Ah, the North Shore! It’s a Minnesotan gem and we’re fiercely proud of it — with understandable reason, once you take a look around. These waterfalls and cliffside views of Lake Superior are the epitome of legit.
Whether you’re chucking your phone in the glovebox and going off-grid for a whole week or just taking a quick jaunt away from the city, this landscape offers serious respite from the busy day-to-day matters of life. And hey, summer’s here, so we’ve compiled a deep dive into the area to help you plan your trip accordingly:
Lace up your boots and hike at these spots…
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gooseberry-Falls-North-Shore.jpg)
Photo credit: @thewanderlust_rose at Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Location: Two Harbors – 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616
- Highlight: Waterfalls
- Trail length: 18 miles
- Easy – Difficult
- Depending on trails 30 – 150 minutes
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season)
- Pets: Allowed
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Split-Rock-Lighthouse-819x1024.jpg)
Photo credit: @thewanderlust_rose at Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse
- Location: Two Harbors – 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616
- Highlight: Cobblestone beaches and forests
- Trail length: 12 miles
- Easy – Moderate
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 90 minutes
- Cost: Free
- Pets: Allowed
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Black-Beach-North-Shore-819x1024.jpg)
Photo credit: @thewanderlust_rose at Black Beach
Black Beach
- Location: Silver Bay – Silver Bay, MN 55614
- Highlight: Beautiful black sand beach
- Trail length: 10 miles
- Easy
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 120 minutes
- Cost: Free
- Pets: N/A
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/@bennett_young-2-1024x767.jpg)
Photo credit: @bennett_young at Palisade Head
Palisade Head
- Location: Beaver Bay – Beaver Bay Township, MN 55614
- Highlight: Breathtaking views of Lake Superior and towering cliffs
- Trail length: 2.6 miles
- Easy
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 60 minutes
- Cost: Free
- Pets: Not Allowed
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/High-Creek-Falls-at-Tettegouche-819x1024.jpg)
Photo credit: @thewanderlust_rose at High Creek Falls, Tettegouche State Park
Tettegouche State Park
- Location: Silver Bay – 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614
- Highlight: Six inland lakes, four waterfalls, and two iconic headlands & beaches
- Trail length: 23 miles
- Easy – Difficult
- Depending on trails 30 – 180 minutes ~ plan for 2 hours ish
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season)
- Pets: Allowed
Temperance River State Park
- Location: Schroeder – 7620 West, MN-61, Schroeder, MN 55613
- Highlight: Popular for the geologic formations along the river gorge
- Trail length: 22 miles
- Easy – Moderate
- Depending on trails 30 – 120 minutes
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season) ~ if you park on the road it’s free
- Pets: Allowed
Cascade River State Park
- Location: Lutsen – 3481 West Highway 61, Lutsen, MN 55612
- Highlight: 6-tiered waterfall
- Trail length: 18 miles
- Moderate
- Depending on trails 30 – 240 minutes
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season)
- Pets: Allowed
Devil’s Kettle Falls (Judge CR Magney State Park)
- Location: Grand Marais – Superior Hiking Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604
- Highlight: River through a mass of volcanic rock, lounging 50 feet into a pool and half into a massive pothole
- Trail length: 9 miles
- Moderate
- Depending on trails 90 – 120 minutes
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season)
- Pets: Allowed
Grand Portage State Park
- Location: Grand Portage – 9393 East Highway 61, Grand Portage, MN 55605
- Highlights: Minnesota’s tallest waterfall and on the Canadian border
- Trail length: 6 miles
- Easy – Difficult
- Depending on trails 30 – 180 minutes
- Cost: State Park Pass ($7 a day or $35 for the season)
- Pets: Allowed
Hang your hat and camp at these spots afterwards…
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/@emmasievers-taylors-falls-1024x683.jpg)
Photo credit: @emmasievers
State Parks Campgrounds
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Black Beach
- Tettegouche State Park
- Temperance River State Park
- Cascade State Park
- Devil’s Kettle Falls (Judge CR Magney State Park)
Nearby Campgrounds
- Two Harbors
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- Sullivan Lake
- 38 minutes (34.4 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- 31 minutes (28.7 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse
- Burlington Bay Campground
