Superior Hiking Trail: A 4-Day Minnesota Itinerary
One ridgeline trail, waterfalls, cliffs & big-lake views, along the North Shore.
Four days section-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail along Lake Superior's North Shore: Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock, Tettegouche, Carlton Peak, and the Oberg Mountain fall-color overlook.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
15 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Superior Hiking Trail: every stop pinned in order.
Gooseberry, Tettegouche, Oberg & the Cascade River · North Shore
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Superior Hiking Trail in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 4 days in Superior Hiking Trail, one step at a time
- On the Gooseberry section the river has washed out part of the Superior Hiking Trail between the West and East Gooseberry campsites, so expect to bushwhack around it, and the spur from the state park to the main trail has slumping along the riverbank. Source
How 4 days in Superior Hiking Trail split up
Plan 4 days for Superior Hiking Trail. Full trail: ~310 mi. Difficulty: Moderate. Cost: Free. The Superior Hiking Trail runs about 310 miles along the ridgeline above Lake Superior's North Shore in Minnesota, from near Duluth all the way to the Canadian border. It is free, well-marked, and maintained by the volunteer-driven Superior Hiking Trail Association, with first-come backcountry campsites spaced along the route that require no fee and no permit.
Day 1: Up the shore · Gooseberry Falls & Split Rock
5 stops · Day one
Day 2: Tettegouche · High Falls, Shovel Point & Palisade Head
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Temperance River & Carlton Peak
3 stops · Day three
Day 4: Oberg Mountain & the Cascade River
3 stops · Day four
Up the shore · Gooseberry Falls & Split Rock
Fly into Duluth (DLH), about 30 minutes south of the trail's southern end, and drive up Highway 61 along the shore. Start where most North Shore trips begin, at Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the Superior Hiking Trail threads past a series of waterfalls dropping toward the big lake. It is the perfect warm-up section to find your trail legs.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive from
~50 min to Gooseberry Falls · up Highway 61 · DriveFly into Duluth (DLH), about 30 minutes south of the trail's southern end, and drive up Highway 61 along Lake Superior. Pick up any last supplies in Duluth or Two Harbors before you start, since the shore towns north of here are small.
Helicopter flight over Duluth and the North ShoreOptional · about 20 min in the air · 4.84 from 32 reviews · activityYou land at Duluth anyway, so see the shore from above before you walk it. Lake Superior Helicopters flies 30 miles over the harbor, the Aerial Lift Bridge and up the North Shore past Lester River, the same coast the trail follows for the next four days. The pad is by the airport, so it fits between landing and the drive up Highway 61.
Book this →- Gooseberry Falls SHT section
Waterfall section · easy to moderate · HikeStart where most North Shore trips begin, at Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the Superior Hiking Trail threads past a series of waterfalls dropping toward the big lake. It is the perfect warm-up section to find your trail legs. A Minnesota state park permit is needed to park here.
- Split Rock Lighthouse overlooks
Cliff-top views over the lighthouse · ViewpointContinue to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, where the SHT climbs to overlooks above the most photographed lighthouse on Lake Superior, perched on a cliff over the water. The trail viewpoints frame the lighthouse and the open lake beyond.
Stay in Two HarborsSouthern North Shore hub · lodgeBase your first night in Two Harbors, the southern hub for the North Shore, with easy access to both Gooseberry and Split Rock. Sort out your shuttle here for the point-to-point days ahead, and book early on fall-color weekends.
Tettegouche · High Falls, Shovel Point & Palisade Head
Today is the most dramatic state-park day on the route. Tettegouche State Park is where the Superior Hiking Trail hits its rugged best: hike to High Falls on the Baptism River, one of the tallest waterfalls entirely within Minnesota, then out to Shovel Point, a rocky finger of cliffs jutting into Lake Superior.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Tettegouche High Falls
One of the tallest falls in Minnesota · HikeTettegouche State Park is where the Superior Hiking Trail hits its rugged best. Hike to High Falls on the Baptism River, one of the tallest waterfalls entirely within Minnesota, which runs hardest in spring and after rain. The terrain here is rocky and rooty, so budget time.
