Go Chasing Waterfalls: The Perfect Fall Road Trip Along the North Shore
Fall is my favorite season.
Go Chasing Waterfalls: The Perfect Fall Road Trip Along the North Shore
Fall is my favorite season.
I love it for the giddy, cool air, the satisfying crunch of leaves, and the nostalgia I feel leading up to the holidays.
I love swapping bright IPAs for smokey Porters, hanging out with fainting goats at apple orchards, and binge-watching Meg Ryan in all her 90s-turtleneck glory.
But of all the things, my top fall ritual is driving out of the city & walking in the woods.
A Trip Worth Repeating
Last November, a few weeks past peak for leaf colors, I went on a road trip along Minnesota’s North Shore in my brand new (to me) Subaru. I made waterfalls the focus of my itinerary and even though I’ve seen many of them before, I was impressed.
The trip was so fun, I’m doing it again and sharing my itinerary with you.
Consider it a nudge to take a break from doom scrolling (we all need it; so much doom, so much scrolling) to experience some of the natural beauty Minnesota has to offer.
I am very much looking forward to repeating my route — this time with my brand new (to the world) puppy!
Emelia, meet world. World, meet Emilia.
I encourage you to plan a weekend for yourself.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
The North Shore Visitor guide lists 17 waterfalls on their website, which offers a very handy interactive map which you can explore below:
Personally, I’d want to give myself a lot more time than a long weekend to visit 17, but eventually, I’d like to see them all. For this itinerary, I’ve chosen 5 waterfall areas to focus on.
5 Waterfalls areas not to be missed
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Caribou Falls
- Cascade Falls
- Devil’s Kettle
- Grand Portage State Park
Plan your own adventure!
If you want a basic 3-day itinerary, keep reading. If you aren’t looking for a detailed guide, reference these time estimates of travel from one place to the next to plan your own adventure:
- Minneapolis to Duluth is 2 hours and 15 mins.
- Duluth to Two Harbors is 30 mins.
- Two Harbors to Gooseberry Falls is 20 mins.
- Gooseberry Falls to Caribou Falls is 35 mins.
- Caribou Falls to Cascade Falls is 40 mins.
- Cascade Falls to Devil’s Kettle is 35 mins.
- Devil’s Kettle to Grand Portage is 30 mins.
- Grand Portage to Minneapolis is about 5 hours.
3 Day Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Duluth, Gooseberry Falls Park, Caribou Falls, Tofte or Lutsen
Put a good playlist together or pick an audiobook to listen to. Pack a lunch.
Leave mid-morning for Duluth. Stop by the harbor, meander, and shop for a bit (not too long!) and then head towards Two Harbors.
On the way, stop at Betty’s Pies to enjoy a slice of their well-deserved world-famous pie. I personally love to get a slice of apple pie with a coffee.
Keep following 61 north to Gooseberry Falls State Park.
Depending on how much time you have, I would plan for 2–3 hours, visit any or all of The five Waterfalls, eat your lunch somewhere scenic.
- **Upper Falls:** The most dramatic falls, tumbling over 30 feet.
- **Middle Falls:** A two-tiered waterfall located near the Upper Falls.
- **Lower Falls:** The largest and most spectacular fall, dropping 60 feet to a pool before the final stretch to Lake Superior.
- **Fifth Falls:** The furthest fall from the visitor center, accessible via a longer hike on the Fifth Falls Trail.
- Unnamed Falls: In addition to the major waterfalls, the river also features other rapids and smaller drops that contribute to the total 240-foot descent.
After Gooseberry Falls, backtrack 15 minutes to Castle Danger Brewing Co for a pint. It’s worth the added drive.
[embed]Our Beer - Castle Danger Brewing Edit descriptionwww.castledangerbrewery.com
Once you’ve settled on your last sip and feel ready to move on, head north to Caribou Falls.
Check out the link below for details on the trail:
Last year I stayed in Tofte at an awesome, rustic tiny house Airbnb with a sauna. Lutsen is another great location choice to overnight.
To be honest, finding a budget-friendly accommodation up here can be a challenge, but with enough research on these apps: Expedia, Trip.com, Booking.com, HipCamp, and Airbnb, I can usually find something that works for me!
Day 2: Cascade Falls, Devil’s Kettle, Grand Marais
It’s vacation and life is hard, so I say “chef’s choice” on early birding it to get sight-seeing, or giving the alarm clock a rest to sleep in.
Either way, grab breakfast/brunch at Lockport Market Place and Deli and head for Cascade Falls.
After Cascade River State Park, drive up to Grand Marais.
Grand Marais is a cute small town right on Lake Superior. My personal favorite thing to do is get a coffee at Java Moose Espresso Cafe and take a slow walk to Artist’s Point.
I loved what Northern-Minnesota-based travel writer Ada offered in her blog, Beyond the Yellow Brick Road, in the post, A Local’s Grand Marais: The Only Guide You Need.
Read all her where-to stay, shop, and eat tips here: https://beyondyellowbrickblog.com/grand-marais-guide/
It’s only about a 20 minute drive from the harbor in Grand Marais to Judge C.R. Magney State Park, where the Devil’s Kettle waterfall is.
A photo of the Devil’s Kettle at Judge C. R. Magney State Park in Minnesota, taken Aug. 25, 2012. ‘Amy Meredith Creative Commons via Flickr
As outlined in The Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide, it’s a 2.5 mile round-trip hike from the park’s parking lot. The trail is moderately difficult, with some steep stairs and uneven terrain.
After exploring the Devil’s Kettle area, get dinner back in Grand Marais and wind down for an overnight at one of the adorable Northwoods accommodations available.
Day 3: Grand Portage State Park, Two Harbors, Home
It’s a longer driving day, so I recommend getting up early and spending the majority of the late morning/early afternoon at Grand Portage State Park.
Fittingly, Minnesota’s highest waterfall is the grand finale of the tour.
The High Falls viewing is wheelchair-accessible, on a paved trail a half mile from the visitor center. As written on the Grand Portage DNR page, “The 4.5 mile round-trip hike to Middle Falls is a very rugged trail (lots of rocks and roots, watch your step!) with several hundred feet of elevation change, and provides more of a wilderness experience. Average round-trip hiking time for the Middle Falls Trail is at least 3 hours.”
After taking in the sights at Grand Portage State Park, grab a bite in Grand Marais and start your return to the Twin Cities with a stop at Two Harbors, which is about a half-way point. It’s worth seeing the lighthouse!
The drive from Two Harbors to the Twin Cities is about 2.5 hours.
See the Fall Colors
The Minnesota DNR created a very cool leaf-peak forecast tool that I highly recommend for planning which week you go. It’s been a very warm September so we’re a bit behind schedule on the color changes.
Visit https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/index.html for a fall color map projecting colors based on previous years’ data.
Other good resources:
North Shore Visitor
Meet Me Off Grid
Hello Stranger
Second Summer
It has been a very warm September & October so far this year in the twin cities, slowing down the turn of the colors. I know they’ve already made some brilliant changes further north, though, and I can’t wait to get up there where fall is still happening!
I hope you’re able to take a trip, and if you can’t swing it in the next month or two, the waterfalls will be there through the seasons.
Comment below if you recommend another spot that shouldn’t be missed!
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