Shovel Point trail guide

This guide covers the walk itself, what the stairs and boardwalks are for, where you can and cannot go on the cliffs, and how rock climbing works at Shovel Point. It is for anyone stopping on a Highway 61 drive with an hour to spare, and for climbers sorting out the permit. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR; sources are listed at the end.

Shovel Point at a glance

The DNR does not say whether the itinerary's 1.2 miles is one way or round trip. The park map's figure is labeled "one-way," and 0.6 miles each way is 1.2 miles out and back, so plan on at least 1.2 miles of walking in total. (For comparison, the same itinerary lists High Falls as 3 miles, while the park map gives the High Falls Trail as 1.5 miles one way.)

The walk from the visitor center

The DNR's North Shore waterfall itinerary gives the route: leave the visitor center "through the lakeside doors" and take the shoreline trail to the left. The trail "weaves between cliff tops and the nearshore forest" and ends at the tip of the point.

According to the Tettegouche park map, you end "at the tip of the point" with a view of Palisade Head to the west. The DNR climbing map marks a sea stack overlook near the start of the trail and the "End of Shovel Point" overlook at the far tip.

The stairs and boardwalks

The DNR counts 300 stair steps on the trail. It says the stairs and boardwalks "have been installed to protect the fragile cliff top soils and plants." That is the reason to stay on them: the thin soil on top of the rock is easily worn away.

This is a short walk, but not a flat one. The DNR lists the surface as uneven terrain, wooden stairs and boardwalk, and gravel. Anyone who has trouble with steps should plan for the climb back as well as the walk out.

What you are standing on

The DNR's geology notes for the park say Palisade Head and Shovel Point are "spectacular examples" of the lava flows that formed the North Shore about 1.1 billion years ago. Both are made of rhyolite, which the DNR describes as "a light-colored volcanic rock that contrasts with the more common, dark basalt along the rest of the shore."

The park map suggests watching for peregrine falcons in summer. The DNR lists the park as home to them.

Cliff safety rules

The park map's safety list is short and direct:

• "There are cliffs. Keep small children close and be aware of surroundings."
• "Please stay on trails."
• "Swimming at the park can be dangerous. River and lake conditions are unpredictable."
• In an emergency, call 911.

Pets are welcome on a leash of six feet or less, and you need to pick up after them, per the park map. The DNR's state park rules say landing any aircraft, drones included, is unlawful within state park boundaries, so plan on photos from the trail, not the air.

Rock climbing at Shovel Point

Tettegouche is one of five Minnesota state parks open to rock climbing, according to the DNR park record. The DNR Tettegouche climbing map splits climbing between two areas, Shovel Point and Palisade Head:

The map says to "refer to guidebooks for exact ranges." The key rules from that DNR climbing guide, which is dated 2017 and is still the climbing guide linked from the Tettegouche park page as of November 2026:

• Permit: climbing is "allowed by permit only." Permits are free and "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. The DNR's current state park rules page confirms that climbing is allowed "only in designated areas and only by permit."
• Groups: schools, camps and businesses that guide or instruct need a commercial climbing permit, with insurance certification and at least one week's notice.
• Where: "Climb in designated areas only. Check park kiosks or online for current closures." Routes with closed signs are "closed for a reason, usually due to unsafe conditions or sensitive natural resources."
• Gear: the DNR endorses "clean climbing." Protection must be placed and removed by hand "without altering the rock." If you use chalk, use a neutral color.
• Shared space: don't leave gear unattended to hold a climb (rangers may move it), and don't tie pets up along the path while you climb.

The climbing guide also states that the State of Minnesota "does not rate climbing locations, routes or conditions, or determine their safety." Hikers on the trail should expect to see climbers on the cliff, and the DNR's own short-visit suggestion mentions "rock climbers in action."

Parking, fees and hours

Parking is free at the visitor center. The park map says vehicle permits are required "EXCEPT at the Tettegouche Visitor Center parking lot." State law backs this up: Minnesota Statutes 85.054 says a permit is not required "for the class I rest area parking area at Tettegouche State Park." Part of the visitor center building is a rest area open 24 hours a day, per the DNR.

Everywhere else in the park, including the campground and inland trailheads, you need a state park vehicle permit: $7 for one day or $35 for a year. The same statute lets you drive up to Palisade Head without a permit if you park there for no more than one hour.

Hours: the park is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The visitor center and nature store are open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, and weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. from mid-October to mid-May, according to the DNR contact listing. The visitor center has an EV charging station that is free to use.

Late-fall hunt closure

As of November 2026, the DNR's park alert (updated November 2, 2026) covers a special firearm deer hunt from November 7 to November 22, 2026. Everything on the inland side of Highway 61 is closed to visitors without a hunt permit. The lake side stays open with no hunting allowed, and the DNR lists Shovel Point, the visitor center and Palisade Head as open. The DNR asks visitors during the hunt to wear blaze orange or blaze pink.

Shovel Point compared with nearby stops

All three of these start from or near the Tettegouche visitor center, per the DNR park map and park record:

If you have more time, see our Palisade Head guide and the Tettegouche State Park camping guide.

Before you go

1. Park at the visitor center. No permit needed in that lot.
2. Plan 1.2 miles round trip with 300 steps. Wear shoes with grip, since the DNR describes the terrain as uneven.
3. Keep kids close. The trail runs along a clifftop the whole way, and the DNR's rule is to keep small children close.
4. Bring water. As of November 2026, the DNR says park water is off for the season, with potable water for bottles at the visitor center.
5. Climbing? Pick up the free annual permit at the park office or the climbers lot self-registration station, and check current closures first.
6. Check alerts. The DNR park page lists hunts and trail damage before you leave.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota hikes and waterfalls · Palisade Head · Tettegouche State Park camping · Silver Bay and Beaver Bay · Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park (park information, trails, alerts, contact): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00269
• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park map and guide (PDF, 2025): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00269.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Tettegouche State Park climbing areas and climbing information (PDF, 2017): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00269_climb.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, North Shore waterfall itinerary: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/itineraries/north-shore-waterfall-itinerary.html
• Minnesota DNR, State park rules: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/rules.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Statutes 85.054, State park permit exemptions: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/85.054