Minnesota State Parks & Campgrounds: North Shore Lake Superior Camping, Hiking & Travel

Prominent features of every state park (see our parks directory below) along Minnesota's north shore of Lake Superior are spectacular scenery, rivers, waterfalls, camping and hiking. All have running water and showers. Some parks also have road bike paths and mountain bike trails. Some have camp sites for people canoeing or kayaking on lake superior; some have interior lakes suitable for canoeing, swimming and fishing. A few parks have rustic cabins for rent and some have backcountry camping sites.

Only some of the park campgrounds have electric hookups for RVs; only some have dump stations. If you RV and water and electric hookups are important, private campgrounds along the route may offer more complete facilities.

All the north shore state parks have day use facilities, with some parks particularly well appointed for the day use visitor. So even if you are staying at a private campground, motel, resort, or B&B you can enjoy the recreational amenities that abound in the State Parks.

Below each parks' link, we'll list some of what we consider the strengths or most attractive features of each of the parks.

A day use visitor pass is good at any park along the north shore. An overnight visitor sticker is good at other parks the following day. As a consequence, we often sample 2 or more parks a day (for the price of one) as we travel along highway 61.

While all of the campgrounds have a certain number of sites that can't be reserved in advance, know that these parks along the North Shore are especially popular from mid-June to late September so advance reservations are recommended - and definitely on the weekends.

beach at Tettegouche State Park

"Go Here" for SuperiorTrails.com
Minnesota North Shore Map

Skiing the North Shore

A Guide to Cross Country Trails in Minnesota's Spectacular Lake Superior Region. By Andrew Slade, a Duluth resident who has hiked, skied and camped extensively along the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior. His guide book offers detailed profiles of 35 x-country ski trail systems along the North Shore

Gooseberry Falls [more info]
Waterfalls, the best visitor center, and most variety of scenic & recreational attractions. Good for day visit or extended stay. Campers are advised to make reservations in peak sesaon.

Split Rock & Lighthouse [more info]
Cart-in campsites are beautiful, nice canoe/kayak sites, hiking trails, and lighthouse tour. Campers advised to make reservations in peak season.

Tettegouche [more info]
Great hiking trails along the lake, backcountry lakes & camping, good day visit area; second highest waterfall. Some electic sites for RVs.

Temperance River [more info]
Campground on a high bluff overlooking the lake, Carlton Peak, nice hiking trail along the river. Some electric sites for RVs

Cascade River [more info]
Hiking trails along the river, Lookout Mountain, waterfalls and cascades.

Judge Magney [more info]
Love the hiking trail to Devils Kettle; good one to two hour day hike.

Grand Portage [more info]
The highest waterfall in the state; spectacular; easy hike, wheelchair accessible. (day use only; camping nearby in Grand Portage village) 

Master Index Lake Superior Circle Tour Campground Directory

Main Minnesota North Shore Directory Page

Hikers & Trekkers

Please visit Superior Hiking Trail Association Website for books, maps, guides to hiking along the North Shore. These folks take care of many of the trails you will use along the Minnesota North Shore . . . so support them with some purchases or join the Association.

Agate Hunters & Rock Pickers

Here's our page from our side trip visit, 35 miles south of Duluth, to the Minnesota Geology Interpretive Center near Moose Lake, Mn. Has some good pictures of Lake Superior agates - particularly how they might look laying on the beach. Interested in learning more about those "rocks" found along North Shore beaches? See our Rock Hound pages.