Best Things to Do On North Shore MN This Fall

What To Do and See on Minnesota’s North Shore This Autumn

For many in Minnesota, the fall season hasn’t officially begun until they’ve traveled to Lake Superior’s North Shore.

While not as iconic as a New England autumn, there’s no denying that fall in northern Minnesota has a special charm. For many seasonal businesses, it’s the last hurrah before a well-deserved winter hiatus. With dwindling visitors, crisp temperatures, and gorgeous foliage, autumn’s my favorite time to be out and about in my Boundary Waters backyard.

In this post, I’m sharing my favorite fall things to do up and down the North Shore. As a lifelong resident of northeastern Minnesota, I also have some insider tips about what to expect during an autumn visit to the North Shore, how to time your trip for the best fall colors, and why you might (or might not!) want to skip visiting over fall weekends.

I’m so excited to share the best, and most fleeting, Minnesota season with you!

1) Take a Scenic Drive

It might be obvious, but the very best way to experience fall on the North Shore is to take a drive.

Backroads crisscross northern Minnesota. Without exaggeration, you could easily while away an entire day on the gravel roads that meander through the Superior National Forest.

One of the most popular North Shore fall color drives is the Honeymoon Trail – a gravel road that runs between the Caribou Trail outside of Lutsen and Tofte’s Sawbill Trail. While you’re in the neighborhood, stop at the sugar shack at Wild Country Maple Syrup to pick up some delicious maple products like syrup and candies.

You can choose any of the many scenic byways in the area (yes, Highway 61 is one, as is the Gunflint Trail) and have a lovely fall color drive. Just know that North Shore fall colors trend yellow and orange when you travel away from dramatic crimsons of the Lutsen area’s maple stands.

If you decide to simply drive along Highway 61, I recommend going all the way to the Canadian border to experience that stunning topography around Grand Portage. Don’t skip a stop at the Susie Islands Overlook.

2) Ride the gondola at Lutsen Mountains

After a scenic drive, the next most recommended North Shore fall activity is the gondola at Lutsen Mountains.

The Summit Express gondola runs from the main ticket office at Lutsen Mountains to the Summit Chalet on Moose Mountain. At $29 for an 8-minute ride, it’s a spendy way to enjoy the fall colors. But the view at the top of Moose Mountain is truly stunning. If you’re lucky enough to ride during peak fall colors like I did a couple years ago, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

If you want to milk your gondola experience, you can hike back to your vehicle at the ticket office via the Superior Hiking Trail. This 4.3 mile hike is not for the faint of heart. The bridge across the Poplar River near the end of the hike is a great reward for your labors.

Pro tip: gondola lines are notoriously long on autumn weekends. It’s best to visit mid-week during fall color season to avoid crowds.

3) Take a hike off the Gunflint Trail

Popular fall color hikes close to Lake Superior like White Sky Rock, Bear and Bean Lakes, and Oberg Mountain are often ridiculously crowded and chaotic during peak foliage. (Seriously, on autumn weekends, parked cars back up almost to Highway 61 at the Oberg Mountain trailhead – that’s nearly a mile!)

But finding an empty trailhead along Minnesota’s North Shore really isn’t hard. Just head up the Gunflint Trail, a 57-mile long National Scenic Byway that starts in Grand Marais.

Check out one of my favorite five fall Gunflint Trail hikes or do a little exploring on your own. While the fall colors on the Gunflint trend orange and yellow, you just might find your new North Shore fall hiking sweet spot.

4) Check out Art Along the Lake

Every autumn, starting on the last Friday of September, artists living along Lake Superior’s North Shore, open their home studios to the public for 10 days as part of the Art Along the Lake event. During this time, all participating artist studios, along with several art galleries, are open every day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

With more than 25+ stops, Art Along the Lake combines the North Shore’s special artistic community with the quintessential fall foliage drive. Since the Art Along the Lake tour is self-guided, you get to choose which studios and artists you visit. 

Regardless of where you decide to stop, you’re in for personal conversations with the artists and a chance to stock up on local art. 

Some of my favorite artists featured on this tour include Nancy Hemstad Seaton (watercolors and glass), Nan Onkka (woodcut prints), and Hannah Palma (pottery).

5) Get a seasonal coffee drink

Sure, you can get a pumpkin spice latte anywhere this time of year. But sipping an autumnal drink while viewing iconic North Shore scenes like Split Rock Lighthouse or Gooseberry Falls just hits different.

Many favorite North Shore coffee shops, like Timber Coffee Company in Silver Bay or Java Moose in Grand Marais, roll out special fall drink menus.

Although not technically autumn drinks, many drinks on North Shore coffee shop menus pair perfectly with fall colors and long drives. You can’t go wrong with a Java Moose Harbor Fog tea or 740 Estate from Lutsen’s Fika Coffee. Don’t forget the classic maple latte either!

6) Celebrate Halloween in Duluth

Of all holidays, Duluth, MN definitely leans hardest into Christmas, but the Lake Superior city also does Halloween proud.

Take a stroll past the Victorian mansions on East Superior Street and tell me you don’t pick up any spooky inklings. Autumn is the perfect time to tour the OG of Duluth’s probably haunted houses: Glensheen. Alternatively, check out one of the Duluth Preservation Alliance’s self-guided walking tours to learn more about Duluth’s beautiful architecture.