- 13 minutes (12.4 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- 20 minutes (19.3 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse
- Penmarallter Campground
- 19 minutes (16.5 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- 26 minutes (23.5 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse
- Sullivan Lake
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- Silver Bay
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- Lax Lake Campground
- 14 minutes (8.7 miles) from Black Beach
- 12 minutes (9.8 miles) from Tettegouche State Park
- 14 minutes (11.4 miles) from Palisade Head
- 16 minutes (12.7 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse
- 20 minutes (18 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Black Beach Municipal Campground
- 3 minutes (0.8 miles) or 15 minute walk from Black Beach
- 5 minutes (2.9 miles) Palisade Head
- 5 minutes (4.1 miles) from Tettegouche State Park
- 11 minutes (8.8) miles from Split Rock Lighthouse
- 16 minutes (14.5 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Eckbeck Campground
- 5 minutes (3.5 miles) from Tettegouche State Park
- 9 minutes (5.5 miles) from Palisade Head
- 12 minutes (7.6 miles) from Black Beach
- 19 minutes (16.1 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse
- 25 minutes (21.7 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Lax Lake Campground
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- Schoreder
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- Lamb’s Campground
- 2 minutes (1.6 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Temperance River Campground
- 17 minutes (13.9 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Ninemile Lake Campground
- 26 minutes (15.3 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Sawbill Lake Campground
- 37 minutes (25.5 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Lamb’s Campground
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- Lutsen
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- Clara Lake
- 23 minutes (15 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- White Pine Lake
- 19 minutes (12.6 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- Clara Lake
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- Grand Marais
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- Grand Marais Campground & Marina
- 10 minutes (4.4 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- 19 minutes (14.8 miles) from Judge CR Magney State Park
- Kimball Lake
- 25 minutes (11.4 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- 24 minutes (15.6 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- Devil Track Lake
- 34 minutes (27.3 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- 22 minutes (15.5 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- Two Island Lake
- 36 minutes (28.8 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- 24 minutes (17 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- Cascade River Campground
- 21 minutes (11.6 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- 39 minutes (26.5 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- Grand Marais Campground & Marina
And if you’re staying for the whole weekend, here’s an itinerary:
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/@electricestrogen-1024x767.jpg)
Photo credit: @electricestrogen
DAY 1 – FRIDAY: MINNEAPOLIS TO TWO HARBORS
3 hours and 5 minutes
- Pick up Voyager Campervan at 2:00 pm
- 2657 S 32nd Ave #3, Minneapolis, MN 55406
- Head to Gooseberry Falls State Park and arrive around 5:30 – 5:45 pm
- Purchase a state park pass prior or at arrival
- Winter Map
- Summer Map
- Self Tour Map
- Stay at Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Reserve spot prior to arrival – $18 – $24 depending on season
DAY 2 – SATURDAY: State Parks, Beaches, and Cliffs
Start adventure around 7:00 am and pack lunch for later
- Stop #1: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- 9 minutes (7.5 miles) from Gooseberry Falls State Park
- 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616
- Cobblestone beaches and forests
- 12 miles
- Easy – Moderate
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 90 minutes
- Free
- Pets: Allowed
- Stop #2: Black Beach
- 16 minutes (10.1 miles) from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- Silver Bay, MN 55614
- Beautiful black sand beach
- 10 miles
- Easy
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 120 minutes
- Free
- Pets: N/A
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/@bennett_young-1024x767.jpg)
Photo credit: @bennett_young at Palisade Head
- Stop #3: Palisade Head
- 6 minutes (2.6 miles) from Black Beach
- Beaver Bay Township, MN 55614
- Breathtaking views of Lake Superior and towering cliffs
- 2.6 miles
- Easy
- Depending on personal preference 20 – 60 minutes
- Free
- Pets: Not Allowed
- Stop #4: Tettegouche State Park – Lunch break!
