# Minnesota’s North Shore: waterfalls and cliffs to Grand Portage

> 3-day road trip of about 290 km (180 mi) with 9 stops, from Duluth to Grand Portage. About 3 h 13 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b19-north-shore-parks/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 290 km (180 mi) with 9 stops, from Duluth to Grand Portage. About 3 h 13 min of driving in total. MN-61 along Lake Superior from Duluth to the Canadian border, with a string of state parks, sea cliffs and the state’s highest waterfall.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 290 km (180 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 13 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Duluth → Grand Portage |
| States | MN |
| Updated | May 9, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Duluth on the old North Shore Scenic Drive (County 61) along the lake to Two Harbors, then join MN-61. Gooseberry Falls State Park is the first big stop, about 65 km from Duluth, with paved paths to its waterfalls. Split Rock Lighthouse, a short way on, is run by the Minnesota Historical Society and charges an entry fee; the state park around it has a lakeside cart-in campground.

North of Silver Bay, Palisade Head is a short, steep side road up to a cliff top; leave trailers and large RVs at Tettegouche, 3 km farther, where the rest area and visitor center have big-vehicle parking. At Tettegouche, walk out to Shovel Point and up the Baptism River to the High Falls. These parks fill quickly in October during the autumn color season.

Continue to Temperance River State Park near Schroeder for a walk along its deep gorge, then past Tofte and Lutsen, where Carlton Peak and the Superior Hiking Trail give views over the lake. Grand Marais is a harbor town with an art colony and a good base. Book campgrounds and motels ahead in summer and in late September and October.

The last 60 km or so of MN-61 to Grand Portage runs past Judge C. R. Magney State Park, known for the Devil’s Kettle waterfall. At Grand Portage State Park, walk the boardwalk to the High Falls on the Pigeon River. Grand Portage National Monument, with a rebuilt fur trade depot, lies by the village. The road ends at the Canadian border crossing, where a passport is required.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Duluth** (MN)
2. **Gooseberry Falls State Park** (Two Harbors, MN): The Gooseberry River drops over upper, middle and lower falls just before Lake Superior. Short paved paths from the visitor center on MN-61 reach all three; spring snowmelt brings the biggest flow.
3. **Split Rock Lighthouse** (Two Harbors, MN): A lighthouse on a 130-foot cliff above Lake Superior, built after a storm wrecked 29 ships.
4. **Palisade Head** (Silver Bay, MN): A 100 m rhyolite cliff rising straight out of Lake Superior, with views to the Apostle Islands on clear days. The access road is narrow and steep with a small lot: not suitable for RVs or trailers.
5. **Tettegouche State Park** (Silver Bay, MN): Lake Superior shoreline with the Shovel Point cliffs and the Baptism River’s High Falls, the tallest waterfall entirely in Minnesota. The rest area visitor center on MN-61 has parking for large vehicles.
6. **Temperance River State Park** (Schroeder, MN): The river cuts a narrow, deep gorge of potholes and cauldrons just above MN-61. Easy trails climb along the rim from roadside parking; the Superior Hiking Trail continues to Carlton Peak.
7. **Grand Marais** (MN)
8. **Grand Portage State Park (High Falls)** (Grand Portage, MN): An easy trail with boardwalk sections, about 800 m each way, leads to the 37 m High Falls on the Pigeon River, the border with Ontario and the highest waterfall in Minnesota. The visitor center is at the end of MN-61 before the border crossing.
9. **Grand Portage** (MN)

## FAQs

**How long is Minnesota’s North Shore: waterfalls and cliffs to Grand Portage?**
3-day road trip of about 290 km (180 mi) with 9 stops, from Duluth to Grand Portage. About 3 h 13 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Minnesota’s North Shore: waterfalls and cliffs to Grand Portage?**
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 13 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Minnesota’s North Shore: waterfalls and cliffs to Grand Portage start and end?**
It starts in Duluth and ends in Grand Portage.

**Which states does Minnesota’s North Shore: waterfalls and cliffs to Grand Portage pass through?**
Minnesota.