Other fun Halloween events in Duluth include the William A Irvin Haunted Ship in Canal Park. I’m not ashamed to admit that I vacillated between screaming and laughing hysterically during my time on the haunted ore ship. If you have littles, you might prefer a lower-key Halloween event like Boo at the Zoo at the Lake Superior Zoo.

For enchanted rather than haunted Halloween vibes, consider a stroll on the grounds of my alma mater, the College of St. Scholastica. The college’s castle-like Tower Hall gives serious, cozy “Harry Potter” fall feelings.

7) Go to a museum before it closes for the winter

Fall is your final chance to visit the many seasonal museums that dot Minnesota’s North Shore. Whether you’re interested in commercial fishing, the area’s natural and human history, or lighthouses, there’s a museum along Lake Superior for you. The catch is that most North Shore museums only operate from late May – mid-October.

If you want to pair a museum visit with a beautiful fall color drive, I’d check out Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center at the end of the Gunflint Trail or the Grand Portage Heritage Center at Grand Portage National Monument. Another favorite is the 3M Museum in downtown Two Harbors.

These museums often reduce their hours to weekends only in October, so double check opening times before putting it on the day’s agenda.

8) Check out Moose Madness in downtown Grand Marais

My favorite fall weekend on the North Shore is Moose Madness in downtown Grand Marais. This family festival thrown by Visit Cook County starts on the third Friday of October and corresponds with MEA weekend.

(MEA stands for “Minnesota Educators Association.” Now called Education Minnesota, this organization throws a statewide conference on the third Thursday and Friday of October which means no public school for Minnesota kids on these days. Bonus holiday weekend!)

There’s jovial “last hurrah” atmosphere in town during Moose Madness. You can search for a medallion hidden in downtown Grand Marais. Head over to the Visitor Information Center to complete challenges that earn you “Moose Bucks.” These bucks can be spent a $1 for $1 rate at most Grand Marais downtown businesses.

I love popping into favorite Grand Marais shops like Drury Lane Books, Dappled Fern Fibers, and the Big Lake to check out their latest inventory. Lunch from one of the various food trucks like Shook Smoothies or Crooked Spoon always hits the spot. It’s also your last chance to get World’s Best Donuts for a few months, so get on it!

9) Enjoy some live music

I’ll be honest, I could live a long happy life and never attend another concert. Don’t worry – I’m well aware I’m in the minority here. If live music is your jam, you’ll find ample opportunities along the North Shore in autumn.

The WTIP Radio Waves music festival located at the base of the sledding hill in downtown Grand Marais kicks things off in early September. Close on its heels is the Unplugged concert at North House Folk School in mid-September.

You’ll also want to check out local event calendars for live music at various North Shore venues such as Lutsen Mountains or the bandshell at Thomas Owens Park in downtown Two Harbors.

10) Go to a pumpkin patch

Think fall calls for pumpkin patches, mazes, and hay rides? You can absolutely find that on Lake Superior’s North Shore . . . just not on Minnesota’s North Shore.

Northwestern Ontario’s beautiful Slate River Valley is found a quick 35-minute drive past the U.S./Canada border crossing at the Pigeon River. After the rugged, rocky terrain of northern Minnesota, you might be surprised to find a thriving farm community on the outskirts of Thunder Bay.

Pumpkinfest at Gammondale Farm is chuck-a-block full of family fun including pumpkin catapults, farm animals, mazes, nature trails, and more.

Afterwards, swing by nearby Belluz Farms to stock up on fresh produce. Don’t forget to stop at Thunder Oak Cheese Farm before heading back down the shore.

Other Fun Fall Things To Do on the North Shore

• Shop the unique boutiques up and down Highway 61 like the Moon Market, the North Country, WatersEdge Trading Company, and Objects To Crave.
• If you’ve used any of my packing lists, you know I’m a huge fan of choosing used over new. Hit up a North Shore thrift shop to scope out a new-to-you favorite sweater or piece of autumnal décor. Some favorite thrift stores along Lake Superior include the Goodwill in Two Harbors, Second Hand Rose in East Beaver Bay, and First and Second in Grand Marais.
• Hike a section of the Superior Hiking Trail. The section between Silver Bay and Finland is a personal favorite. You can also do some of my favorite North Shore winter hikes. 
• Take ride or hike on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail.
• Check out events at Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center or Wolf Ridge.
• Tackle the ropes at the North Shore Adventure Park in Silver Bay.
• Is pie not the perfect autumn treat? Use this trip up the shore to settle (at least for you personally) the debate about which North Shore institution has the best pie: Betty’s Pies or Rustic Inn Cafe. (Check out my 25 Best North Shore MN Stops post to learn my preference!)

When Do The Colors Peak on the North Shore, MN?

Lake Superior’s North Shore is one of the first places you can catch fall color in Minnesota. Perhaps because of this special designation, the North Shore is an extremely popular destination in late September and early October.

However, timing the North Shore’s peak fall colors can be tricky business. After all, just like with the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mother Nature has the final say on when leaves change and how long they hang onto their branches.

In general, if you’re looking to see colors before the trees start to shake their leaves, you’ll want to visit during the last week of September or first week of October. No surprise, these are some of the busiest weekends of the year on the North Shore. On the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, I’d say colors typically peak in the first couple days of October.

That said, the colors sometimes peak in mid-September. If a storm hits at just the right moment, the leaves can be on the ground just couple days after colors peak. On the flip side, in 2024, the leaves lingered until very late October.

Even if you miss peak North Shore fall colors, there’s a certain charm to “stick season” before snow officially flies.