Leave Minneapolis
No pre-position this trip — sleep at home and get an early jump. It's about 2¾ hours to Two Harbors, so a 7 o'clock start lands you at Betty's near opening and leaves an easy cushion before the 11:45 tour.
~150 mi → Betty's
Three days, the whole of Highway 61, and the biggest freshwater lake on earth out the right-hand window. This is the no-Thursday version: sleep at home, leave Minneapolis early Friday, brunch at Betty's on the way up, and paddle Split Rock at midday before working up the shore to Lutsen and on to Grand Marais. This guide runs full on purpose — every highlight, plus what to drop when the day gets long, is marked the whole way down. Every hike links to its AllTrails page; every spot to eat links to its listing.
The Route, at a Glance
- Day 1Friday — Leave early, brunch at Betty's, paddle Split Rock at 11:45, cliffs into Lutsen
- Day 2Saturday — The full Lutsen day: hike early, gondola midday, Grand Marais at dusk
- Day 3Sunday — Drive home; an early Duluth lunch if the clock allows
✦
Day One
Friday
Leave early, brunch at Betty's, paddle Split Rock at midday, then the cliffs into Lutsen
1 Minneapolis · 2 Betty's · 3 Split Rock · 4 Palisade Head · 5 Lutsen
Open in Google Maps ↗
Brunch at Betty's Pies
The North Shore's landmark pie-and-lunch stop, just north of Two Harbors and right on the way up — Betty's Pies opens at 9, so the early start buys a proper brunch (pie counts) with time to spare. Split Rock is only 15 minutes further north.
~15 min → Split Rock
Split Rock Sea Kayak
Day Tripper's two-hour Split Rock tour: paddle out under the lighthouse, across to Gold Rock Point, and toward the Madeira wreck when the water's clear. It's their most flexible, most beginner-friendly run — calmer and cheaper than the Tettegouche cliffs. Wetsuits, jackets, and gloves provided. Read your confirmation that morning for the meet point; if the lake's rough they'll adjust or reschedule.
~30 min north → High Falls
Tettegouche — High Falls
A short hike from the Baptism River trailhead to High Falls — the tallest waterfall entirely inside Minnesota (~70 ft). Wide, well-kept trail with boardwalks and a suspension bridge above the falls.
~10 min → Palisade Head
Palisade Head
Now see it from the top. You can drive nearly to the summit of the shore's tallest cliff — a few minutes on foot for the biggest view of the day, straight down the same wall you paddled beneath this morning, with climbers often out on the ropes below.
~40 mi → Lutsen
Into the Airbnb
A full day — the early drive, the paddle, and both hikes — so roll into the Lutsen place around 4:45, home base for the next two nights. Dry out the gear, settle in, and figure out how hard you want to go tomorrow.
✦
Day Two
Saturday
The full Lutsen day — hike early, gondola midday, Grand Marais at dusk
1 Oberg Mtn · 2 Temperance River · 3 Lutsen · 4 Cascade River · 5 Grand Marais
Open in Google Maps ↗
Oberg Mountain Loop
The best overlooks on the shore for the effort — Lake Superior on one side, Oberg Lake and the Sawtooth Mountains on the other. Go early: cool, empty, and the light is best before mid-morning. Steep and rooty in spots, but short.
Morning coffee & a pastry
Bakery & coffee
Coho Cafe & Bakery
Tofte · en route to the trailhead
You pass through Tofte on the way to Oberg — the Coho (at Bluefin Bay) does fresh pastries and coffee. Grab it before the hike or on the way back down.
Maps ↗~10 min → Temperance River
Temperance River — Hidden Falls
A gorge hike right along the river — the falls loop is easy and short. Feeling strong? Push the spur up to Carlton Peak for the Lake Superior summit view (about 6.8 mi and 1,050 ft round trip, ~3½ hr all in). Or just walk the falls, or skip the whole thing if Friday wore everyone out.
~15 min → Lutsen Mountains
Lutsen Gondola & Lunch
The Summit Express up Moose Mountain, food at the top if you want it, and big Lake Superior views without the climb. A good call if it's too hot to hike.
