Memories in the Miles MN

I'm a huge sucker for waterfalls. There are so many unique falls along the North Shore of Lake Superior, some right off the road and some requiring further hikes. I'm honestly surprised that Caribou Falls isn't more well-known, considering it's size and proximity to Highway 61. My guess is that it's less traveled due to not being part of a state park. After stopping here, I consider it one of the must-sees along the North Shore. Caribou Falls State Wayside was a quick add-on to our North Shore weekend last fall (read more and see our full agenda here ). Minnesota has 9 state waysides, which are too small to be considered a full state park, but containing important cultural or natural resources and beautiful views. Most have minimal to no facilities. This wayside does have a vault toilet in the parking lot. The trail is not maintained in the winter. Navigate to Caribou Falls State Wayside , which is just past mile 70.5 on Highway 61. When the water level is low, you ...

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost Have you heard of George Crosby Manitou State Park? This park is one of the least-visited state parks, despite it's location on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Is it "less traveled" due to quality? Absolutely not! There are two main reasons why this park isn't spoken of: location and trail difficulty.  It's off the main roads, so the park is a 20-minute drive from Highway 61. The trails themselves are tough - full of rocks and roots, narrow, and not always well-marked. This is by design - the park is intentionally under-developed to create more of a wilderness experience. This is precisely the reason I chose George Crosby Manitou as one of the stops on our North Shore weekend last fall (read about our full weekend and find our agenda here ). Huge bonus - it has a cascade waterfall! To get to the park, navigat...

Alright, I'm finally getting started on my Fall on the North Shore series! Last fall, my husband and I had a rare chance to spend a weekend on the North Shore of Lake Superior during peak fall colors. Read about our full trip and view our itinerary here . Section 13 of the Superior Hiking Trail ( AllTrails map ) was our first stop of the weekend. Fall is a very busy time on the North Shore, so I was intentional about choosing trails that were a little more off the beaten path. An easy way to avoid some of the crowd is to hike a trail that is even slightly off of the main road, Highway 61. The fact that this trail is only named "Section 13" also indicated that it probably wasn't well-traveled. The Superior Hiking Trail runs along the North Shore of Lake Superior and is maintained by a non-profit organization (Superior Hiking Trail Association) and countless volunteers. Main trails are indicated by a blue blaze on trees, while spur trails are marked in white. The south...

It's almost the most magical time of the year in Minnesota! I am so in love with fall, as it brings cooler temperatures, light breezes, and, best of all, vibrant colors. After falling in love with the North Shore of Lake Superior, I knew I HAD to get there during peak fall colors. However, fall is also peak work season for my husband, so I knew it was going to be difficult. Last fall, we were lucky enough to have a rare free weekend at the end of September to make it happen. I am very intentional about planning itineraries and hikes around time of year, weather, crowds, and specific colors. My goal for this weekend was to find trails less traveled (the North Shore is crazy busy this time of year!) and specifically seek out orange and red. While vibrant yellow provides a beautiful contrast to the greenery around, I prefer the fiery hues. Plus, the green and yellow combo reminds me too much of a neighboring professional sports team of which we will not speak. 😉 The Minnesota DNR pro...