Explore Palisade Head

Palisade Head Parking Lot - Search Nearby - Added by Dan Mirocha

Expansive view high atop Lake Superior. Nearby parking makes in-and-out easy. Plenty of space to find a quiet perch to be alone. The contrast of the dark blue lake water and the orange sky at sunset is something to savor. Elevation gain: 932 feet.

Just an hour north of Duluth, Palisade Head is a go-to spot for artists, rock climbers and sight-seers in Northern Minnesota. The massive rock formation rises 932 feet above the North Shore of Lake Superior. The view from the top is both spectacular and spine-tingling. The cliff edge, which runs southwest to northeast, is rugged. Rock climbers need a permit and can get one at the ranger station at the main park entrance.

However, I wasn't there to rock climb the day I went. I wanted to sit, relax and soak in the view. On a clear day, you can see the Sawtooth Mountains to the north and the Split Rock Lighthouse to the south. There are several short trails along the large rock formation that lead to different vantage points.

Finding you way to the top of Palisade Head, which is part of Tettegouche State Park, is simple. There is a small parking lot near the peak. A larger parking area sits at the base of the peak, with a trail that leads to the top. The walk takes no more than 10-15 minutes.

Palisade Head is located on Highway 61 just three miles northeast of the town Silver Bay. Look for milepost 57 and the small sign on the highway pointing toward the peak.