North Shore

Lake Superior's shore from Duluth to the Canadian border at Grand Portage, along Highway 61.

Photo: Prosthetic Head, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Planning guides

The concrete breakwater walkway leading to the white Grand Marais lighthouse, with the town shoreline behind it

Artists' Point in Grand Marais

Artists' Point in Grand Marais: where to park, what the rock point, breakwater and 1922 lighthouse are, and the wave and ice risks to check before walking out.

Lakefront campsites at the Grand Marais municipal campground beside Lake Superior in Minnesota

Camping near Grand Marais

Camping near Grand Marais, MN: the city campground, Cascade River and Judge Magney state parks, and three national forest campgrounds, with prices and booking.

Cascade River State Park

Cascade River State Park planning guide: the half-mile Cascade Falls loop, Superior Hiking Trail loops, 40 drive-in and 5 backpack campsites, winter and costs.

The Devil's Kettle on the Brule River, where half the river drops into a pothole

Devil's Kettle hike

The Devil's Kettle hike in Judge C.R. Magney State Park: distance, stairs and permits, plus what DNR hydrologists actually measured about the disappearing water.

Split Rock Lighthouse above Lake Superior on the North Shore Scenic Drive

Duluth to Grand Marais drive

Duluth to Grand Marais on Highway 61, stop by stop: Scenic 61 vs. the expressway, every state park in order, where you need a permit, and winter driving notes.

Eagle Mountain's forested ridge rising behind a lake in Cook County, Minnesota's highest point

Eagle Mountain, Minnesota's highest point

Eagle Mountain, Minnesota's highest point at 2,301 feet: trailhead directions, the 7-mile round trip, and the free Boundary Waters day permit you need.

A river winding through a valley of orange and gold fall color at Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls camping

Gooseberry Falls State Park camping: 69 non-electric sites, which part of the campground to pick, winter rules, the 120-day booking window and real costs.

Lower Gooseberry Falls pouring over dark basalt ledges in Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls trails and parking

Gooseberry Falls explained: which trail reaches the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls, how long each takes, the free visitor center lot, accessibility and winter access.

The reconstructed Grand Portage depot stockade and dock on Grand Portage Bay, seen from the Mount Rose overlook

Grand Portage National Monument guide

Grand Portage National Monument: free admission, Heritage Center and depot seasons, the Mount Rose and portage trails, and how it differs from the state park.

High Falls of the Pigeon River at Grand Portage State Park on the Minnesota-Ontario border

Grand Portage State Park guide

Grand Portage State Park planning guide: the High Falls walk, the Middle Falls hike, hours, why no permit is needed, and why you can't camp there.

The paved two-lane Gunflint Trail curving through dense green forest in northern Minnesota

Gunflint Trail drive guide

Drive the 57-mile Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais: stops by mile, Forest Service campgrounds, Chik-Wauk Museum, and what Boundary Waters permits you need.

The Sea Hunter III ferry tied up at the Grand Portage Isle Royale Lines dock in Grand Portage, Minnesota

Isle Royale ferry from Grand Portage

Isle Royale ferry from Grand Portage, MN: Voyageur II and Sea Hunter III seasons, crossing times, 2026 fares, park entrance fees, and when 2027 booking opens.

A cut and polished Lake Superior agate from Minnesota showing orange, white and tan bands around two eye-like rings

Lake Superior agates

Lake Superior agates explained: how Minnesota's state gemstone formed, how to spot one, where hunting is allowed, and why you can't take rocks from state parks.

Satellite view of all of Lake Superior in December 2018, with the first thin ice forming along its shores

Lake Superior water temperature

Lake Superior water temperature by month from NOAA's 1995-2025 satellite record, what nearshore readings near Duluth look like, and NWS cold water safety.

Two red Summit Express gondola cabins above early fall foliage in fog at Lutsen Mountains

Lutsen gondola planning guide

Lutsen's Summit Express Gondola: 2026 summer and fall dates, hours and ticket prices by age, winter sightseeing rides, what is at the top, and fall color timing.

A campsite in the new campground at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Minnesota

Minnesota state park reservations, North Shore

How Minnesota state park reservations work on the North Shore: the 120-day window, 8 a.m. opening, fees, same-day booking, cancellations and park-by-park tips.

Orange-leaved birch trees on the rocky Lake Superior shoreline along the North Shore Scenic Drive in Minnesota

North Shore fall colors

When North Shore fall colors peak, inland ridges versus the Lake Superior shoreline, how to read the DNR Fall Color Finder, and which drives and parks to plan.

