Palisade Head road and parking

Palisade Head is a separate stop from the rest of Tettegouche, about 1.5 miles from the visitor center (the starting point for Shovel Point and High Falls), and the permit rules are different at each.

This guide covers getting up there, parking, what changes in winter, cliff safety and rock climbing. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR and Minnesota Statutes. Sources are at the end.

Getting there: the road up

The DNR's directions are short: "Drive to the top of Palisade Head (short hike in winter) for panoramic views of Lake Superior. Access Palisade Head from Highway 61, about 1.5 miles SW of visitor center." The DNR's North Shore waterfall itinerary says to "look for the Palisade Head parking lot and road about 1.5 miles southwest of Tettegouche State Park."

The DNR's Tettegouche climbing map shows how it is laid out:

• A lower lot, "Lower Palisade Head," right off Highway 61 at the bottom of the road.
• A road up to a second lot at the top, next to the overlook.

The DNR does not publish a length or vehicle-size limit for the road. If you are towing a trailer or driving a large RV, call the park (218-353-8800) before trying it. For the full drive up the shore, see Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop.

Parking and permits: the one-hour rule

Palisade Head has its own line in state law. Minnesota Statutes 85.054, subdivision 7 says:

"A state park permit is not required and a fee may not be charged for motor vehicle entry at Palisade Head in Tettegouche State Park, provided that motor vehicles entering the park under this provision may not be parked at Palisade Head for more than one hour."

How that compares with the rest of Tettegouche:

If you want more than an hour at Palisade Head (a long photo session, a picnic, a climbing day), plan on a permit or move on. A state park vehicle permit is $7 for a day or $35 for a year, per the DNR permit page. The statute does not say whether a permit lifts the one-hour limit, so ask park staff if it matters to your plans.

When you can go

• Park hours: Tettegouche State Park is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, per the DNR.
• Winter: the DNR says to "drive to the top of Palisade Head (short hike in winter)." It does not give the length of the walk up. Expect a snowy or icy road on foot, and wear traction.
• Alerts: check the DNR park page before you go.
• Hunting season, as of November 2026 (November 7 to 22, 2026): Tettegouche is running a special firearm deer hunt on the inland side of Highway 61. The DNR lists Palisade Head among the lakeside areas that stay open, with no hunting allowed. The DNR asks visitors to wear blaze orange or blaze pink.

Cliff-edge safety

Palisade Head is an open cliff top, and the rock drops straight into Lake Superior. The DNR's guidance for Tettegouche:

• "There are cliffs. Keep small children close and be aware of surroundings."
• "Hiking trails cross rugged and difficult terrain, use caution."
• "Wear good hiking shoes (not flip flops)."
• "Swimming at the park can be dangerous. River and lake conditions are unpredictable."
• Pets must be on a leash six feet or shorter.

Practical additions for a cliff top: keep back from the edge when the rock is wet or icy, and watch for climbers' ropes and anchors near the edge. The DNR climbing guide notes that climbing "puts climbers in direct contact with other park visitors."

Rock climbing at Palisade Head

Tettegouche is "one of five state parks available for rock climbing," according to the DNR. Its climbing map names five areas at Palisade Head:

The rules, from the same DNR guide:

• Permit required, and free. "Climbing is allowed by permit only. Permits are free and are good for one calendar year." Get one at the park office or the climbers' parking lot self-registration station. You need a separate permit for each park where you climb.
• Groups (schools, camps, guiding businesses) need a commercial climbing permit, with insurance and at least one week's notice.
• Clean climbing: in all but very limited, pre-approved cases, protection must be placed and removed by hand without altering the rock.
• Respect closures: "Routes with closed signs are closed for a reason."
• Liability: the state does not rate routes or certify climbers, and "is not liable if a climber is hurt or killed."

The DNR says to direct climbing policy questions to the park. Shovel Point, at the other end of the visitor center trail, also has climbing anchors and platforms; see the Shovel Point guide.

What you're looking at

The DNR describes Palisade Head and Shovel Point as "spectacular examples" of lava flows about 1.1 billion years old. Both are made of rhyolite, "a light-colored volcanic rock that contrasts with the more common, dark basalt along the rest of the shore." The two headlands face each other: the DNR's Shovel Point trail description ends at the tip of the point, with a view of Palisade Head to the west.

How it fits a Tettegouche visit

As of a November 2, 2026 DNR update, the bottom of the steps at the base of High Falls and Two Step Falls has washed out, and the Cascade Trail is closed beyond its first half mile.

Before you go

1. Plan under one hour at the top, or buy a permit.
2. Call the park first if you are towing or driving a large RV.
3. In winter, park below and walk up; bring traction.
4. Keep children and dogs well back from the edge.
5. Climbers: pick up the free annual climbing permit first.
6. Check the DNR park page for alerts.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota hikes and waterfalls · Tettegouche State Park camping · Silver Bay and Beaver Bay · North Shore waterfalls, in driving order

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park (directions to Palisade Head, hours, alerts, geology, climbing): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00269
• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park map and guide (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00269.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park climbing areas and climbing information (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00269_climb.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, North Shore waterfall tour, weekend itinerary: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/itineraries/north-shore-waterfall-itinerary.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota Statutes 85.054, subd. 7, Tettegouche State Park: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/85.054