The North Shore of Minnesota is a truly scenic area in an already beautiful state. I’ve got the details for how to spend a perfect weekend up north.
I grew up in the Twin Cities and aside from visiting family in Nebraska, going to the North Shore of Minnesota was the only other regular trip with my family during my childhood. This area of Northern Minnesota holds a special place in my heart, and I’m here to share tips to have a memorable weekend.
Where is the North Shore of Minnesota?
The North Shore of Minnesota is the most northeast region of the state that sits along the shores of Lake Superior. Minnesota’s North Shore extends from Duluth up to Grand Portage and the Canadian border along Highway 61, also known as the North Shore Scenic Drive.
How do you get to the North Shore of Minnesota?
From the Twin Cities, you can either drive north on I35 or fly to Duluth, then rent a car. The drive from the Cities is about 3 hours to Duluth. From Duluth expect to drive another 30-90 minutes depending on which city is your final destination.
Driving to North Shore Lake Superior
Keep in mind, Minnesotans are very big on heading “up north” in the summer (which means pretty much anywhere in the state north of Minneapolis and St Paul) to go to cabins or lake resorts for the weekend. Summer Fridays are standard at a lot of Minnesota companies and traffic can get really bad starting at 11am.
The other thing to note is we have a saying in Minnesota, there are two seasons: winter and road construction. Between construction and cabin traffic, expect the drive to take longer during the summer season.
Flying to the North Shore
The flight time from MSP to Duluth is only an hour, of which you spend half that time taxiing on the runway. If spending a lot of time driving through rural Minnesota isn’t your idea of fun, consider taking the puddle jumper north. However, you’ll still need to rent a car to enjoy visiting the Lake Superior North Shore.
What is there to do along the North Shore of Minnesota?
Visit the State Parks
Minnesota has 64 state parks with 8 in the North Shore of Lake Superior alone. If you only have time to visit a few, below are my three favorites.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Located 15 minutes north of Two Harbors, Gooseberry Falls is the most visited state park in Minnesota and for good reason. The park is free to visit and is famous for its multiple waterfalls along the Gooseberry River.
The park has miles of walking/hiking trails, bike trails and in the winter cross country and snowmobile trails. Most of the waterfalls are accessible for all, but the views of the lower falls and across the river require stair access. Most of the trails are considered “easy”.
Within the park there are almost 300 combined species of bird, mammals, reptiles and amphibians native to the park. The visitor center has a markerboard sharing recent animal sightings for some of the more popular birds and animals.
To enjoy the full falls experience plan a minimum of 60-90 minutes to see the three different falls locations and enjoy the trails.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Just 10 minutes north of Gooseberry Falls is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and historic center.
There are two areas to the park, the state park and lighthouse visitor center. The state park requires a parking permit and includes hiking trails with beach access to Lake Superior and various campgrounds. The visitor center is run by the Minnesota Historical society and has historical information and direct access to the lighthouse and grounds. You can pay $8 for basic grounds access or for $15 you can climb the lighthouse and walk through all the accessible buildings on the grounds.
Unless you really want to climb the lighthouse, the ‘grounds only’ access was plenty for our group. You will still be able to walk around the lighthouse and get the views of the lake. Make sure to walk the path down to the pump house to see the famous view of the lighthouse from shore. This is a quintessential view of the North Shore of Minnesota.
Tickets for regular admissions do not need to be purchased in advance, but recommended for tours. Review admissions information or buy specialty tour tickets here.
Tettegouche State Park
Of the three parks mentioned in this post, Tettegouche is my favorite and often overlooked in favor of Gooseberry Falls.
Tettegouche State Park is 15 minutes north of Split Rock Lighthouse. This state park has 23 miles of hiking trails, many of which are also available in the winter for cross country skiing or snowmobiling. The hiking trails range from moderate to difficult, however I think it is really dependent on your level of physical fitness and abilities. I personally think the High Falls hike, even at 3 miles, is pretty easy compared to just walking around Seattle, let alone any trail I’ve ever been on in Washington.
