Best Fall Color Hikes on the North Shore of Lake Superior

It’s that time of the year again 🍂… when the cycle seems to start over, but it really just continues. Green makes room for yellow, orange, red and brown and nature shows us how to let go. A beautiful unfolding of change.

I’ve never really been an autumn fan, my favorite season has always been summer. But after living at the edge of the wilderness for a while and spending more time in the woods, I can’t help but marvel at the wonderful colors that spice up the landscape in the fall.

I look forward to the fall colors here almost as much as I look forward to seeing the woods turn green in the beginning of summer.

My most cherished activity on the North Shore is hiking. I have hiked a ton of trails in the area, some of them in every season. 

While I still have plenty of trail miles to cover, I want to share my favorite hikes for admiring the fall colors.

1. Oberg Mountain

Probably the most popular trail in the fall, Oberg Mountain has several overlooks that provide spectacular views of the colors. You get to see stunning Lake Superior, Oberg Lake and the changing leaves all in one hike.

^{Oberg Mountain overlook with Lake Oberg in the background}

This loop trail is exceptional any time of the year, but fall is definitely the most impressive season at Oberg Mountain.

Best time to hike: mid to late September

Length: 2.2 miles

Difficulty: moderate

Duration: 1h 30 min (stops for pictures included)

2. Lutsen Mountains

Another fall favorite is the Lutsen Mountains area. There is a really long trail that brings you to the top of Moose Mountain and back, but I have only done a small section of this hike.

The best way to do it, in my opinion, is to take the Gondola up to the top of Moose Mountain, hike around the ridgeline and enjoy the breathtaking view at Mystery Overlook – a perfect spot for pictures. Taking the Poplar River Falls hiking trail is a nice way back to the Lutsen Mountain base area.

^{Mystery Overlook}

Last year, when I went to see the fall colors there, I didn’t want to hike through the woods for that long, as it was already getting late in the day, so I took a shortcut. I walked down one of the ski slopes on Moose Mountain, and then followed the work roads all the way down into the Poplar River Valley and then back up to the base area. The entire adventure – riding the Gondola up, hiking, taking pictures and coming back down to Papa Charlie’s – took about 3 hours.

Best time to hike: mid to late September

Length: 1 to 12 miles (depending on how you choose to do it)

Difficulty: easy to difficult

Duration: varies

3. White Sky Rock – Lake Agnes

With a delightful view of Caribou Lake and the surrounding forest, White Sky Rock is my go-to whenever I want a short, sweet and worthwhile hike. It gets even sweeter in the fall because of the reds and oranges that pop out all over the place.

^{White Sky Rock Overlook}

If I want to hike longer and immerse myself into the colorful woods, I keep going all the way to Lake Agnes. This year the colors were so vibrant, even slightly past peak, that it made for an incredible hiking experience. 

^{On the way to Lake Agnes}

Best time to hike: mid to late September

Length: 0.6 to White Sky Rock + 3 miles to Lake Agnes

Difficulty: moderate (because of steepness)

Duration: 1h 45 min (stops for pictures included)

4. Bean and Bear Lake

If you’re feeling energized and have half a day to spare, this hike will not disappoint. Incredible colors all throughout the hike and several overlooks with outstanding views make Bean and Bear Lake one of the most popular hikes in the fall, despite the length and difficulty.

^{Bean and Bear Lake Overlook}

I didn’t catch it at peak, at least not at the most famous overlook, but it was nevertheless a wonderful display of colors throughout the entire 7 miles and absolutely worth it.

^{On the way to Bean and Bear Lake}

Best time to hike: mid-September to mid-October

Length: 7 miles

Difficulty: difficult

Duration: 4 h (many stops for pictures included)

5. Carlton Peak

Carlton Peak is definitely an all-time favorite in my eyes, regardless of the season. The view here is absolutely breathtaking and it has that magical effect on me – it triggers stillness and helps me ground myself.

^{Ted Tofte Overlook at Carlton Peak}

Depending on the year and fall color changes, there are specific times when I hike this trail. Because it has a 360 degree overlook, you are guaranteed to see one of several stages of fall foliage if you go anytime between mid-September and mid-October.

Best time to hike: late September to early October

Length: 3.5 miles

Difficulty: moderate

Duration: 2 h (stops for pictures included)

6. Pincushion Mountain

I’ve only done this hike once and the colors weren’t peaking yet at that time, but the view was still amazing and I absolutely loved the contrast between the pine and birch trees.

^{Pincushion Mountain Overlook}

Pincushion is also right outside of Grand Marais, so after hiking for 2 hours, it’s nice to come back to town and enjoy a yummy meal.

Best time to hike: early October

Length: 4.5 miles

Difficulty: moderate

Duration: 2 h 30 min

The best time to hike each of these trails really depends on the year. For example, the colors changed later this season than they did in the last two years. We still have some days left of beautiful colors, but most of these hikes are already past peak.

To figure out the best time, you can refer to this fall colors update map, which doesn’t just show the North Shore, but the entire state of Minnesota.

What are your favorite fall color hikes? Let me know in the comments below!