Joe Passe / CC BY-SA 2.0Shovel PointRocky cliffs into Lake Superior · ViewpointHike out to Shovel Point, a rocky finger of cliffs jutting into Lake Superior with big open-water views. It is a short, dramatic spur off the main trail and one of the most photographed spots in Tettegouche.
Palisade Head cliffsSheer red rhyolite above the lake · ViewpointJust down the shore, the Palisade Head cliffs rise straight from the water, a sheer wall of red rhyolite with one of the best big-lake views on the entire North Shore. It is reached by a short, steep, narrow road and is a popular rock-climbing spot, so keep well back from the unfenced rim.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY 2.0Stay in Silver BayHeart of the Tettegouche section · lodgeBase in Silver Bay tonight, the small town right at the heart of the Tettegouche section. It puts you minutes from High Falls, Shovel Point, and Palisade Head, and lets your shuttle reset you for the next stretch up the shore.
Temperance River & Carlton Peak
Move up the shore to the Temperance River, where the Superior Hiking Trail follows a deep gorge the river has carved through the rock, a string of churning potholes and chutes that is one of the most beautiful river sections on the whole trail.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Temperance River gorge
Deep carved gorge · potholes & chutes · HikeMove up the shore to the Temperance River, where the Superior Hiking Trail follows a deep gorge the river has carved through the rock, a string of churning potholes and chutes that is one of the most beautiful river sections on the whole trail. Stay on the marked trail; the rock near the potholes is slick.
Carlton PeakBare-rock summit · sweeping lake view · HikeFrom the river the trail climbs Carlton Peak, a knob of bare anorthosite rising above the forest with a sweeping summit view over Lake Superior and the endless green ridgeline. It is a steady, rewarding climb and a North Shore favorite, though the exposed top can be windy and cold.
Stay in TofteMidpoint shore town · near Oberg · lodgeDrop down into Tofte for the night, a tiny shore town that puts you within minutes of tomorrow's Oberg Mountain trailhead. If you would rather camp, the trail's free, first-come backcountry sites are spaced along this stretch, with tent pads and fire rings but no water.
Oberg Mountain & the Cascade River
Save the most famous overlook for last. Oberg Mountain is a short loop off the Superior Hiking Trail with a series of overlooks that, in late September and early October, deliver the single best fall-color view on the North Shore: a sea of sugar-maple reds and golds rolling down to the blue of Lake Superior. It is the photo everyone comes north for.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Oberg Mountain loop
Best fall-color overlook on the shore · HikeSave the most famous overlook for last. Oberg Mountain is a short loop off the Superior Hiking Trail with a series of overlooks that, in late September and early October, deliver the single best fall-color view on the North Shore: sugar-maple reds and golds rolling down to the blue of Lake Superior. The small lot fills early on peak weekends.
Sharon Mollerus / CC BY 2.0Cascade River waterfallsStaircase of falls through a gorge · HikeFinish along the Cascade River, where the trail follows a staircase of waterfalls dropping through a mossy gorge toward the lake. It is a fitting, scenic end to the section before you head back down the shore.
Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Stay in Grand MaraisArtsy harbor town at the north end · lodgeStay an extra night in Grand Marais, the artsy harbor town at the north end of the route, with restaurants and a working harbor. From here it is about 2 hours back down Highway 61 to the Duluth (DLH) airport, so fuel up before the drive out.
Book the 3 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Superior Hiking Trail
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned on the North Shore.
Plan for a point-to-point trail
The Superior Hiking Trail runs point-to-point, so you cannot just hike out and back to your car. Arrange a shuttle through the Superior Hiking Trail Association, or string the days together lodge-to-lodge from town to town up the shore.
Backcountry camping is free and permit-free
The trail's backcountry campsites are free, first-come, and require no permit, each with tent pads and a fire ring. They can fill on peak fall weekends, so have a backup, carry a filter since there is no potable water, and pack out everything.
Buy a state park permit
The trail itself is free, but parking at Gooseberry, Split Rock, Tettegouche, Temperance River, and the other Minnesota state parks needs a vehicle permit. A day or annual permit covers them all and supports the parks you hike through.
