Very easy trail with a huge reward. This trail is a combo loop/out and back. There are some planks…read morebuilt to help with some of the wetter parts of the trail The falls are beautiful. We saw people swimming in the water in mid-July. There were some interesting trees with exposed roots along the way. Interesting how a tree will go through anything to find ground to put its root. This was recommended to us from a ranger in the Soudan Mine park. So glad he told us about it.

We loved this waterfall hike. It was a lot of fun. They have a free parking lot so you don't have…read moreto worry about parking. They also have an out house so that you can go to the bathroom if you have to go before the hike. The hike to the falls is only like 3 1/2 miles each way. I would not recommend this site for people who have a harder time walking or have an issue with mobility it's not very handicap accessible. We went in the fall time during fall colors and it wasn't to crowded. The resort that we stayed at was actually right across the street so it was walking distance for us. This falls isn't too far from downtown Ely. This is a must see if you are in Ely. Love you from the falls his birthday. You can also kayak to this point and they have places to park the kayak. We actually Walked to the place so I'm not exactly sure the whole kayak route.

While the underground tours are not yet open due to refurbishment, don't miss the above ground…read moretour. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the mines and the people who worked there. The grounds are in amazing condition. The views into the valley are beautiful. We got to see the pulley system working as some inspectors were descending into the mine. We also walked the Hikers Club trail which went about 3 miles around the park. Very woodsy and buggy so make sure you wear some bug repellent.

I understand the mine tours were cancelled in 2024 because of flooding. We did this in 2022 and…read morefound it extremely fun and educational. You take an old style elevator down...down.. down to 2341 feet below the surface 689 below sea level. Then you take a mining train-like with seats. And walk and see and learn what miners dealt with, and you can learn a bit of geology, hydrology, and the thought that went into mining. There is also self guided tour of equipment/buildings, you can see some of the open mine, learn about the safety and community that was unique to this mine.

Cart-in campsites are normally great and well taken care of, especially campsite H…read more We scooped up a campsite(H) and reserved it early on. We get to the site after pushing a full cart(with a messed up wheel) to find a dozen fallen trees that haven't been clean up, and a bunch of dry old rotting brush on the site, and the fire pit is needing to be cleaned out(its full) Site needs maintenance, bad, was really looking forward to our stay, and now just kinda disappointed.

Tettegouche State Park yes what a worthwhile place to come for a visit! Tettegouche is located…read morealong North Shore Scenic Drive running up and down the Minnesota coast. For me...the star attraction is the hike to HIGH FALLS!!! You can never have enough waterfalls and these High Falls were fantastic! I highly recommend everyone make the trek to High Falls and take some time to appreciate the beautiful backdrop. First off, Tettegouche SP is sort of a hidden little park. When I arrived here, the parking lot was small and it appeared that I fortunately got the last available spot. I visited back in June around 9am and the park and trailhead had filled up. I read at the entrance sign that the trail to High Falls was 1.5 miles each way taking roughly 2 hours. I was able to arrive at High Falls in a little over 1 hour each way with a quick pace. I found the hike to be relatively difficult especially starting out and towards the end. Leaving the trailhead I did have to climb up and over some rocks and cliff areas that I wasn't expecting to be so rugged. I'd say the elevation along the way was pretty elevated at times. When you do arrive near High Falls, there's a sign that states you have to step down 83 stairs to the base. But not to fret...it's all worth it. Upon making it to High Falls, I found the setting to be spectacular! It was a sunny, brisk and pleasant morning for the start of summer. Also, there was zero wind. I was able to climb on the rocks for some great looking photos of this 63 foot tall waterfall along the banks of the Baptism River. High Falls splashed down the cliffside and is sort of divided, making the appearance you're gazing out upon two unique looking waterfalls. Really, in total, it was a beautiful scene. If you don't mind taking your shoes off you can certainly step onto the waters for closer views up to High Falls. You can cross the river for different perspectives. I was really impressed with the surroundings at High Falls. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and as I always point out...I got fortunate with the sun being at my back and allowing for picturesque photo opportunities. On the side next to the trail you can climb safely up to the falls. For me, I was content getting a panoramic view from the riverside area. I simply took a seat on the rocks and had High Falls in plain clear sight for one grand magical moment. I hung out for 45 minutes. Eventually it filled up with hikers. For the time I was there though, I was appreciative for looking at such a pretty waterfall. Also at these High Falls, there was a sign for the Two Step Falls Access. I tried to decipher where this access lead towards but unfortunately I never discovered anything worthwhile. For those wanting more out of their time here you can connect to the Superior Hiking Trail. There were signs for it. Another worthwhile spot was Shovel Point. According to the entrance sign, if you follow the cliff line trail to Shovel Point, you're afforded views of the world's largest freshwater lake. Finally, you can also hike to Tettegouche Camp where you can reserve a cabin in advance and stay overnight in nature. Or it's mentioned that you can simply picnic in the lodge or canoe Mic Mac Lake. My experience here at Tettegouche State Park was fulfilling. Getting the chance to hike to High Falls for fantastic photo chances was memorable. I left feeling satisfied and grateful for taking a few hours out of my summer morning to visit. I highly recommend stopping here during your travels along North Shore Scenic Drive. I've become a waterfall enthusiast and believe if you make the 1.5 mile trek each way, you will not be disappointed with the sights and surroundings of this 5 star attraction.

