Looking for the perfect midwest fall road trip? Look no further: Minnesota's North Shore has it all!
Minnesota's North Shore is your road trip destination this fall. From Duluth to Grand Portage, scenic 61 highway is an easy drive (seriously, everything is on the same main road) with so many must-stops. There is plenty to do for the leaf peepers, window shoppers, and hikers up north! If you only take one thing from this, HIKE THE OBERG MOUNTAIN LOOP!
Trip Itinerary
See it all in one weekend: Minnesota's North Shore in 3 days
The BIG Version
Day One: Begin your morning in the bustling town of Duluth, MN. Walk Canal Park's lakewalk and take in all the downtown vibes. When you are ready, begin your drive up the North Shore. Stop at Russ Kendall's Smoke House for the famous smoked fish. (Hot Tip: Don't enjoy a picnic of fish, cheese, and crackers in your car on the road... That smoked fish smell lingers all day, just trust me). Take your lunch to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Two Harbors, MN, and enjoy your picnic with a beautiful view of the lighthouse. To get there, drive down Split Rock Lighthouse road until you reach parking for Pebble Beach. Parking is $7 and it is totally worth it to explore. If you would like to go inside the lighthouse, this is an additional cost. We chose to view the lighthouse from the viewpoint.
Drive about 20 minutes to Tettegouche State Park (my favorite of all the parks along the North Shore!). There is free parking at the visitor's center. We hiked Shovel Point (1.2 mi) for a gorgeous view of Lake Superior.
Then, we hiked Baptism River (2.9 mi) to my personal favorite waterfall of the trip.
Day Two: Start your morning early with a hike at Oberg Mountain Trail (2.5 mi) in Lutsen, MN. This was my favorite fall color hike on this trip and I can't recommend it enough! Take an hour and a half for the hike and pictures at all of the viewpoints.
Drive to Grand Marais to explore next. Stop at Java Moose for some coffee and walk Artist's Point (you will need the coffee to warm you up once you feel the wind off the water!)
Enjoy lunch - we chose a small local spot, Blue Water Cafe. Hit the road again to Grand Portage! Take in all the history at the Grand Portage National Monument (free!) and then off to Grand Portage State Park for a quick walk to a waterfall (1.1 mi).
I have heard amazing things about the Mount Josephine Lookout Tower Trail (2.5 mi), but we did not do this hike - by the time we found the trailhead, it was too late in the day to start. If you would like to conquer this hike, ask the park ranger at Grand Portage State Park for directions. He did say it was the most difficult hike on the North Shore. We returned to Grand Marais for the evening, starting with drinks at Voyageur Brewing Company and then dinner at Angry Trout.
Day Three: On your downward descent of the North Shore, stop at Palisade Head for a gorgeous viewpoint. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to navigate the narrow, scary drive to the top (or park at the bottom lot) and soak in the views of Lake Superior.
On the way down highway 61, stop at Gooseberry State Park to get up close and personal with waterfalls. With just a short walk, you can literally get into the water! The parking is free at the visitor's center.
Pay one last visit to the city of Duluth to stretch your legs on the lakewalk before the drive back! We stopped at 7 West Taphouse for apple ciders and cheese curds across the state border, because I had never been to Wisconsin! It was a fun last stop on our journey before the long drive home.
The QUICK Version
Day One: Good morning, Duluth! Begin with Canal Park's lakewalk in Duluth, MN. Stop at Russ Kendall's Smoke House for the famous smoked fish. Explore Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in (Two Harbors, MN). Hike at Tettegouche State Park (Silver Bay, MN).
Day Two: Hike Oberg Mountain Trail (Lutsen, MN). Head to Grand Marais, MN, for lunch and to explore Artist's Point. Learn about the North Shore's history at Grand Portage National Monument. Take a quick hike at Grand Portage State Park to see a waterfall (and Canada!) Begin your descent down the North Shore and return to Grand Marais for dinner.
Day Three: On your downward descent of the North Shore, stop at Palisade Head for a gorgeous viewpoint. Make a pit stop at Gooseberry State Park to get up close and personal with waterfalls. Pay one last visit to the city of Duluth to stretch your legs on the lakewalk before the drive back! If you've never been to Wisconsin, make a quick drive across the border and enjoy some cheese curds!
One for the Road
Let's get into the details! I highly recommend staying in a location towards the middle of the North Shore for this road trip. We stayed in Tofte, MN. This was a great, centralized spot to stay, which cut down on our time in the car when travelling up and down the shore. Be mindful of where you choose to stay. Many towns on the North Shore are small (and adorable!), but your hotel may not have any restaurants or fast food nearby. Plan your meals in advance, and make reservations if they are required! Things book very quickly here. We had to skip dinner on Saturday because all of the restaurants within 30 minutes were booked.
If you want to add the North Shore to your road trip bucket list, book your stay in advance! Almost all of the lodging along the North Shore was booked when we visited in October. Our road trip was a last minute decision, and we were very lucky to find a room to stay in at all! While October is a busy time for travel in Northern Minnesota, we are so glad that we made the trip. Safe travels!
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