information.
Naturalist Programs—Find naturalist programs on the events calendar.
Historic Site—Remnants remain of the Grover Conzet WPA camp from the 1930s.
Firewood—Buy firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel.
Other—Wi-Fi is available at the ranger station, day-use parking area, and near the host site in the campground.

Pets And Permits

Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.

Directions

The park is located 14 miles northeast of Grand Marais on State Highway 61.

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.

Nearby Places

What We Could Not Verify

Related Pages

More In Duluth & North Shore

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Judge C.R. Magney State Park?

It is near Grand Marais, Minnesota. The DNR address is 4051 East Highway 61 Grand Marais, MN 55604.

How much does it cost to visit Judge C.R. Magney State Park?

A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.

Are dogs allowed at Judge C.R. Magney State Park?

Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.

Sources

  1. Judge C.R. Magney State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
  2. Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
  3. Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
  4. Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.
Cite this page: It’s Minnesota. “Judge C.R. Magney State Park.” itsminnesota.com/places/judge-c-r-magney/. Facts read from the sources above on November 1, 2026.