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- 2 minutes (1.7 miles) from Palisade Head
- 5702 Highway 61, Silver Bay, MN 55614
- Most popular and must-see hiking destination – six inland lakes, four waterfalls, and two iconic headlands & beaches
- 23 miles
- Easy – Difficult
- Depending on trails 30 – 180 minutes ~ plan for 2 hours ish
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
- Stop #5: Temperance River State Park
- 23 minutes (21.3 miles) from Tettegouche State Park
- 7620 West, MN-61, Schroeder, MN 55613
- Popular for the geologic formations along the river gorge
- 22 miles
- Easy – Moderate
- Depending on trails 30 – 120 minutes
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
- Options for Camping (if you don’t have enough time for Cascade River State Park)
- Temperance River State Park
- $18 – $24 depending on season
- Lamb’s Campground
- 2 minutes (1.6 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Temperance River Campground
- 17 minutes (13.9 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- Temperance River State Park
But if you *do* have enough time for Cascade River State Park…
- Stop #6: Cascade River State Park
- 17 minutes (15.5 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- 3481 West Highway 61, Lutsen, MN 55612
- 6-tiered waterfall
- 18 miles
- Moderate
- Depending on trails 30 – 240 minutes
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
- Set up camp at Cascade River State Park
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- $18 – $24 depending on season
DAY 3 – SUNDAY: Drive back to Minneapolis
![](https://voyagercampervans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/General-Road-trip-picture-for-post-1024x683.jpg)
Photo credit: @thewanderlust_rose
Drop off Campervan by 11:00 am – Leave current location by 6:00 – 6:30 am
- Leave Campsite between 6:00 – 6:30 am
- Leaving from Cascade River State Park: 4 hours and 11 minutes (257 miles)
- Leaving from Temperance River State Park: 3 hours 49 minutes (236 miles)
- 2657 S 32nd Ave #3, Minneapolis, MN 55406
DAY 3 – SUNDAY: Extra Day
If you planned an extra day – start adventure around 7:00 am. If you didn’t have enough time on Day 2 — start here or skip to Stop #2.
- Stop #1: Cascade River State Park
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- 17 minutes (15.5 miles) from Temperance River State Park
- 3481 West Highway 61, Lutsen, MN 55612
- 6-tiered waterfall
- 18 miles
- Moderate
- Depending on trails 30 – 240 minutes
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
- Stop #2: Devil’s Kettle Falls (Judge CR Magney State Park)
- 36 minutes (29.3 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- Superior Hiking Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604
Have Lunch Here
- River splits around a mass of volcanic rock, lounging 50 feet into a pool and half into a massive pothole
- 9 miles
- Moderate
- Depending on trails 90 – 120 minutes
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
- Stop #3: Grand Portage State Park
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- 31 minutes (26.3 miles) from Devil’s Kettle Falls
- 9393 East Highway 61, Grand Portage, MN 55605
- Minnesota’s tallest waterfall and on the Canadian border
- 6 miles
- Easy – Difficult
- Depending on trails 30 – 180 minutes
- State Park Pass
- Pets: Allowed
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- Stop #4: Watch the Sunset at Artist’s Point
- 49 minutes (40.8 miles) from Grand Portage State Park
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- Artist’s Point, Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604
- Breathtaking tide pools and rocky shores
- 0.3 miles
- Easy
- Depending on personal preference 30 – 60 minutes
- Free
- Pets: Allowed
- Artist’s Point, Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604
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- Set up camp at Cascade River State Park
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- 7 minutes (3.7 miles) from Cascade River State Park
- $18 – $24 depending on season
DAY 4 – MONDAY: Drive back to Minneapolis
Drop off the campervan by 11:00 am — Leave current location by 6:00 – 6:30 am (or ask for a late check-out, and we may be able to accomodate!)
- Leave the campsite between 6:00 – 6:30 am
- Leaving from Cascade River State Park: 4 hours and 11 minutes (257 miles)
- Destination: 2657 S 32nd Ave #3, Minneapolis, MN 55406
follow the adventure
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