Top Things to do on the North Shore

This could be it. Quite possibly the best place in Minnesota. After exploring the other areas outside of the Twin Cities, the North Shore really takes you to a different world. With the Superior National Forest on one side and Lake Superior on the other, the opportunities for adventure are endless. This area truly allows you to escape everyday life and connect with something other than your laptop. Together with our phenomenal friends, Maggie and Pete, and Megan’s parents, we give you some top things to do on the North Shore!

Duluth

On the drive up it is inevitable that you will hit one of the cooler towns in Minnesota- Duluth. Built on the edge of Lake Superior, it is the bustling access point into the northern wilderness that provides numerous activities in any season. We briefly stopped here to grab some brews for our trip- from Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Ursa Minor Brewing, and Duluth Cider. All were open for curbside pick-up of our favorite crowlers/growlers. And then on our way back home after the trip, we snagged some delicious lunch on the patio of Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake. Duluth is a place to spend at least three days in, so we plan on going back soon and making a more in-depth blog!

Bent Paddle headquarters!

Duluth Cider!

Ursa Minor! We got the goods!

Bent Paddle headquarters!

Duluth Cider!

Ursa Minor! We got the goods!

Lutsen Resort

Less than two hours north from Duluth on highway 61 sits the spectacular Lutsen Resort! Here is where we stayed for our weekend get-away at one of their sea villas! The one level sea villas fit six people comfortably and come with a full kitchen, fireplace, deck, and charcoal grill. But most importantly it comes with a peaceful view of Lake Superior where there is ample opportunity for rock skipping. Due to COVID-19, not all of the resort amenities were available, but they still offered plenty of complimentary activities for us to enjoy! This included morning yoga on the beach, a pitch-and-putt 9-hole golf course, disc golf, shuffleboard, and evening beach bonfires complete with s’mores supplies! We highly recommend this resort!

Lutsen Resort Main Lodge!

The view from the main lodge!

Our view from the sea villa!

Morning beach yoga to get our days started- offered by the resort!

Playing the pitch & putt 9-hole resort course!

Rock stacking competition!

Enjoying the beach bonfires every night!

Lutsen Resort Main Lodge!

The view from the main lodge!

Our view from the sea villa!

Morning beach yoga to get our days started- offered by the resort!

Playing the pitch & putt 9-hole resort course!

Rock stacking competition!

Enjoying the beach bonfires every night!

Cascade River State Park

Our first evening we couldn’t wait to get out and hike, so we drove about 15 minutes north to Cascade River State Park. We completed the roughly 8-mile Cascade River Loop Trail in about three hours with multiple stops for amazing pictures and dinner. This trail is actually a part of the Superior Hiking Trail and has a ton of changes in elevation. It was definitely an awesome initiation to the weekend!

Cascade River State Park!

We found what this park is known for!

Quick stop by the river for dinner!

Just a glimpse at how fast these rivers move!

One last shot of Cascade River before sunset!

Cascade River State Park!

We found what this park is known for!

Quick stop by the river for dinner!

Just a glimpse at how fast these rivers move!

One last shot of Cascade River before sunset!

Grand Marais

The following morning, we cruised up highway 61 for 30 minutes to the neat little town of Grand Marais for breakfast. Our first stop- caffeine. We hit Java Moose for some frilly coffee drinks that were quite good. Our second stop- sugar. We meandered a few blocks further into downtown and found World’s Best Donuts. This is a small shack dishing out exactly what you’re looking for in classic donuts, along with a special “skizzle” flat donut! We came back to Grand Marais throughout the weekend to purchase more growlers at Voyageur Brewing Company and to have dinner at Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza. If you choose wisely, like everyone else besides Megan, the pizzas were bomb! I recommend the Barbarian pizza to go with your Sydnami (basically a custard version of a DQ blizzard). And the custard was truly outstanding! 

First stop… caffeine

The skizzle!!!

Voyageur Brewing for some growlers!

Eating some awesome pizzas on the shore!

Crushing some Sydnamis!

First stop… caffeine

The skizzle!!!

Voyageur Brewing for some growlers!

Eating some awesome pizzas on the shore!

Crushing some Sydnamis!

Judge C.R. Magney State Park

After our sugary breakfast, we had a short 15-minute drive up to the next hike- Devil’s Kettle Trail. Located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, this is a pretty simple two mile out and back trek to a beautiful cascading waterfall. The only difficult part to this hike is coming back up the nearly 200 stairs that led to the falls!

Judge CR Magney State Park!

Cross the river to get to the trail!

What goes down must come up!

We found the Devil’s Kettle!

Taking in the mist from the waterfall!

Sitting on the edge of the kettle!

Judge CR Magney State Park!

Cross the river to get to the trail!

What goes down must come up!

We found the Devil’s Kettle!

Taking in the mist from the waterfall!

Sitting on the edge of the kettle!