Split Rock Lighthouse on its snowy cliff above an ice-covered Lake Superior shoreline in winter

North Shore in winter

What stays open on Minnesota's North Shore in winter: state park winter camping, groomed ski trail miles, ski pass and permit costs, and MnDOT 511 road checks.

Fall colors from the Misquah Trail overlook toward Lake Superior in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

North Shore state parks compared

All 8 North Shore Minnesota state parks side by side: campsites, electric hookups, cabins, winter camping, signature walk and location, from DNR data.

High Falls of the Baptism River pouring over a rock ledge in Tettegouche State Park on Minnesota's North Shore

North Shore waterfalls in driving order

Every major North Shore waterfall in driving order from Duluth, with the walk length, stairs, permit rule and park for each, from Gooseberry Falls to Grand Portage.

Dirt path through red, orange and green fall foliage on the Oberg Mountain loop near Tofte, Minnesota

Oberg Mountain trail

Oberg Mountain near Tofte: loop length, the Onion River Road trailhead and parking, the overlooks, and how to handle fall color weekend crowds.

The rhyolite cliffs of Palisade Head dropping straight into Lake Superior in Tettegouche State Park

Palisade Head road and parking

Palisade Head explained: the road up from Highway 61, the one-hour parking rule, why no permit is needed, the winter hike, cliff safety and climbing permits.

Sea stack and rocky, wooded shoreline at Shovel Point on Lake Superior in Tettegouche State Park

Shovel Point trail guide

Shovel Point in Tettegouche State Park: trail distance from the visitor center, the 300 stairs, free parking, cliff safety and the rock climbing permit.

Black Beach in Silver Bay, Minnesota, with dark sand along the Lake Superior shoreline

Silver Bay and Beaver Bay

Silver Bay and Beaver Bay, MN: where they sit between Split Rock and Tettegouche, Black Beach and its campground rates, the marina, trails and town services.

Split Rock Lighthouse on its snow-dusted cliff above Lake Superior under a pink winter sky

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park camping

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park camping: 20 cart-in sites, 46 electric sites, 4 backpack sites, costs, booking dates and how the lighthouse fee differs.

A stack of beach stones in front of Split Rock Lighthouse on its cliff above Lake Superior in Minnesota

Split Rock Lighthouse visiting guide

Split Rock Lighthouse hours by season, ticket prices, the free-parking rule, the November 10 beacon lighting, and how the historic site differs from the state park.

Lake Agnes on the Superior Hiking Trail near Lutsen, ringed by spruce and early fall color

Superior Hiking Trail day hikes

Superior Hiking Trail day hikes by trailhead: loop and point-to-point distances, Highway 61 mileposts, parking rules, shuttles and what costs money.

Temperance River State Park

Temperance River State Park planning guide: the gorge and Hidden Falls trails, Carlton Peak, 52 drive-in and 6 cart-in campsites, permit costs and seasons.

Shovel Point's cliffs on Lake Superior in Tettegouche State Park

Tettegouche State Park camping

Tettegouche State Park camping explained: drive-in, cart-in, walk-in and backpack sites, hike-in cabins, costs, and how the 120-day ReserveMN window works.

Shops and storefronts looking north on Broadway Avenue in downtown Grand Marais, Minnesota

Things to do in Grand Marais

Things to do in Grand Marais, MN, sorted by how much time you have and the season, with published hours, prices and dates from official sources.

The lake freighter James R. Barker loading iron ore at the ore docks in Agate Bay, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Two Harbors, MN: what to do

Things to do in Two Harbors, MN: the lighthouse, depot museum and ore docks, current museum hours, the Scenic 61 drive, Burlington Bay camping and nearby parks.

State parks in this region

8 state parks. Compare all 64 in the park finder.

Park	Nearest town	Camping	Details
Cascade River	Lutsen	drive-in, 5 backpack	Our guide DNR page
George Crosby Manitou	Finland	20 backpack	DNR page
Gooseberry Falls	Two Harbors	69 drive-in	Our guide DNR page
Grand Portage	Grand Marais, Minnesota and Thunder Bay, Ontario	No camping	Our guide DNR page
Judge C.R. Magney	Grand Marais	drive-in	Our guide DNR page
Split Rock Lighthouse	Two Harbors	drive-in, cart-in, backpack	Our guide DNR page
Temperance River	Schroeder	52 drive-in, 18 electric, 6 cart-in	Our guide DNR page
Tettegouche	Silver Bay	28 drive-in, 22 electric, 13 cart-in, 6 walk-in, 5 backpack, canoe-in	Our guide DNR page

Source: Minnesota DNR park data, retrieved November 11, 2026. Check the DNR page before you go.