Looking for the best state park for hiking in Minnesota? Head to Tettegouche State Park for waterfall trails, incredible overlooks, and so much more! Here are the best things to do in Tettegouche State Park:

why me? hi there! I’m Maddy, a Minnesota based writer & photographer. I’ve spent the last three or so years living on the North Shore, working on and off as a wilderness guide in the area and appreciating this area the best way I know how; from the trail! I’m stoked to share all of my favorite North Shore hiking trails with you! Happy trails and see you out there!

Leave no Trace in Tettegouche State Park:

The North Shore of Minnesota is the ancestral homeland of the Anshinaabe Indigenous People, and we are all guests on their land. Be aware when recreating on the North Shore that many sites have historical and cultural significance and should be treated with exceptional respect and care. Avoid hiking on unofficial trails as it may contribute to erosion, and only park where official parking spots are available, rather than make new parking spots widening roads. Take care not to damage trees and other plant life, even if they seem to be blocking the view. 

All trash, including toilet paper, orange peels, banana peels, etc, needs to be packed out. Many hiking trails on the Superior Hiking Trail are rigorous; be sure to pack enough food and water for your group. Cell service is not guaranteed in the area; neither is a quick rescue in the event of an emergency. To learn more about the general principles of Leave No Trace, click here.

Check out a detailed guide to Leave No Trace in Northern Minnesota!

How do you pronounce “Tettegouche” state park?

First and for most, it is not “Tett-a- goochie”!! It is pronounced “Tette-a-goosh”! Make sure to say it “Tette-a-goosh” to avoid sounding like you’re new to the area.

Note: This article contains affiliate links! This means if you decide to purchase something based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

What to pack for a hiking trip in Northern Minnesota:

Summers of Lake Superior can be chilly, particularly in June and early July! Pack for a variety of weather conditions. I recommend…

• 2 lightweight, long hiking pants. I wear a size 8 and am short, and find the REI trailmade to be super flattering as well as the Kuhl freeflex.
• A pair of shorts, and yoga pants with pockets 
• A fleece. Any fleece will do, but I really love my Patagonia Synchilla
• Wool baselayers. Five years of heavy paddling and my Smartwool baselayers are the only wool baselayers I’ve had that have really stood the test of time. For seven days, pack four baselayer tops. 
• Study hiking boots. I like my Briger Mids. Working in outdoor retail I literally never had anyone try on these shoes and not buy them. Pair with Darn Tough hiking socks and pack at least five pairs. In the alpine areas, trekking poles are also a great choice!
• hiking sandals
• Quick dry shots: I like Patagonia Baggies
• A puffy jacket. It can be cool even in the summer near the lakeshore, especially evenings. My partner Andy (also a wilderness guide) swears by the Patagonia Nano Puff. I like my Helly Hansen Liftloft. 
• If camping, a tent, packable sleeping bag (Nemo Disco) and pad (comfortable sleeping pad): Read my budget tent recommendations here!
• A day hiking pack: I love my Perimeter 35L. I was gifted this pack a few years back and it’s still my go-to day pack; a savvy packer can easily pack for a seven day hiking trip in this bag. 
• A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen; It’s affordable, cute, and super durable.

Best Things to do in Tettegouche State Park:

For a map of the trails in Tettegouche State Park, click here.

1) Hike High Falls (moderate)

Looking for the single best hiking trail in Tettegouche State Park? Head to High Falls on the Baptism River. Begin from the Tettegouche State Park visitor center and hike north into the park along the river. This will take you to the best views of High Falls at about four miles round trip!

This hike is especially beautiful in the mornings, when golden light hits the falls.

2) Visit the Tettegouche State Park Visitor’s Center

Looking to learn more about Tettegouche State Park before you begin hiking and sight seeing? Swing by the Tettegouche State Park Visitor’s Center. Here, you can pick up your Minnesota State Park pass, enjoy the hiking trails nearby, learn a little about the park, or even grab a coffee or souvenir!

3) Visit Palisade Head (beginner)

For one of the most beautiful views in Tettegouche State Park, head to Palisade Head. In the summer, you can drive up to sweeping views of the massive cliffs overlooking Lake Superior!

4) Hike Shovel Point (beginner)

For the best easy hike in Tettegouche State Park, and one of the only places you can easily hike along the shore of Lake Superior on the North Shore, tackle the Shovel Point Trail. This is a 1.2 mile trail that winds along beautiful cliffs of Lake Superior. This trail is especially beautiful in the winter.

5) Hike Bean & Bear Lakes (Hard)

SUMMER 2024 EDIT: Bean and Bear Lakes hike is closed as of May 15th 2024 for trail maintenance and campsite rehabilitation. There is still an SHT bypass for thru-hikers, but access to the lakes, overlooks, and campsites is restricted until further notice. I will do my best to update this ASAP to reflect when the hike reopens, but as of now there is no projected date.

Just outside of Tettegouche State Park is the most iconic hiking trail in Minnesota. This 7-8 mile loop takes hikers to a number of beautiful overlooks, including the iconic double lakes of Bean & Bear Lake. This is easily one of the most popular hikes in Minnesota and likely to be crowded.

6) Grab coffee at Timber Coffee Co

After a hard morning on trail, swing by Silver Bay’s Timber Coffee Co for fresh baked cinnamon rolls, bagels, and a delicious latte!

7) Hike Mount Trudee (Hard)

Looking for one of the most beautiful (and difficult!) hikes in Northern Minnesota? Grab your hiking boots, and head deep into Tettegouche to reach Mt. Trudee on the Superior Hiking Trail. There are several ways to reach Mt. Trudee, but the fastest is from the trailhead near the Baptism River Campground.

8) Rent a Cabin on Tettegouche Lake

Renting a hike-in cabin on Tettegouche Lake is easily one of the coolest things to do in Tettegouche State Park! These cabins come with firewood, and are open year-round.

9) Hike Fantasia Overlook

Looking for a beautiful hiking trail just outside of Tettegouche State Park? Head to Fantasia Overlook and Wolf Ridge Overlook on the Superior Hiking Trail just east of Tettegouche.

10) Visit Illgen Falls

For a beautiful and easy waterfall in Tettegouche State Park, check out Illgen Falls in Tettegouche State Park tucked away off Highway 1. This huge waterfall is less than a one mile hike and one of the coolest things to do in Tettegouche State Park in all seasons.

Where to camp near Tettegouche State Park:

Wondering wear to camp in Tettegouche State Park? Here are your best camping options when visiting Tettegouche State Park:

• Book a rustic, hike-in cabin on Tettegouche Lake. This will take you to the heart of Tettegouche State park with incredible hiking opportunities all around!
• Camp at the Tettegouche Cart-In campground for a rustic Lake Superior camping experience with the comforts of your car nearby.
• Check out Eckbeck Campground for car camping reasonable driving distance! This site is first-come, first-serve only.

Love exploring the Northern Midwest? Check out the Midwest Adventure eBook bundle for all of the best hikes, snowshoes, and paddling routes in the Midwest!

Explore more on the North Shore:

• Check out 30 Things to do on the North Shore
• Head up to beautiful Grand Marais, Minnesota
• Check out all of the best Great Lakes destinations

free resources like this one are made possible by paying subscribers of the Hello Stranger Newsletter. Join the newsletter today to connect with thousands of like-minded adventurers and get gritty and honest adventure stories delivered right to your inbox (aka read my diary).

Like reading about the best things to do in Tettegouche State Park? Share this article on social media!