Mount Josephine Trail

The strategy from Devil’s Kettle was to travel another 30 minutes north to glimpse the High Falls in Grand Portage State Park, located right on the Canadian-Minnesotan border. Unfortunately, this park was still closed due to COVID-19 as it is on an Indian Reservation. With our plans slightly derailed at this point we drove back to try and find our next hike- Mount Josephine. It took some time as there’s no service this far up north and no trailhead signs leading you in the right direction! Eventually, we decided to park at a bus lot on the right-hand side of the road that comes up just before a scenic overlook turn off. It looked somewhat right? We wandered around the end of the guard rail at mile marker 147 and down into a grassy trail that looked more appropriate for 4-wheelers. About 0.25 miles in there is a chance to go left on the trail or stay straight. Of course, we stayed straight, got lost-ish, and received some help from a conservation officer who was not too happy to see us. A 2.5 mile out and back hike turned into a 5-6-mile journey, but we made it to the top of Mount Josephine! And awaiting us there were phenomenal views of the forest, Grand Portage Bay, Lake Superior, the Susie Islands, and even Isle Royale. Definitely worth it. So, if you go on the trail, please take that left turn a quarter mile in! It will look overgrown, but that’s just how it is! 

Here’s the view from the scenic overlook up in Grand Portage!

And here’s the obscure path we took to the Mount Josephine Trail!

And we eventually made it to the top!

Greeted with stunning lake views!

Along with gorgeous views of the forest!

Here’s the view from the scenic overlook up in Grand Portage!

And here’s the obscure path we took to the Mount Josephine Trail!

And we eventually made it to the top!

Greeted with stunning lake views!

Along with gorgeous views of the forest!

Eagle Mountain Trail

Since we didn’t make it to technically the highest falls in Minnesota, the next day we gathered ourselves and were determined to reach the highest peak in Minnesota- Eagle Mountain! This nearly 7 mile out and back trail is within Superior National Forest, about a 40-minute drive inland from Lutsen. It leads you through a very fun rocky and rooty path near a tranquil lake until you start a consistent climb to the 2,300 ft peak! The two overlook views you get before you even reach the top are magnificent, but unfortunately the peak has no view and tons of gnats. We stayed at the top long enough for each person in our group to enjoy a beer and then hightailed it out of there. 

Off to Eagle Mountain the next morning!

Quarter of the way there!

A brilliant view from almost the top!

A classic crew

We made it to the highest point in Minnesota!

Off to Eagle Mountain the next morning!

Quarter of the way there!

A brilliant view from almost the top!

A classic crew

We made it to the highest point in Minnesota!

Caribou Lake

Sunday morning brought more beach yoga for a perfect start to the day! Oh, and we forgot to tell you- Lutsen Resort also provides complimentary guided kayaking tours! Just go in the main lodge and sign up at the activities desk. We were disappointed that none of their guides had been trained on Lake Superior yet so we couldn’t go out on the big pond, but instead they led us to an awesome spot called Caribou Lake! Our guide was very knowledgeable and knew his skillset very well. He brought us around the lake for almost three hours and it was splendid to work out our arms for a change! 

Morning kayaking on Caribou Lake!

We were pretty excited.

Morning kayaking on Caribou Lake!

We were pretty excited.

Tettegouche State Park

Going 30 minutes south of Lutsen after our kayaking adventure, we spent our afternoon navigating our way through Tettegouche State Park. And there is a reason it is ranked as one of the top two parks in Minnesota. Holy cow is it beautiful. We started on the High Falls Trail which led us to the highest waterfall within the Minnesota borders (and it is amazing), then stopped by Two Step Falls on our way along the Baptism River to the mouth of the river. From here we turned left and made our way out to the end of Shovel Point to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Crystal Bay Beach. But even the views to the south were just as stunning. Heading back to the parking lot the same way we came made our hike roughly seven miles.

Making our way through Tettegouche State Park!

I think we could all be REI models.

The High Falls!

The view to the south on the way to Shovel Point!

A view of Crystal Bay from Shovel Point!

Making our way through Tettegouche State Park!

I think we could all be REI models.

The High Falls!

The view to the south on the way to Shovel Point!

A view of Crystal Bay from Shovel Point!

Temperance River State Park

The final morning, we left our sea villa and decided to put in one more hike at Temperance River State Park. It’s located maybe 10-15 minutes south of Lutsen and the sign for the entrance to the park really only brings you to the campground. You have to park in a small lot basically across the highway from the entrance in order to start any kind of hiking. We did the Carlton Peak via Superior Hiking Trail, a 7 mile out and back trail that was well worth it. It initially leads you along the edge of the roaring Temperance River until you cut into the forest. Near the very end you will do some easy scrambling up to Carlton Peak and follow the sign that says “Summit”. You reach a nice cliff overlook of the forest but our other hikes this weekend had much better views. 

Temperance River State Park!

The Temperance River

The trail led us along the river for a bit until…

We made it to Carlton Peak for one last overlook!

Temperance River State Park!

The Temperance River

The trail led us along the river for a bit until…

We made it to Carlton Peak for one last overlook!

The North Shore is a very unique area in Minnesota and we’ve only just begun to experience the edges of this wilderness. It is hard to believe the rolling farmland from the rest of the state can turn into rocky bluffs and waterfalls- you have to see it for yourself. The vastness of the world’s largest freshwater lake will leave you in awe. And the never-ending lush of Superior National Forest will keep you inspired for your next adventure!

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