If you only have time for one hike here, you have to hike the trail along the Baptism River to the high falls. **IMPORTANT NOTE** There used to be two ways to access the falls, either drive to a parking lot and take the shorter hike to cross the river to the falls, or park at the visitor center and hike along the river. The bridge across the river was washed away in 2022 so the trail no longer allows you to cross above the falls. Park at the visitor center (or in the lower parking lot) then follow the signs to access the high falls.
This trail is 3 miles round trip. The first mile has minimal elevation gain, but once you get closer to the falls there are a number of stairs. The same goes for getting to the river below, these are only accessed by stairs. If you have mobility issues, this is likely not the journey for you. However, we saw people of all ages along the path, and my 7mo pregnant friend was able to complete the journey just fine.
In addition to the bridge, the platform at the bottom of the steps closest to the falls were also wiped away due to flooding. You can still climb down to the river, but not as easily as in the past.
Palisade Head
For a quick bonus stop between Split Rock and Tettegouche, just north of Silver Bay, stop at Palisade Head. This is a very short (approx. half mile trail) that ends at a rock cliff overlooking Lake Superior. If you’re brave, this is an extremely popular spot for rock climbers along the North Shore of Minnesota. If you’re not that adventurous it is still cool to see them connect in and head down the rock face.
A couple of notes:
- The parking lot is very small (maybe 10 cars max) and is just a pullout on the side of the highway. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it situation.
- There are no guard rails or barriers on the rock cliff, enter at your own risk.
Grand Portage State Park
For anyone planning to venture further north up near the Canadian border, you’ll find Grand Portage State Park as well as the Grand Portage National Monument. Keep in mind this is a 2+ hour drive from Two Harbors, but only 45 minutes north of Grand Marais.
The Grand Portage State Park is located right along the Pigeon River which divides Minnesota from Ontario Canada.
The Grand Portage National Monument is along Lake Superior in the heart of the Grand Portage Reservation. This site showcases the history of the fur trade and celebrates the culture of the local Anishinaabe tribe.
If interested in National Parks check out What to Know about Visiting the Mammoth Cave National Park
Take the Gondola at Lutsen Mountain
If you aren’t big on hiking, but still want a taste of nature, take a ride in the Summit Express Gondola at Lutsen Mountain. The gondola has limited available weekend dates in May and officially opens early June, and runs through mid-October.
There are two main viewpoints, one to the right and left of the gondola exit. To the right, are the sweeping views of trees. This is best viewed during the changing of the seasons with fall foliage. To the left you have views of Lake Superiors.
There is also a chalet at the top of the mountain to have drinks (including beer) or lunch while you enjoy the lake views.
Adult tickets cost $29 per person. Check available dates and tickets here.
During the main summer months (June-August) the alpine slide is also open and can be combined with the gondola.
If you’re planning to visit in the winter, Lutsen is one of the most popular ski resorts in Minnesota.
Visit Duluth
Duluth is not only the largest city in Northern MN, it is also the 4th largest city in the state. You could spend a whole weekend just in Duluth without heading further north. If you only have time for a quick visit, either before heading further north, or driving back to the cities, stop by Canal Park.
Canal Park features a number of restaurants, including the long standing Grandma’s Saloon & Grill. But the main attraction is the walking to the North Pier Lighthouse and Aerial Lift Bridge raise for the large shipping barges heading out to the Superior. Beware this area is extremely windy and can be very cold.
If you cross over the lift bridge to the nearby island, you can enjoy Minnesota Point and Shore and its soft sandy beach compared to much of the nearby rocky coastline.
Where to eat and drink along the North Shore of Minnesota
Rustic Inn Cafe
The Rustic Inn Cafe is one of the best restaurants along highway 61. This is a short drive south of Gooseberry Falls. The food here is fantastic and they have a huge selection of pies.
The major issue with this establishment is that they are severely understaffed. For example, we arrived at 2:30 on a saturday. It took over 45 minutes to get on the list and to be seated. By the time we left it was 4:30 in the afternoon.
