Minnesota’s North Shore is the perfect place to spend a week—or two—especially in fall when sporting its colorful leaves. From Duluth to the Canadian border, Highway 61 hugs Lake Superior and delivers a steady stream of lighthouses, waterfalls, and charming small towns. With easy side trips to Bayfield and the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin and even a boat ride to Isle Royale in Michigan, you’re never short on adventures. Just be warned: October weather can get wild!
Duluth
Where to Stay:
I always book a lakeview room with a deck at the Inn on Lake Superior. Bonus: nightly s’mores by the “campfire.” It also has bikes you can rent to explore the boardwalk out back. If that’s full, any hotel on the boardwalk is worth the splurge.
What to Do:
Stroll the boardwalk, wave at boats as the lift bridge rises, and watch ships roll in from the harbor. You’ll pass by families with dogs, seagull-feeders, clip-clopping carriage horses, bikers in those hilarious multi-person carriages, and lots of people eating ice cream. Don’t miss the free Maritime Museum by the bridge—it’s surprisingly cool—and definitely wave at the crew as the big freighters come and go.
Be sure to catch the high bridge after dark. It lights up the night like a glowing ribbon over the water. Spectacular!
Road Trip: Up the North Shore
Highway 61 takes you up the shoreline. It used to be more scenic, but the trees have gotten a little too ambitious. Still, it’s a gorgeous drive with stops well worth pulling over for.
Two Harbors Lighthouse:
The lighthouse itself is now a bed and breakfast.
But take a walk out on the breakwater to a pierhead light (weather permitting—one wave nearly swept me off the breakwater!).
Betty’s Pies:
Mandatory stop. At least for dessert. No excuses.
Gooseberry Falls:
Start at the Visitor Center and pick up a trail map. The Upper, Middle, and Lower falls are easy to reach, but if you’re up for a hike, continue to Fifth Falls or take the River View Trail for scenic overlooks. People swim, wade, and—if water levels are low—walk right across the river. Stairs and a walkway get you to the river’s edge.
Split Rock Lighthouse:
Take the self-guided tour. The fog signal building has boilers that once used to blast foghorns when visibility was low. Climb the lighthouse and watch the reenactor reset the massive lamp weight by hand every hour. Don’t miss the walk down the steep steps to the lake past the overlook—then take the trail loop back to your car.
Palisade Head & Tettegouche State Park:
Palisade offers jaw-dropping views of Lake Superior (hang onto your vertigo!).
Tettegouche is next door, and we hiked about three miles round-trip to see High Falls along the Baptism River and climbed the stairs to the bottom. The stairs are brutal, but sitting on a sun-warmed rock in the middle of a river makes it totally worth it. The hike to Two Step Falls is a bit more forgiving.
Temperance River State Park:
Great hikes and waterfall views here, too. We took the riverside trail to Hidden Falls, then climbed up to a bridge and found even more falls upstream. The path includes some rocky stairs—moderate but not terrible.
Along the way to Grand Marais, stop at Beaver Bay and visit the Indian mound where John Beargrease is buried.
Grand Marais
A super cute, artsy town. Eat at the Angry Trout (cheesebread = yes), walk out to the little lighthouse, and shop your way around. Be sure to check out Sivertson Gallery—I saw some stunning Jim Brandenburg photos there. Walk around Artist’s Point or walk out to the lighthouse.
We stayed at the Harbor View Inn, which offered a balcony with stunning harbor views.
For a real treat, drive north to Naniboujou Lodge, decorated with vibrant Cree Indian designs. Their raspberry cheesecake is still living rent-free in my brain.
Cascade River State Park:
A 300-foot walk brings you to Cascade Falls. We met a woman carrying a Bichon Frise under her arm (as one does) who tipped us off about more waterfalls up the trail. Two staircases later, we were rewarded with three vertical cascades—worth the thigh burn!
Judge Magney State Park:
Hike to Devil’s Kettle, where half the river mysteriously disappears into a giant pothole. Scientists have dumped dye in and never found where it comes out. The hike is around 2.25 miles along the Brule River, and it’s a gentle trek with the constant soundtrack of rushing water.
Grand Portage
Grand Portage National Monument:
Grand Portage is located on an Indian reservation and is sparsely populated with lodging. Stay at the Grand Portage Casino.
Visit the Grand Portage National Monument, a fort where the Northwest Company’s fur traders used to be based.
High Falls on the Pigeon River
After visiting the old fur trading fort, head to Grand Portage State Park to see Minnesota’s highest waterfall—High Falls on the Pigeon River. At 120 feet tall, it straddles the U.S.-Canada border, and you can literally wave to the Canadians across the river. The boardwalk to the falls is just a half-mile and fully accessible.
Boat Trip to Isle Royale
We took the Wenonah ferry from the Grand Portage Indian Reservation to Isle Royale—three hours each way, and so cold I thought my nose froze. (Note: wearing only a sweatsuit and hat = rookie mistake.) En route, we passed the Suzie Islands, the Witch’s Tree, and the sunken ship America.
At Windigo, we visited the Nature Center, hiked a mile, and spotted moose droppings and prints… then saw a real moose in the water across the bay.
On the ride back, we glimpsed the Rock of Ages Lighthouse, which stands 5 miles offshore and has shipwrecks around it.
Bayfield & the Apostle Islands (Bonus Detour)
Heading out of Duluth? Swing by Bayfield, Wisconsin—less than two hours away.
Where to Stay:
Old Rittenhouse Inn. Classic and cozy.
Or…
The Isaac Wing House. A historic B&B within walking distance of the pier.
Things to Do:
Take a scenic boat cruise to see several of the Apostle Islands’ eight historic lighthouses. You can catch a boat cruise from the docks or charter a sailboat.
We once chartered a sailboat and got up close to some remote lighthouses.
The skipper took us to see whatever we wanted to. We even got off at Raspberry Island and took a tour of the lighthouse. I even got to steer the boat for a bit!
Or take the ferry to Madeline Island, rent a scooter or bike, and explore the museum, heritage center, and old schoolhouse.
Wish List:
Still hoping to kayak to the sea caves someday.
Bonus: Quick Trip to Canada
We crossed into Canada for a mini-adventure in Thunder Bay.
Highlights:
Digging amethysts at Amethyst Mine Panorama (I took home $12 worth of amethysts I personally dug up)…
…visiting Kakabeka Falls (Ontario’s second highest waterfall)…
…and dropping by Fort William during Rendezvous Days.
When we re-entered the U.S., the border guard chuckled at our “purple sparkly rocks.”
If you like lighthouses, waterfalls, road trips, and a little bit of mystery, Minnesota’s North Shore delivers the goods—and then some.
See some additional information at these prior blog posts:
Sound off if you’ve visited any of these sites or want to visit these sites in the comments. Any other places along the North Shore worth a visit?