I'm not one to write reviews but I feel compelled to in the case of…read moreCanoe Country Outfitters. I just don't see why anyone would go anywhere else. I'm the third generation (my kids are now the fourth) to regularly visit the Boundary Waters. My father and uncle switched to CCO for their partial outfitting about 30 years ago and we have never looked back. They are efficient, friendly, no-nonsense, responsive, and knowledgeable. Never had even an inkling of a problem. Everything just works, every single time. The Olson's are great people and you can trust them to do their part to make your trip fantastic.

My Boy Scout troop had an amazing experience in the Boundary Waters (June 2025) with the fantastic…read morehelp from Canoe Country Outfitters. From taking care of our permits, to preparing our gear, food, and everything, CCO was the best from start to finish. They made planning the trip so easy for my group. The food they provided us for 1 week in the Boundary Waters was great and easy to carry and prepare. At the end of our trip when one bag was left at the final portage, Brian took a boat back and found it for us. What amazing service and care! Thank you to the whole CCO team for organizing our trip.

This is such a fun beach and about an hour-ish north from Duluth!…read more There is a small parking lot(free) and if you get lucky, you may be able to park there! Otherwise there is street parking and overflow!(both free) There is a golf cart that takes people back and forth from overflow to the beach for free! He does work off of tips, so be sure to throw some money his way! He is super nice, places music and has a cool bubble machine! You will walk down a short path and then... BEACH TIME!!! The beach has some areas with coarse rocks and then fine black sand! The beach is kept pretty clean and there are garbage cans as you are coming onto the beach and leaving. There are fire pits and picnic tables on a first come first serve basis. There are rocks for kids to climb on and stay entertained! The water is always cold, but on those hot days, it feels so good!!! It is a smaller beach and is gorgeous. We like to stop at the Rustic Inn, grabs some slices of pie, and eat the on the beach! Respects the area and make sure you leave with your trash! Together we can keep this beach as outstanding as it already is! **I dropped a star because there is no toilet, only a Biffy)

We didn't get to spend as much time here as we'd have liked to, as we were traveling with the…read moreparents & they prefer "from the car" experiences. We will be making a return trip for a more in-depth venture. The "black sand" is more like ground rock - don't expect a powder feel. Still, it's rather cool & a great place to stop, especially off-season!

Voyageurs is an under visited park with lots to offer. It excels at paddle packing. You must have a…read moreboat to really explore the park because no camping is available except on islands in the park's lakes. The park doesn't rent boats so plan to bring your own or rent from a local outfitter. If you do need somewhere cheap or free to sleep nearby, check the overnight parking area at Wooden Frog which also comes with water and vault toilet facilities. There are three different visitors centers each offering something different.

