From Gooseberry Falls in the south, north to Grand Portage at the Canadian Border, Minnesota offers eight state parks sparkling like diamonds along 111 miles of the the North Shore of Lake Superior.
The parks provide beautiful views, easy access to the big lake, and miles of hiking trails through spruce, pine and birch forests with cascading rivers and waterfalls. There’s also a historic lighthouse, a growing network of bike trails connecting the state parks, and campsites to accommodate a variety of campers — backpackers, RVers, tent campers and kayackers. (Grand Portage is the only park that doesn’t offer camping.)
It’s 194 miles, about three hours in good traffic, from the Twin Cities to Gooseberry Falls, the southernmost state park on the North Shore. Duluth is along the way, 40 miles, or about 50 minutes south of Gooseberry.
Weekends summer and fall color season are busiest times in these parks, some of which get pretty crowded. Head to the parks farther north (Temperance, Cascade or Magney), or out into the interior trails of the parks if you’re looking for more solitude.
Campsites are reservable one year in advance; book ahead, many choice spots on weekends are gone as soon as the one-year window opens. Here are the eight parks, from south to north:
Check out Kamp Kos , a new community group for all those who love spending nights in the great outdoors whether it’s in a hammock, a tent, a popup trailer, a VW van, or an RV. It’s a place to share photos, favorite spots, general camping tips and to organize caravans and meetup for those interested in camping liberally.
Weekly Open Thread posts most Saturdays, your camping-related stories, photo diaries, discussion welcomed! Tag KampKos or email idlemoments if you have a diary, or if you’d like to join this group.