Fifth Falls and Superior Hiking Trail Loop

Gooseberry Falls State Park is the first State Park you hit traveling up the North Shore after leaving Duluth. Located 13 miles north of Two Harbors on Highway 61, Gooseberry Falls State Park a quick turn off of the highway which is very well marked with signs. Follow signs for Falls parking. Begin your hike from the Visitor Center and follow signs for the Upper Falls. The trail starts out pave...

Gooseberry Falls State Park is the first State Park you hit traveling up the North Shore after leaving Duluth. Located 13 miles north of Two Harbors on Highway 61, Gooseberry Falls State Park a quick turn off of the highway which is very well marked with signs. Follow signs for Falls parking.You can stop by the Visitor’s Center to pick up a map of the park, visit some of the exhibits they have,...

Although there are dozens of ways to do this trip and I encourage you to explore, I suggest one hike that I think does a good job of introducing this areas to new visitors. If you are planning on snowshoeing like I suggest, try to get a day with a good amount of fresh snow (6+ inches). Packed snow works fine and is easier to handle, but it's just not as fun.Almost all of the Minnesota State Par...

The Gitchi-Gami is a paved bike path that will eventually extend from Two Harbors to Grand Marais. As it currently stands (2015), there's a really great segment that starts in Gooseberry Falls State Park and runs all the way to the town of Beaver Bay (total of 16 miles one way). I chose to do a shorter section and bike the 8 miles (one way) from Gooseberry Falls State Park to Split Rock State ...

Thompson Beach is a Minnesota DNR public access beach. Camping is an excellent option, but they ask that you limit it to one night. Camping access is by paddle-in only. There are two easy places to launch your boat from, one from the north Twin Points Protected Access. From there it is about a mile to paddle down to the beach. The second option for a put in is Gooseberry Falls State Park, from ...

Beginning at the Split Rock Wayside rest stop, start your hike up the Spur Trail. About half a mile in, the Spur Trail will junction with the Superior Hiking Trail. The trail gradually ascends along the west side of the Split Rock River. Within the first mile, you will cross over a small bridge overlooking a frozen waterfall; a nice vantage point for photography. Enjoy excellent views of the...