Alpine Slide
A half-mile sled down Eagle Mountain on a concrete track at the Lutsen base — take the chairlift up and control your own speed with the brake. Easy to skip if you'd rather keep moving north.
~15 min → Cascade River
Cascade River State Park
Waterfall cascades stacked right off the highway. A short half-mile loop runs both sides of the river just above where it meets Lake Superior. Cut it if the day's running long.
~25 min → Grand Marais
Grand Marais — Artist's Point
Walk out onto Artist's Point — bare rock and a lighthouse set out on the lake — then dinner and beers at Voyageur Brewing, rooftop over the harbor. Light holds until past nine, so there's no rush back.
Grand Marais, if not Voyageur
Pizza · local landmark
Sven & Ole's
Downtown Grand Marais
The Up-North pizza institution, in town since the '80s. Usually busy.
Maps ↗Dinner · on the water
The Angry Trout Cafe
Grand Marais harbor
Right on the harbor — local, seasonal food and tables at the water's edge. The sit-down option if the weather holds.
Maps ↗Donuts · mornings only
World's Best Donuts
Downtown Grand Marais · cash only
A genuine North Shore landmark since 1969 — but it closes in the early afternoon, so it's a "if you're ever here in the morning" note, not tonight.
Maps ↗~30 min back to Lutsen, your call
✦
Day Three
Sunday
Drive home — with an early Duluth lunch if you're not racing a clock
1 Lutsen · 2 Duluth · 3 Minneapolis
Open in Google Maps ↗
Leave Lutsen
Pack the night before. It's about 4¼ hours back to MSP — leave whenever the group's moving. If you want the Duluth lunch below, time it to roll through town around midday when things are open.
~2¼ hrs → Duluth
Early Lunch in Duluth
The one meal we skip on the way up. Coming back through Duluth around midday, Canal Park is the natural stop — the Northern Waters Smokehaus (opens 10 on Sundays) for a smoked-fish sandwich, right under the Aerial Lift Bridge. Need to be back early? Skip it and push straight through.
If there's time
Lunch · opens 10 AM Sunday
Northern Waters Smokehaus
Canal Park, Duluth
Duluth's smokehouse — cured and smoked-fish sandwiches, right by the lift bridge. Counter service, so it's quick.
Maps ↗
~2¼ hrs → Minneapolis
Home
About 240 miles door to door. Straight through you're home by early afternoon; with the Duluth lunch, a bit later.
Before You Go
The Short List
The Paddle
Kayak — 11:45 AM Friday, Day Tripper of Duluth's two-hour Split Rock tour (~$97 a paddler, ~$485 for five). Their standard, beginner-friendly run — book online. Wetsuits provided; if the lake's rough they'll adjust or reschedule.
Where You Sleep
The Lutsen Airbnb covers Friday and Saturday nights — and Thursday you're home in the Cities, so there's nothing else to book. The one thing to lock is the early Friday start: a 7 AM roll-out makes Betty's brunch and the 11:45 tour comfortable.
On the Water
Wetsuits are provided. Wear a swimsuit or quick-dry layer underneath, and bring water shoes plus a layer for the boat — Superior is cold even in August.
On the Trail
Real trail shoes, a daypack, water, and sunscreen. Sunrise is ~6:00 AM and sunset ~8:40 PM, so daylight is never the constraint.
The Whole Route
Highway 61, end to end
Minneapolis · Two Harbors · Split Rock · Tettegouche · Palisade Head · Lutsen · Oberg · Temperance · Cascade · Grand Marais
Before You Fly Out
Other Twin Cities coffee
Coffee · roaster
Port 2050
St Paul · Midway
A small Twin Cities roaster, mostly single-origin. Worth a detour for a cup or beans to take home.
Maps ↗Coffee · several cafes
FRGMNT Coffee
Minneapolis · North Loop / Mill District / St. Anthony Main
Minneapolis roaster with several cafes around downtown and the river — any of them works for a first or last cup.
Maps ↗