🥾 ActiveLong weekend · from Minneapolis, MN

Superior Hiking Trail: Three Days on the North Shore

The Superior Hiking Trail runs 310 miles along the Minnesota side of Lake Superior from Duluth to the Canadian border — the most technically demanding long-distance trail in the upper Midwest, following the volcanic ridgeline above the lake through old-growth boreal forest, past river gorges and waterfalls, and onto basalt headlands with unobstructed views of the largest lake on earth. This three-day itinerary covers the best concentrated section: the canyon hiking above Duluth on day one, the dramatic cliff hiking at Tettegouche State Park and the High Falls of the Baptism River on day two, and the iconic Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls loop on the return.

Day 1 — Duluth: Canal Park & Jay Cooke Gorge TrailsDay 2 — Tettegouche: Shovel Point & High Falls of the Baptism RiverDay 3 — Split Rock Lighthouse & Gooseberry Falls
Day 1 — Duluth

Day 1 — Duluth

🚗 2 hr 20 min driving📍 5 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Minneapolis, MN → Duluth, MN
2 hr8:00 AM → 10:00 AM
Canal Park & Aerial Lift Bridge
Canal Park & Aerial Lift Bridge
★ 4.8
Walk the concrete piers flanking the ship canal entry to orient yourself to Lake Superior's scale — the lake runs 350 miles to the northeast and the Wisconsin shore across the harbor is the nearest land. The Aerial Lift Bridge raises its 900-ton span 138 feet in 55 seconds when ore boats enter; ship movements are posted on the Duluth Shipping News app. The Lakewalk runs 4.2 miles along the shore from here toward Leif Erikson Park.
10:00 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
Northern Waters Smokehaus
Northern Waters Smokehaus
★ 4.7
Smoked Lake Superior trout and whitefish sandwiches in Canal Park — the best quick lunch in Duluth before an afternoon on the trail. The smoked fish is sourced from commercial fishermen on the lake and cold-smoked on-site.
11:00 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Canal Park → Jay Cooke State Park
20 min12:00 PM → 12:20 PM
Jay Cooke State Park — Swinging Bridge Trail
Jay Cooke State Park — Swinging Bridge Trail
★ 4.9
The St. Louis River gorge at Jay Cooke is the most dramatic canyon hiking near Duluth — the river cuts through tilted Thomson Formation slate in a series of rapids and churning channels. The suspension swinging bridge crosses the gorge at its narrowest point; the Grand Portage Trail follows the canyon rim with continuous views down into the river. Do the 2.5-mile River Trail loop from the visitor center and cross the bridge at both ends of the loop.
12:20 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
Fitger's Brewhouse
Fitger's Brewhouse
★ 4.5
The 1857 Fitger Brewing Company's lakefront building houses Duluth's most established craft brewery — the Big Boat Oatmeal Stout and Lighthouse Golden are the consistent house beers; the walleye and lake trout are the correct dinner order after a canyon hike.
5:00 PM📍 See location
Inn on Lake Superior
Inn on Lake Superior
★ 4.2
A Canal Park hotel on the Lake Superior shoreline — lake-facing rooms look over the harbor entry. Positioned at the start of US-61 for an early northeast departure to Tettegouche.
6:00 PM📍 See location
Day 2 — Tettegouche State Park

Day 2 — Tettegouche State Park

🚗 1 hr 55 min driving📍 5 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Duluth → Tettegouche State Park
1 hr 15 min8:00 AM → 9:15 AM
Shovel Point Trail — Tettegouche State Park
Shovel Point Trail — Tettegouche State Park
★ 5
The signature hike at Tettegouche — a 1.8-mile round trip to Shovel Point, a basalt headland extending into Lake Superior with 180-foot cliffs dropping vertically to the water. The palisade view from the point is the best cliff perspective on the North Shore: the lake runs uninterrupted northeast to the horizon and the cliff face below shows the columnar basalt structure of the ancient lava flows that formed the North Shore. The return trail follows the cliff rim; do not rush this section.
9:15 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
High Falls of the Baptism River
High Falls of the Baptism River
★ 4.8
The highest waterfall entirely within Minnesota — the Baptism River drops 70 feet over a single basalt ledge before entering Lake Superior. The trail from the park visitor center reaches the falls in under a mile; the pool below the falls is accessible via a steep scramble and is swimmable in late summer. A second falls, the Two-Step Falls, is 30 minutes further up the river on a good trail. Pack lunch and eat at the viewpoint above the main falls.
10:15 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Tettegouche → Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
40 min12:00 PM → 12:40 PM
Split Rock Lighthouse — Pebble Beach Trail
Split Rock Lighthouse — Pebble Beach Trail
★ 4.7
The 130-foot basalt cliff beneath Split Rock Lighthouse is best seen from the lakeside trail below — take the cart trail from the visitor center down to the lake and walk the pebble beach east to a viewpoint directly below the cliff face. The lighthouse above is impossible to photograph well from the access road above; the beach view is the one people come back for. The Superior Hiking Trail crosses the park and offers a longer hike from the beach up to the ridge.
12:40 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
Rustic Inn Café & Gifts
Rustic Inn Café & Gifts
★ 4.5
A North Shore roadhouse on US-61 between Two Harbors and Silver Bay — walleye, lake trout, homemade soups, and rhubarb pie in a cabin-style dining room that has fed North Shore hikers and road-trippers since the 1950s. The wild rice soup is the house dish.
5:00 PM📍 See location
Superior Shores Resort
Superior Shores Resort
★ 3.9
A lakeside resort on the Lake Superior shore near Two Harbors — townhouse-style units on the rocky shoreline with direct lake access. The location midway between Split Rock and Duluth is ideal for day three's Gooseberry Falls hike and drive south.
6:00 PM📍 See location
Day 3 — Gooseberry Falls & Drive South

Day 3 — Gooseberry Falls & Drive South

🚗 2 hr 45 min driving📍 2 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Superior Shores Resort → Gooseberry Falls State Park
20 min8:00 AM → 8:20 AM
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls State Park
★ 4.9
Five waterfalls on the Gooseberry River within a mile of Lake Superior — the Upper and Middle Falls are visible from the highway bridge; the Lower Falls drops directly onto the lakeshore. The Fifth Falls swim hole is the payoff: a deep basalt pool below a 10-foot cascade, reachable via the 1.5-mile trail from the parking area. Go early on summer weekends before the parking lot fills. The morning light on the Upper Falls from the east-facing bridge is the best photo position on the trail.
8:20 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
Betty's Pies
Betty's Pies
★ 4.5
The mandatory North Shore road trip stop on US-61 between Two Harbors and Duluth — open since 1956, 40+ pie varieties, walleye sandwich, and lake views from most tables. The five-layer chocolate and fresh blueberry pies are the ones to order. Every three-day North Shore itinerary ends here.
9:20 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Betty's Pies → Minneapolis, MN
2 hr 25 min12:00 PM → 2:25 PM
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