Go late September to early October for color
The North Shore is famous for fall color, and the sugar maples around Oberg Mountain peak from late September into early October, a week or so ahead of the lower shore. That is the best window, and also the busiest, so book lodging early.
Expect rugged, rocky footing
This is not a flat lakeshore stroll. The trail rolls over a rocky, rooty ridgeline with real climbs to overlooks like Carlton Peak and Oberg. Wear broken-in boots, budget more time than the mileage suggests, and use trekking poles on the descents.
Pack for bugs in summer
Summer on the trail is lush and green but buggy: mosquitoes and black flies peak from late spring into midsummer. Bring repellent and a head net, or hit the trail in fall when the color is best and the bugs are gone.
Guard against wood ticks and spring mud
The ridge path snakes over steep, rocky river gorges on root-and-boulder tread, and spring leaves it heavy with mud. Treat your clothing with permethrin to repel the wood ticks that are common here from spring into summer, check yourself after each section, and lean on trekking poles to spare your knees on the sharp gorge descents.
Superior Hiking Trail: questions before you go
Superior Hiking Trail: the questions people ask most.
The Superior Hiking Trail runs about 310 miles along the ridgeline above Lake Superior's North Shore in Minnesota, from near Duluth all the way to the Canadian border. Almost no one hikes the whole thing at once; most people do sections, like the scenic North Shore state-park stretch in this 4-day itinerary.
No. The Superior Hiking Trail is free to hike and the backcountry campsites are first-come with no fee and no permit. You do need a Minnesota state park vehicle permit to park at the state parks the trail passes through, such as Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock, and Tettegouche.
Late September through early October is the prime window, when the North Shore maples explode into spectacular fall color, especially around Oberg Mountain. That is also the busiest season, so book lodging early. Summer is lush and green but buggy with mosquitoes and black flies, and spring can be muddy.
Because the trail is point-to-point, you need a way back to your car. Most people arrange a shuttle through the Superior Hiking Trail Association, or hike lodge-to-lodge, staying in shore towns like Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Tofte, and Grand Marais and using a shuttle to link the days. Plan your shuttle before you start.
For a North Shore section hike, base in Two Harbors at the south end, Silver Bay near Tettegouche, Tofte in the middle near Oberg Mountain, or Grand Marais at the north end. Lodging in these towns books up fast for fall-color weekends. You can also use the free, first-come backcountry campsites spaced along the trail.
It is moderate but genuinely rugged. The trail rolls over a rocky, rooty ridgeline with real climbs to overlooks like Carlton Peak and Oberg Mountain, so it is slower going than the mileage suggests. Wear broken-in boots, use trekking poles on descents, and budget extra time, especially through Tettegouche.
The most scenic stretch runs through the North Shore state parks: Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche with its high falls, Shovel Point, and the Palisade Head cliffs, then the Temperance River, Carlton Peak, the famous Oberg Mountain fall-color overlook, and the Cascade River. That is the section this 4-day itinerary follows.
The Superior Hiking Trail is maintained by the Superior Hiking Trail Association, a volunteer-driven nonprofit. They build and maintain the trail and campsites, publish maps and trail conditions, and can help arrange shuttles for point-to-point hikes. The trail stays free to use thanks to their work and donations.
Yes. Wood ticks are common along the North Shore from spring into summer, especially in the grassy, brushy stretches between the ridgeline gorges. Treat your clothing with permethrin before you go, wear long layers, and check yourself carefully after each section. Hiking in fall, once the color peaks, largely sidesteps both the ticks and the summer bugs.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 4-day route. Same 10 stops.
- 1 night, a campsite near Two Harbors
- $18
- 1 night, a campsite near Silver Bay
- $18
- 1 night, a campsite near Tofte
- $18
- North Shore helicopter flight (Duluth)
- $644
- 1 night, a room in Two Harbors
- from $190
- 1 night, a room in Silver Bay
- from $243
- 1 night, a room in Tofte
- from $210
- North Shore helicopter flight (Duluth)
- $644
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
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