Gitchi-Gami State Trail traces Minnesota’s stunning North Shore of Lake Superior, connecting a string of state parks and communities between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. Named from the Ojibwe word for Lake Superior, this paved multi-use trail offers some of the most breathtaking lakeside scenery in the Upper Midwest — rugged basalt cliffs, cobblestone beaches, and dense boreal forest stretching to the horizon.

Currently over 30 miles of paved segments are complete, with the long-term vision linking 89 miles of continuous trail along the shore. The smooth, wide surface is ideal for biking, inline skating, and walking, while winter brings opportunities for cross-country skiing and fat biking on groomed sections. Each completed segment connects to or passes through North Shore landmarks — Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, Temperance River, and Cascade River State Parks among them.

The trail works beautifully as a point-to-point ride with a car shuttle, or you can explore individual segments as out-and-back day trips. Several sections run right along the lakeshore, putting you close enough to feel the spray from Superior’s waves on a windy day.

Late September through mid-October is peak season, when the North Shore’s fall color display is among the finest in the country. Summer offers long days and wildflower-lined corridors, though weekends draw crowds. Spring brings waterfalls at their most dramatic as snowmelt surges through the river gorges.

Pack layers regardless of season — Lake Superior manufactures its own weather, and temperatures along the shore can shift quickly.

Explore Nearby

• Split Rock Lighthouse — Lighthouse in Minnesota
• Split Rock Lighthouse — Lighthouse in Minnesota
• Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in Wisconsin
• North Shore Road — Scenic Byway in Nevada
• Superior National Forest — National Forest in Minnesota