After coming here to Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota I have officially been to every…read moreNP in the continental United States! I am proud...took many years to accomplish. Let me explain why this very remote and secluded park mostly based out on the waters was just okay, and not really memorable in terms of sights and surroundings. There are 3 sections to Voyageurs that I explored. - The Kabetogama Lake area. - The Rainy Lake section. - The Ash River part. In total...I used 2 full days hanging out and getting to know what Voyageurs is all about. I dedicated 1 entire day to a boat tour around Voyageurs. And btw...if you are new to Voyageurs for the first time...it is best explored by boat tour. If you don't take a boat...then you're wasting your time. The hikes/trails and or scenic views are extremely minimal here. Just a heads up to be prepared...I would have my expectations tempered for coming here. I advise to simply enjoy the forest setting along Kabetogama and Rainy Lakes like I did and appreciate being out in nature. I booked my day Grand Voyageur day excursion boat tour with a former employee of Voyageurs NP named Bill. He has his own website called Border Guide Service for navigating the waters with roughly 10 people in your group. It's a 6-hour tour costing $160. He can be found online at the website voyageursnationalparktours.com. We departed on our boat tour from the Kabetogama Lake section of Voyageurs. Bill was insightful and knew all the history and popular sights and landmarks to visit. Here's a sample of what I got to check out while on his tour... Kettle Falls and Hotel, Hoist Bay, Ellsworth Rock Gardens, Junction Bay and Daily Brook. Bill is friendly and I'd recommend his tour. I appreciated my time getting to know more about what makes Voyageurs unique. You can book a Voyageurs Park tour with recreation.gov...the national park service website. I never reserved with this website because this past summer for the middle of June and because of the pandemic...recreation.gov didn't offer many available times and options for tours. We have been just sort of exiting the pandemic and maybe they gave tours twice a week, which wasn't good enough in my book because of how I scheduled my journey here. I needed more accessible options other than recreation.gov. Bill at voyageursnationalparktours.com offered tours every day, much more accommodative for me. I know I only have so much room to write so I'll try and be concise about what I saw at all 3 sections when not traveling by boat. I spent 1 full day out of Kabetogama Lake with my tour. Otherwise, other than a small Visitors Center here, there's not much offered, not even a worthwhile hiking trail. I spent my 2nd full day half the time at the Rainy Lake section and the afternoon time at the Ash River area. Btw, all 3 sections are within 20 - 40 miles driving distance from each other. Rainy Lake is the primary part to Voyageurs. A lot of private boats depart onto the waters from here including the recreation.gov boat tour. The Visitor Center here was great, offering good souvenirs, getting your Parks Pass stamped and even a park film. I did 2 hikes here - the Rainy Lake Recreation Trail and the Oberholtzer Trail. Both are simple along flat ground and give you an introduction into the surroundings of Rainy Lake. The Ash River I believe was the smallest of all 3 sections and the least visited. Although Voyageurs wasn't meant to be hiked...yet here at Ash River were the most decent trails. And again, there's a small VC here. The hikes I did were Kabetogama Lake Overlook, Blind Ash Bay, Sullivan Bay and Beaver Pond Overlook. These hikes offered some pleasant sights. Ultimately, I only hiked and walked around at Rainy Lake and Ash River, and I used Kabetogama Lake as my boat destination for departing onto the waters to the famous sights of Kettle Falls, Hoist Bay and Ellsworth Rock Gardens. Extra notes... In the Kabetogama section...there's the Gateway General Store and Gas Station where you can pick up all your supplies and any extras you may need. I stopped here every morning and grabbed breakfast with an egg sandwich and coffee. I really recommend this place. For accommodations I stayed in the Kabetogama Lake area and camped out at WoodenFrog State Forest Campground. For those tourists who appreciate sleeping outdoors...I definitely suggest WoodenFrog Campground for $17 a night, pitching your tent among spacious surroundings. When hanging out in Rainy Lake...the town of International Falls is situated just 10 miles away. Int'l Falls is the biggest town near Voyageurs. It has everything including fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Dairy Queen, supermarkets including hotels and motels. Voyageurs NP is fine for a couple days visit getting a chance to check it off your NP To-Do List. I paired it with Isle Royale NP a few days prior, another primitive park set in the UP of Michigan. Alright, this is Voyageurs NP.

Great customer service! The canoes were in perfect condition and the people take pride in their…read morework here! Would definitely recommend to people coming to the boundary waters!

Cliff Wolds made our boundary waters trip the best trip ever! We had exactly what we needed and…read morePLENTY of food! They were so friendly and gave us advice that we were so thankful for! Cliffs is the way to go!

Spending time along the north shore is always a joy. It's a hike to get to from the cities, but the…read moredrive is worth it. I appreciate the camping location off the highway but a quick walk to the lake from the campgrounds. Listening to the waves crash from the campsite is such a calm and relaxing experience. It is a little strange to have parking outside of the actual park for people to visit the two sections on either side of the river. A little inconvenient if you're in the park and want to walk over that way, in my opinion. This is one difficult locations to book for camping if you're looking for a weekend. There is no dump station at this park, so we usually have to drive about 40 min to another park with one.

I almost don't want to disclose how much I adore this state park and it's campgrounds because the…read moremore people talk, the greater attraction it becomes. For a newbie camper, I couldn't have asked for a better entry point to experiencing the great outdoors. The bathroom facilities are modern and very clean/well maintained. If you score a campsite right along Lake Superior, consider yourself super lucky because there is no better spot to camp at Temperance. Even with needing to cart in, the brief walk is worth the proximity to water and waking up to the sound of waves.

An amazing gem for those looking for a more secluded experience with nature on the North Shore. The…read moreparks along the North Shore are all good, but this one really stands out as a way to escape the crowds and enjoy nature. Lots of cool hike-to camping sites.

This waterfall is gorgeous! The hike is very hard so be careful if doing this with kids. There is…read moreno pathway everything has been getting taken back by nature. There are two routes one 0.8 miles roundtrip and the other 1.5 miles round trip! They have a nice little parking lot as well! Highly recommend if you're adventures and love a good challenging hike!

State park with the best beach in the Midwest! Sand and pines, family and pet friendly!read more

We have been going here for at least 20 plus years. Best place to camp. Just bring your bug spray!read more