I still strongly recommend the food, but be prepared to wait. They do have a large gift shop attached to the restaurant that is fun to browse while you wait.
Betty’s Pies
Just north of Two Harbors is Betty’s Pies, an institution on the Minnesota North Shore for nearly 70 years. This is your quintessential 50s diner and not much has changed.
Betty’s has streamlined the pie-to-go process much better than the Rustic Inn. They have a separate outdoor window for order or online pick up so as not to hold up the inside diners.
*Editor’s note: I had pie at both locations, but I have never really been a pie person, so I can’t give a fair opinion on which has better pies. While I tried pie at both establishments, I did not eat the same style for comparison. That said, if you like pie, there’s something for everyone at either restaurant.
Cascade Restaurant & Pub
For anyone venturing further north between Lutsen and Grand Marais this is one of the few options available. I loved the setting with views out to the water, and the staff was extremely friendly. My food was not great (the steak was undercooked). My friends enjoyed their food, so I think I honestly just ordered wrong. This is the kind of place where you get a burger or fish & chips, but not a nicer entree.
The kitchen closes at 8pm and the bar shuts down closer to 9.
Castle Danger Brewery
Castle Danger Cream Ale is a favorite micro brew not just in the MN North Shore, but throughout Minnesota. Stop by their tasting room in Two Harbors to try the cream ale or one of their many other tasty beers.
The brewery does not serve food, however you can bring your own to enjoy or order from one of the rotating food trucks. Check the schedule to see which trucks will be on site and when.
Where to stay along the North Shore of Minnesota
Two Harbors
Two Harbors is roughly 30 minutes north of Duluth, and the next largest city north of Duluth. This is the best location for proximity to restaurants, shops and multiple lodging options. It is also a very short drive to the state parks listed above. The town is located right on the shores of Lake Superior with a number of public beaches.
Grand Superior Lodge
One of the largest, and most popular resorts in the area is the Grand Superior Lodge. While the address is listed as Two Harbors, it is 15 minutes north of the city center, near the Rustic Inn Cafe.
This resort sits right along the shore of Lake Superior. They offer lodge rooms as well as 1-4 bedroom log homes for larger groups or guests looking for more privacy.
Lutsen
Lutsen is less of a town and mostly a resort area. Aside from the lodging, ski facilities and a nearby general store, there’s not much else nearby in terms of food or shops. That said, the resorts here are well immersed in nature and also include additional hospitality features like pools and gym space.
During my most recent trip, my girlfriends and I found a great deal to stay at the Eagle Ridge Resort at Lutsen Mountain. We reserved a 2 bed suite, which came with a full equipped kitchen, (2) queen beds and a bunk bed between the two bedrooms. This allowed each of us to have our own beds. There are also a balconies overlooking a creek and the Summit Mountains as well as the gondola.
For winter visits, Eagle Ridge is the closest of the Lutsen resorts to the ski lifts. You can basically walk from your building to the lift or gondola.
Duluth
Due to the size of the city, Duluth has the most options for hotels and lodging however, you’ll need to plan to spend quite a bit of time driving on the North Shore Scenic Byway to get to and from the superior hiking trails of the nearby state parks.
One of the highest rated, and more recently updated hotels in Duluth is Fitger’s Inn. This hotel sits on the waterfront and is a short drive to both the main downtown corridor and Canal Park.
FAQs
How many state parks are on the North Shore of Minnesota?
Minnesota has 64 state parks with 8 along the North Shore of Minnesota
Where does the north shore scenic drive start and end?
The North Shore Scenic Drive is the stretch of Highway 61 also known as Voyager Highway, that runs from Duluth up to the Canadian border in Grand Portage Minnesota.
What is the best time of the year to visit Lake Superior?
The time of year really depends on what you plan to do. For hiking and outdoor exploration, you’ll want to visit from late spring through fall. The North Shore of Minnesota, along Lake Superior experiences beautiful fall foliage from mid-September through early October. But the area is also very active in the winter for downhill skiing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Just prepare for the cold!
Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. What does that mean you ask? I may earn a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra. These links also help fund and support my page.
