Grand Marais, Minnesota
With Lake Superior to the south and the Boundary Waters Canoes Area to the north, Grand Marais is one of the best outdoors towns in the North. Adventure in town on the rocky shores of Artist’s Point or head out into Superior National Forest to canoe one of the hundreds of inland lakes, hike a part of the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail, or head up the Historic Gunflint Trail.
Top Spots in and near Grand Marais
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Grand Portage, Minnesota
Explore Grand Portage National Monument
0.5 miLocated nearly three hours north of Duluth, MN, this small border town is home to lots of natural beauty. The Larger jewel in the town's crown is the High Falls of the Pigeon River, but a lesser known and no less awesome place is Grand Portage National Monument. Ran by the national park service a...Read more -
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Hike to the top of Mount Josephine
5.03 mi / 700 ft gainTo get to the trailhead coming from Grand Marais, drive northeast on highway 61 until you come to Grand Portage Village. Turn right onto Store Rd (73) and continue straight until you come to a T (Mile Creek Rd/17). Turn left and continue straight on Upper Rd until you come to a small parking lot ...Read more -
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Paddle the Boundary Waters' Seagull to Saganaga Loop
29 miFirst, things first - plan your trip well! There are many details that need to go into planning even a short trip into the Boundary Waters. Various websites and companies exist to help you plan and check off all of the boxes prior to your departure date. The bwca.com website is one I found to be ...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Hike to Caribou Falls
5.01 miCaribou Falls is a true hidden gem located along the Superior Hiking trail on Minnesota's North Shore. To access the falls, begin at the Caribou Falls State Wayside rest, off of Highway 61 just north of Little Marais. The trailhead is marked on the Superior Hiking Trail sign in the parking lot. ...Read more -
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Canoe to the Palisades on Seagull Lake in the BWCA
Begin your trip at the Seagull Lake boat launch at Trail's End Campground. The campground, located in Superior National Forest at the very end of the Gunflint Trail, is an hour and half drive from the nearest town of Grand Marais and is a great place to stay the night before. There are no motors ...Read more -
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Camp at Trail's End Campground
5.0Trail's End Campground is located at the very end of the Gunflint Trail, a remote highway that cuts into the heart of the Minnesota Northwoods. Catch the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais along Highway 61 on the North Shore of Lake Superior. From Grand Marais, you'll wind your way sixty miles along ...Read more -
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Explore the High Falls of the Pigeon River
4.31 miThis is a must-visit if you find yourself near the Minnesota-Canadian border by Lake Superior. A quick turn into the Grand Portage State Park parking lot off of Highway 61, and a short 0.5 mile walk (from the parking lot) is all it takes to see one of the most breathtaking waterfalls Minnesota h...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Camp at George H. Manitou Crosby State Park
5.0George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is a lesser known park along Minnesota's North Shore. There are only backcountry sites, and it's not conveniently along the scenic road, so you really have to plan on going here. This makes it quiet, peaceful, and absolutely perfect for someone looking for a li...Read more -
Finland, Minnesota
Hike to the Superior Hiking Trail's Section 13
4.02 mi / 450 ft gainGetting there:From Duluth, follow Highway 61 until you reach mile marker 65 -- shortly after this you will turn left on Lake County Road 6. Continue for just over 2 miles and the trailhead parking lot will be on your right. There is a sign with mileage to nearby backpacking campsites if you want ...Read more -
Finland, Minnesota
Drive Superior National Forest's Fall Color Route
5.0Every Autumn, Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota designates some of it's best roads as official Fall Color Routes. These roads go deep into the forest, far from towns and cell phone reception to show off the best Minnesota has to offer. Peak season is short, only a week or two sometim...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Hike to Fantasia Overlook
3 mi / 170 ft gainGetting to the trailhead:From Hwy. 61, turn left onto Hwy. 1 (at milepost 59.3) and travel 0.8 miles to the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) parking lot on the left side of the road (very easy to miss!). The Hike:Once you get to the parking lot, cross Hwy. 1 and walk up the road to meet the SHT that c...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Explore Illgen Falls
5.00.5 miAfter you drive past Tettegouche State Park, continue until you reach Highway 1. Turn left and continue on the road for 1.6 miles until you see a small gravel pull-off on the lefthand side of the road. Follow the path that leads to the river (easy to hear the waterfall). The trail will go past a ...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Hike to Shovel Point at Tettagouche State Park
5.02 miAn easy hour along the North Shore Scenic Byway from Duluth, Tettagouche State Park is a rugged, 10,000 acre park on Lake Superior. Although the interior of the park offers miles of trails to waterfalls and mountain tops, the best way to see the coast is to take the easy hike to Shovel Point. Beg...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Hike along the Baptism River to Cascade Falls
1.5 miOnce you pull into the Visitor Center Parking Lot, drive down towards the Baptism River and park before crossing the river. The trailhead is just on the other side of the river. The trail follows the river towards the falls with several small trails down to enjoy the river and rapids at differen...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Hike to High Falls and Two Step Falls
5.01.17 mi / 253 ft gainLocated within Tettegouche State Park, High Falls of the Baptism river is the highest waterfall entirely in Minnesota (High Falls of the Pigeon River is higher, but half of it lies on the Ontario border). The High Falls are one of the major highlights of Tettegouche State Park. Depending on wh...Read more -
Silver Bay, Minnesota
Tettegouche State Park Trail
1.69 mi / 318 ft gainTettegouche State Park Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Silver Bay, Minnesota.Read more
