Minnesota’s North Shore
The North Shore of Minnesota along Lake Superior is filled with hiking, waterfalls, and breathtaking views. Driving highway 61 from Duluth will take you all the way to the Canadian border.
We were only able to explore a couple of points along this route but they were all spectacular. We easily could have spent another week or three in the area and still wouldn’t have seen everything. In the future, we’d love to go further north and make it to Isle Royal National Park, but unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to do that on this trip.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
One of our first excursions was an unplanned stop to “waste” some time before we could check into a campground.
There are several levels of waterfalls, each with plenty of room to roam among the rocks. We only spent about an hour there but it easily could have been half a day or more. It felt more interactive for our kids to be able to walk over the streams of water rather than just taking a hike that ends with a photo of a waterfall 50 feet away. Definitely a worthwhile stop!
For camping near Silver Bay, Minnesota, we recommend Black Beach Municipal Campground. The spots weren't crammed together, had full hookups, and were within walking distance to Black Beach.
Black Beach, Silver Bay, Minnesota
Also called Onyx Beach, this was a location I think I had seen on Instagram a long time ago and we added it to our list of things to see and I’m so glad we did! We first walked over at sunset and basically had the whole place to ourselves. The sand texture is a little more coarse than you'd find at other beaches, a nice exfoliating foot treatment! Our kids have spent the last couple of years playing on the muddy and rocky shores of Lake Sakakawea back in North Dakota so it was an exciting change.
Tettegouche State Park
A short drive from Silver Bay, this park had too many hikes to choose from 😅 There's something for everyone!
If you're going with kids, scan the scavenger hunt code on the board at the front of the visitors center. It kept our kids engaged trying to find certain flowers, animals, and trees while hiking and even later in the day. You check things off as you go and can submit it to be entered into a gift card drawing. We did the Shovel Point Trail which was a combination of boardwalk, stairs, and regular trails.
The Palisade Head lookout is a hike in the winter but in the summer you can drive to a small parking lot at the top without an oversized vehicle. The cliffs, the clear water, the view 😍 Thankfully there was a wall for everyone to lean on so my mom anxiety was a little more in check! Can you believe this view is on a lake in Minnesota??
Two Harbors, MN
I got to spend a morning working at this fantastic little coffee shop nestled in the woods called Cedar Coffee Company. It was so peaceful, had strong wi-fi, and the scone and coffee were delicious. The kids took Dad for a hike around the property on a small trail and then ventured to another lighthouse and a playground to let me work a bit longer. So far this coffee shop definitely ranks in the top 10 among our favorites all around the country!
We toured the Split Rock Lighthouse which had a great little museum, interactive exhibits, and a short educational film. But the highlight for my kids was one of the rangers spotting the stuffed Toothless that my 7 year old was carrying and asking if we wanted to see the dragon cave. Of course we did! Thank you to the park rangers who make things a little extra special.
This museum was a helpful place to learn about all the lighthouses on the coast of Lake Superior and how they each have a different signal so captains could tell which way they were headed. We were able to circle back around to this concept at several other stops along the shore and it helped connect the dots for my kids.
Planning a trip to Minnesota’s Lake Superior? Here are our recommendations if you only have a short amount of time or can spend longer in this area!
1 Day - Sink your toes in the sand at the amazing Black Beach in Silver Bay. Hike the Silver Bay Trail. Go for a hike in Tettegouche State Park.
3 Day - Bike the Gitchi Gami State Trail, a planned 89-mile trail along the coast of Lake Superior, from Silver Bay to Split Rock. Read about the history and climb to the top of the Split Rock Lighthouse. Stop at the Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors for a relaxing drink or even a short hike around the property.
5 Day - Visit Grand Portage and take a boat ride to Isle Royale National Park. Go for a hike to the High Falls in Grand Portage State Park or hike the Mount Josephine Lookout Tower Trail to get a great view of Lake Superior.
Honorable Mentions - Make a quick stop at the Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center on your way up or down the coastal Voyageur Highway. Take a stroll around the small town of Grand Marais and go for some beautiful hikes in the area. Check out the Lutsen Mountains for some skiing or hiking.