The ultimate way to experience the pristine beauty of Lake Superior’s North Shore and its Sawtooth Mountains is on foot! Our hikes treat you to breathtaking views of:
• Rushing waterfalls and mountain streams
• Boreal forests
• River canyons
• Legendary Lake Gitche Gumme, celebrated by Native Americans in song and story
• Lake Superior’s rugged coastline and islands
Each day, we’ll hike portions of the Superior Hiking Trail, named one of the nation’s best and most scenic paths by Backpacker Magazine. This 275-mile-long footpath follows the rugged ridgeline of the Sawtooth Mountains, which hug Lake Superior’s shoreline from Duluth to Canada.
Other highlights of your North Woods trip:
• Relax at Cove Point, our 5-star, lakefront lodge located on a 150-acre nature preserve. Stroll from the lodge to Superior’s gorgeous shoreline, or watch sailboats and ships from the comfort of an Adirondack chair
• Watch for the abundant North Woods wildlife, including moose, black bear, wolves, and porcupines
• Savor sunset dinners at lakefront restaurants
• Tour famous, cliff-top Split Rock Lighthouse and its keepers’ quarters
• Visit shops for art, clothing, books, and other mementos celebrating this area’s beauty and heritage
Itinerary highlights for the North Woods…
Day 1
• Drive to our lodge in Beaver Bay, Minnesota. Or fly into Duluth International Airport, and let us drive you to our lodge
• Settle into your cozy lakeside room
• Enjoy superb food and mesmerizing lake views in Cove Point’s dining room
Day 2
• Watch the sunrise from your room and enjoy Cove Point’s hearty, complimentary breakfast
• Hike 5 miles along a mountain river as it cascades through a red-rock canyon, and then summit a nearby ridge for amazing vistas of Minnesota’s lakes and wilderness
• Relax with some free time
• Savor a sunset dinner at a local restaurant, overlooking gardens and Lake Superior
Day 3
• Hike 5 miles along a series of spectacular waterfalls and then to a lookout point over Gitche Gumee, the world’s largest freshwater lake
• Take in wildlife exhibits, videos, and gift shops at two state parks
• Tour Split Rock Lighthouse, the fog room, and vintage home of the lighthouse keeper
• Stroll a mile along Superior’s shore with unbeatable views of the lighthouse
• Enjoy a casual dinner at Cove Point, and then munch popcorn, sip wine, and swap fireside stories in the lodge great room
Day 4
• Sail on the Hjordis schooner* along Superior’s shoreline, learning the basics of sailing, as well as the lake shore’s ecology, geology, and history. (*Conditions allowing.)
• Enjoy shopping and lunch in charming Grand Marceis
• Circle a mountaintop trail for unparalleled vistas on this 2-mile, late-afternoon hike.
• Share lakeside dining at a popular North Shore restaurant
Day 5
• Hike 3.5 miles through the Tettegouche wilderness and past its towering waterfalls
• Drink in spectacular vistas of Superior’s coastline and boreal forests from high atop shoreline cliffs on this 1-mile hike
• Relish free afternoon and evening time
Day 6
• Hike 5 miles through a vast white birch forest, up to a scenic mountain peak, and along the Temperance River’s cauldrons, as it tumbles wildly through narrow canyons
• Relax and reflect on a secluded beach
• Gather for our last evening together, with a lakeside campfire and dinner
Day 7
• Relish your last morning at Cove Point
• Drive home or let us shuttle you to Duluth’s airport for your flight
• 6 nights in a 5-star lodge
• 7 guided hikes
• Hearty Cove Point breakfasts each day
• Transportation for the week
• Shuttle to and from Duluth International Airport
• Lighthouse tour
• Round-trip gondola tickets
• Lakeside campfire/dinner and drinks
We are not currently taking deposits for this trip.
“ This trip was extremely well organized. The leaders went out of their way to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and had everything we needed. I would love to share one of these trips with a friend.” -Amy S.
“ I always love the hiking the most on these trips, but the little side-trip opportunities - sailing, lighthouse tour - made for a well-rounded trip of the area.” ~Swift River
“ The trip was well thought out, had good lodging, nice number of women in the group, and great leaders. The best the area had to offer was already selected by the leaders.” ~Anonymous
“ This is something I love but would never do on my own.” ~Hawk
Superior Hiking Trail:
www.shta.org
Lake Superior’s North Shore: www.bwca.cc/activities/hiking/superiorhikingtrail.html
Cove Point: www.covepointlodge.com
Split Rock Lighthouse: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/split_rock_lighthouse/index.html
Duluth International Airport: www.duluthairport.com
Hjordis: www.northhousefolkschool.com/classes/sailing.htm