Multiple day hiking trails surround North Shore's Lutsen

Gitchi-Gami State Trail south of Lutsen, Minn.
Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

Minnesota village boasts several miles of walking paths

Lake Superior vistas, mountain summits, and a scenic aspen-birch forest await day hikers on trails in the Lutsen, Minn., area.

The tiny village sits about two-thirds of the way up the North Shore between Duluth, Minn., and the Canadian border. The best way to reach Lutsen is to take Minn. Hwy. 61 north from Duluth.

Among the many great day hikes around Lutsen are:
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Lutsen segments) – Head 0.75 miles (1.5-miles round trip) west to the Tait River or go east 1 mile (2-miles round trip) to the stream flowing out of Mistletoe Creek into Vat Lake in the Superior National Forest. Park in the lot off of County Road 4 north of the County Road 164 intersection, about 6.5 miles north of Lutsen.
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Tofte segments) – In Superior National Forest, walk west a little more than a mile (2.25-miles round trip) across the Temperance River to Blind Temperance Creek or go northeast 5.2 miles (10.4-miles round trip) to the Lutsen Trail intersection. Park in the pullout lot at the County Road 2 and County Road 166 intersection about 4.5 miles north of Tofte.
g Gitchi-Gami State Trail (Lutsen Segment) – The trail heads south/west from Lutsen Ski Hill Road. Take it to Rollins Creek for a 3-mile round trip. Park at the designated GGST parking area.
g Gitchi-Gami State Trail (Tofte Segment) – Starting at Tofte Town Park, the trail heads north/east. LeVeaux Creek is about two miles away for a 4-mile round trip.
g Gitchi-Gami State Trail (Ray Berglund State Wayside segments) – Parking at the wayside, either head south/west to LeVeaux Creek for a 4-mile round trip or north/east to Rollins Creek for a 2-mile round trip.
g Lutsen Access Trail – Day hikers can head through a forest of aspen and birch overlooking Lake Superior in the Lutsen Scientific & Natural Area. From Lutsen, take County Road 5 (aka Ski Hill Road) north. In about 1.5 miles, you’ll come to a ditch crossing the road; park off the road here. The trail heads east into the woods for a 3.33-mile round trip.
g NF-1230 Ski Trail – An old forest road turned ski trail makes for a solid hike up the bluffside starting in the Superior National Forest and ending in the Lutsen Scientific & Natural Area. The 3-mile round trip crosses all three of the SNA’s forests. Park in the dirt lot off of County Road 5, about 1.1 miles north of Hwy. 61 in Lutsen.
g Oberg and LeVeaux Mountains Trails – Day hikers can choose between these trails, each of which leads to the summit of two prominent hills in Superior National Forest’s Sawtooth Mountains. Both are well-worn paths and spurs off the Superior Hiking Trail. To reach the trails, from Lutsen take Hwy. 61 south. Turn right/north onto the unpaved Onion River Road (aka Forest Road 336); after passing the mountains, a parking lot is on the road’s left/west side.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Bluffside heads through North Shore forest

Quaking aspen grove. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

Lutsen Access
Trail follows
old forest road

Day hikers can head through a forest of aspen and birch overlooking Lake Superior near Lutsen, Minn.

The Lutsen Access Trail serves primarily as a snowmobile route (Some maps will show it as the Lutsen Access Snowmobile Trail.). The 3.33-mile round trip segment of the trail described here can be hiked during other seasons, though. By midsummer, however, you’ll want to wear pants and even long-sleeved shirts as the undergrowth flourishes.

From Lutsen, take County Hwy. 5 (aka Ski Hill Road) north. In about 1.5 miles, you'll come to a ditch crossing the road; park off the road here (If no parking is available, drive north and park on Moose Mountain Drive.). The trail, which used to be a forest road, heads east into the woods of Superior National Forest, skirting the bluffside with Lake Superior to the southeast while Eagle Mountain rises in the northwest.

Aspen-birch forest
Within short order, the trail enters an aspen-birch forest. The nearly pure stands of the two trees – popular in the making of paper and particleboard – dominate here, though balsam fir also can be found.

After a half mile, the trail crosses into the Lutsen Scientific & Natural Area. As with other SNAs, the Lutsen unit preserves three undisturbed woodland areas: the bluffside’s aspen-birch forest in its southern portion; a paper birch-sugar maple forest in its central section; and predominantly sugar maple forest across the rest.

The NF-1230 Ski Trail intersects the trail within the SNA. Continue heading straight/east.

Bigtooth aspen can reach up to 80 feet tall while the quaking aspen is a bit shorter at 65 feet. The three varieties of birch found in Minnesota can grow 60-70 feet high. Their leaves turn a golden yellow in autumn.

Perfect soils
About 800 feet from the NF-1230 Ski Trail intersection, the trail re-enters Superior National Forest. It curves northeast and in about 1600 feet comes back into the SNA.

Aspen and birch prefer limestone-derived soils, so they thrive on the bluffside, whose bedrock layers once formed the bottom of an ancient tropical sea. The moist but well-drained soils, typical of the North Shore blufflines, is an added bonus for the trees.

In about 3200 feet, the trail reaches an intermittent stream crossing. This marks a good spot to turn back, though the trail does continue northeast back into the Superior National Forest.

A final note: Scientific and natural areas typically don’t contain amenities like state parks do, and the Lutsen unit is no exception.

Click map for larger version.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.