Minnesota is home to some of the most beautiful fall colors and views. While we have a variety of places for experience fall, my heart will always be full from fall adventures along the North Shore of Minnesota! Here are our favorite fall activities along the North Shore and Lake Superior.
1. Ride the Gondola over the Lutsen Mountains
The Lutsen Mountains is a summer & ski resort, adorned with the famous alpine slide, places to eat as and of course the perfect place for skiing and snowboarding in the winter time. Our favorite activity on the Lutsen Mountains is riding the gondola-especially during the fall time! Ride the gondola into the Sawtooth Mountains to see the fall colors decorating Lake Superior’s shore like never before!
2. Grab a Coffee and Walk Artist Point
One of my North Shore rituals when I visit Grand Marais is to wake up early, grab a cup of coffee (I love the Maple Latte) from Java Moose, and stroll along the downtown harbor. Better yet, I love walking Artist Point. Artist Point is a flat rock peninsula downtown Grand Marais, that leads to the light house. This stroll will give you the best view of downtown Grand Marais.
3. Moose Madness During MEA October
Every year, Grand Marais holds the family Moose Madness Festival over the Minnesota fall MEA break. Families can crack a secret code to earn “moose bucks” that can be spent at some of our favorite local shops downtown. There are also moose art activities, moose safari, live music events and more!
4. Take a Scenic Byway Drive Along Gunflint Trail
Starting in Grand Marais is one of Minnesota’s most famous scenic byway drives: Gunflint Trail. Not only are the fall colors stunning here, but you can find some of our favorite hiking trails and views off Gunflint Trail. First, is the Grand Marais and Lake Superior Overlook. The Lake Superior Hiking Trail head also starts here, along with the trail head for Pincushion Mountain. Farther down you will find the Wildflower Sanctuary, Moose Viewing Trailhead, Trail to Hungry Jack Lake Overlook and even a cute coffee shop called Loon’s Nest Coffee.
5. Grab Some Maple Syrup
Located at 191 Barker Lake Road in Lutsen, Minnesota, is an adorable shack filled with various kinds of freshly made maple syrup. Our visit to Wild Country Pure Maple Syrup was nothing short of spectacular. It was neat to see the maple sugaring process-and the colors our here during the fall are lovely. I suggest to bring cash if you’re wanting to do some shopping. We always stock up on maple syrup during our visit here. They also make great Christmas presents!
6. Hike the Trails for Fall Views
The trails on Gunflint Scenic Byway drive aren’t the only spectacular views along the North Shore. Some of our favorite hikes to stunning overlooks are Bean & Bear Lake near Silver Bay, Mount Josephine near Grand Portage, and Oberg Loop near Tofte. We also love hiking trails with epic waterfall views such as Illgen Falls near Silver Bay and Finland. The following state parks also have stunning hikes to waterfalls and fall foliage: Gooseberry State Park, Tettegouche State Park, Temperance River State Park, Cascade River State Park, Judge CR Magney State Park (home to Devil’s Kettle Falls), and Grand Portage State Park.
7. Enjoy the View from Palisade Head
Located near Silver Bay is another unique way to take in the fall colors along the North Shore: drive up Palisade Head for an aerial view! There are several paths that lead around the rock formation, allowing visitors to have different views of Lake Superior and the Superior National Forest. On a clear day, you can even see Split Rock Lighthouse and the Sawtooth Mountains from here.
8. Enjoy Tasty Pastries
Nothing says fall like warm pies, donuts, danishes and other baked goods! Here are our favorite stops along the North Shore for some delicious pastries to enjoy this fall time:
- Betty’s Pies: This restaurant is famous for-you guessed it-pies! We like to stop here to grab an apple pie to bring with us to our cabin. Betty’s Pies is located north of Two Harbors. (It also isn’t far form Iona Beach, also known as the pink beach!).
- Rustic Inn Cafe: Located north of Two Harbors, this cute cafe is known for their breakfast food-especially pancakes! We also love trying their pastries here, and especially love their North Shore Berry Crumb Pie!
- Coho Cafe: Located in Tofte, this cafe serves meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We like to get there early in the morning to enjoy their pastries. They have delicious chocolate chip twist rolls, caramel rolls and maple danishes.
- World’s Best Donuts: This list wouldn’t be complete without World’s Best Donuts in Grand Marais! My kids always get the Donut Kabob, and I love their cinnamon sugar donuts! Always a treat that goes well with a cup of coffee and a stroll by Lake Superior on a fall morning! I suggest you order ahead online to beat the wait.
9. Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna
Located right on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais is a unique sauna experience you will never forget-Sisu and Loyly Nordic Sauna! The views from the sauna are unmatched-I have yet to find more stunning views from a sauna! The lounge area is very cozy, and you can enjoy complimentary tea and also showers onsite afterwards. If you need to cool down, you can step outside and enjoy the fire pit. Fall time is a perfect time for a sauna session!
10. Camping
Fall time is the best time of the year for camping. There’s no mosquitoes, the fall leaves are stunning and the weather is perfect! The North Shore offers an array of campsite options in the most beautiful locations. Here are some suggestions:
- The North Shore Camping Co. features Sweedish inspired “talts,” which are walking campsites featuring large tents already set up for you. You will have places to cook, dish ware, proximity to some of the most famous trails like Split Rock Mountain Trail and Lake Superior Hiking Trail.
- Burlington Bay Campground is located in Two Harbors, and nestled right along Lake Superior-giving some of the best camping views! There are also nearby stores that rent out paddle boards and kayaks, as well as electrical hook ups, suitable for tents or RVs.
- Black Beach Municipal Campground: This campground is located in Silver Bay, and is nearby the famous Black Beach. It’s a perfect campground for tents and RVs, also featuring fire rings, electrical hook ups and picnic tables.
- Grand Marais Campground & Marina: One of my favorites-this campground is located right on the shore of Lake Superior, and is walking distance from downtown Grand Marais. The location is very convenient, and there are over 200 campsites here. However-spots do go fast!
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