The best hiking trail in the U.S. can be found in Minnesota
The No. 1 "easy to moderate" hiking trail in the United States can be found in Minnesota.
That's according to USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards, which placed The Devil's Kettle Trail at the top of the charts for summer hiking options.
The trail can be found in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, about a 15-mile drive northeast from Grand Marais on Minnesota's North Shore.
The two-mile hike winds its way through forest along the Brule River, taking hikers on a 400-foot climb featuring around 175 steps. It culminates with two waterfalls, one of which is the Devil's Kettle, which sees the river split into two.
"The Devil's Kettle Trail leads to a baffling natural magic trick: a waterfall that splits in two," USA Today writes. "Half the water vanishes into an underground abyss that has stumped geologists for decades."
The Minnesota DNR says that the trail "one of the most unique and rewarding hikes in the country."
"From the peaceful walk through the north woods to the view of the waterfall that seems to defy explanation, it's a place that sparks wonder and invites people to connect with nature in a very memorable way," said Erin Turner-Garza, park supervisor at Judge C.R. Magney State Park.
While the USA Today write-up notes that the waterfall has "stumped geologists for decades," DNR hydrologists in 2017 found "nearly identical volumes of water flowing both above the Devil's Kettle waterfall and below it, showing the water is likely rejoining the stream below the waterfall."

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