Things to Do in The North Shore
About 150 miles of Lake Superior cliffs, waterfalls and harbor towns on Highway 61.
See top-rated activities »Driving the Minnesota North Shore Scenic Drive
The Minnesota North Shore scenic drive follows Highway 61 from Duluth to Grand Portage at the Canadian border, a distance of roughly 150 miles that most people stretch over two to four days. Leave Duluth on the slower Old Highway 61, called North Shore Scenic Drive, which hugs the water to Two Harbors, an ore-shipping town with a lighthouse and a pie shop that has drawn road-trippers for decades. From there the main highway climbs and dips along the cliffs, crossing river after river as they tumble out of the hills into the lake.
State parks come one after another. Gooseberry Falls has a series of waterfalls a short walk from the visitor center; Split Rock Lighthouse, built in 1910 after a storm wrecked several ships nearby, stands on a sheer cliff and is run as a historic site by the Minnesota Historical Society; Tettegouche has the rocky headland of Shovel Point and the High Falls of the Baptism River. Farther north are Temperance River, Cascade River, Judge C.R. Magney, with the mysterious Devil's Kettle falls, and Grand Portage State Park, where the High Falls on the Pigeon River are the tallest in the state. The Superior Hiking Trail runs along the ridge above the lake for about 300 miles.
Grand Marais is the shore's favorite town, a small harbor with art galleries, a fish market, a donut shop with lines out the door and the North House Folk School, where you can take short classes in boatbuilding, woodcarving or baking. The rocky spit of Artists' Point shelters the harbor, and the Gunflint Trail heads inland from town into canoe country. Nearby, Lutsen Mountains runs a gondola to the top of Moose Mountain for long views of the lake, especially when the maples turn in fall. At the end of the road, Grand Portage National Monument re-creates a fur-trade depot of the North West Company on the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation.
Don’t Miss
A 1910 lighthouse on a cliff above the lake, with tours of the tower, keepers' houses and fog signal building.
Upper, Middle and Lower Falls a short walk from the visitor center, plus trails to the lake.
Shovel Point's cliffs, the High Falls of the Baptism River and inland lakes.
Short courses in traditional northern crafts on the Grand Marais harbor, plus sailing on a traditional schooner.
Skiing in winter and a scenic gondola ride over the Poplar River valley in summer and fall.
A reconstructed fur-trade post and Ojibwe heritage center at the start of the historic 8.5-mile portage.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in the North Shore
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Get free trip quotes »the North Shore — FAQ
How long does the Minnesota North Shore scenic drive take?
Without stops, Duluth to Grand Portage is about three hours. With waterfalls, state parks and Grand Marais, plan at least two days, and three or four if you want to hike.
Which North Shore state park is best for a short visit?
Gooseberry Falls, closest to Duluth, has big waterfalls a few minutes from the parking lot. Split Rock Lighthouse and Tettegouche's Shovel Point are also short, easy stops.
Do I need a state park permit on the North Shore?
A Minnesota state park vehicle permit, daily or annual, is required to park inside the state parks.
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