Looking for the ultimate guide to visiting the largest Great Lake? Lake Superior is one of the best off-the-beaten-path destinations in North America. From waterfalls to sea kayaking, here’s everything you need to know to plan a trip to Lake Superior:

why this blog? My name is Maddy and I work as a Lake Superior sea kayaking guide and have since 2018! Currently, I’m happy to call the south shore of Lake Superior my home. I’ve lived up in Grand Marais, Minnesota on the lake, and work in travel and outdoor writing. Lake Superior is my front and backyard, and I’m so happy to show you around!

oh hey there! The blog uses affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

The Ultimate Lake Superior Travel Guide:

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, so large that you can drive for 13 hours and still only be on the Lake’s south shore! The shoreline includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Northern Ontario on the Canadian side. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus mostly on visiting United States side.

For what to do on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, check out Northern Ontario Travel.

Overview of Lake Superior

The United States side of Lake Superior includes several major regions from east to west: Whitefish Point & the Shipwreck Coast, the Pictured Rocks and Marquette, The Keweenaw Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains, the Apostle Islands, and the North Shore of Minnesota.

Lake Superior is a criminally underrated travel destination in my opinion. In addition to flying under-the-radar, Lake Superior is often misunderstood, likely because of the word “lake”.

Although Lake Superior is a lake, it behaves more like an inland sea. Superior creates her own weather patterns, including lake effect snow and altering the path of storms, is capable of producing waves in excess of 30 feet tall, and is COLD, often year round. Freshwater is less dense than salt, so when the wind picks up waves kick up more quickly and with a shorter wave period than saltwater, making the Lake notoriously dangerous.

A few quick notes on this:

• Kayaking Lake Superior is magical! Book a guided tour, you really don’t want to mess around here.
• Lake Superior is massive. You will not be able to see all the highlights of the lake in just one trip.
• Lake Superior is cold, sometimes even in the summer. Prep for a variety of weather conditions
• Parts of the region around Lake Superior are remote, but not that remote. Expect limited cell service and an opportunity to get lost on forest service roads, but you’re not going to run out of gas between towns unless you really mess up or anything like that. People (including me) live up here and travel year round.
• Lake Superior is 1,332 feet deep, and 31,700 square miles. That’s a lot of Lake!

Leave No Trace on Lake Superior

Another thing to remember: Lake Superior is the traditional homeland and waterway of the Anishinabee (anglicized as Ojibwe) Nation. Here, you’re on Indigenous Land, with a rich history spanning back thousands of years. For this reason and for the sake of the land itself, remember to tread lightly including packing out all trash including that typically considered “biodegradable”, tackle trails that match your skill and comfort level, and follow Leave No Trace and local regulations on trail. You can check out a full guide to Leave No Trace in the Lake Superior region here.

Best hiking on Lake Superior

From Escarpment Ridge to the Superior Hiking Trail, Lake Superior is home to some of the most beautiful hiking in the Midwest. Fall colors here, which peak from end of September through the first half of October, make for especially beautiful hiking, and the best time of the year for hiking on Lake Superior spans from June to mid-October.

When exploring Lake Superior you can hike with views of cliffs, coves ideal for swimming, waterfalls, overlooks and more.

Overall, the most iconic Lake Superior hikes include…

• Chapel-Basin Loop, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• Escarpment Ridge, Porcupine Mountains
• Shovel Point, Tettegouche State Park
• The Superior Hiking Trail
• The Casque Isles Trail (Canada)
• Pukaskwa National Park (Canada)

READ: Best day hikes on Lake Superior

Most iconic spots on Lake Superior (no hike)

Lake Superior may host some of the best hiking trails in the United States, but not all of the iconic Lake Superior landmarks require a hike. From lighthouses to waterfalls, some of the most scenic Lake Superior stops are no-hike friendly.

The best & most iconic stops on Lake Superior include…

• Soo Locks, Sault Ste Marie
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
• Miner’s Castle, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• Sugarloaf Mountain, Marquette
• Brockway Mountain Scenic Drive, Keweenaw Peninsula
• Lake of the Clouds Overlook, Porcupine Mountains
• The Black River Scenic Byway, Michigan
• Apostle Islands Cruises
• Split Rock Lighthouse
• Artists Point, Grand Marais

For the ideal Lake Superior trip, I recommend mixing some of these iconic stops and lighthouses, waterfalls, and some longer day hikes and paddles for a truly varied and bucket-list experience. Alternatively, I would recommend focusing on one region of Lake Superior at a time.

How to kayak on Lake Superior

One of the best ways to visit Lake Superior is by sea kayak! Sea kayaking Lake Superior can lead you to sea stacks, arches, caves, waterfalls and more, but keep in mind Lake Superior is a coastal kayaking destination. Lake Superior behaves more like an inland sea than a traditional lake. For this reason, taken with cooler water temperatures, Lake Superior is an especially risky place to kayak.

While anywhere on Lake Superior can become a dangerous kayak trip quickly, places with the most dramatic sea caves, cliffs, or waterfalls tend to be exposed to the worst of the weather while launch points at sandy bays and beaches tend to be protected, meaning that you often cannot see the waves you’ll be paddling in until you are stuck in them.

Lake Superior kayaking should be undertaken only by experienced sea kayakers: this is different from an experienced kayaker and does not mean someone who has gone on several kayaked sea kayaking tours. To kayak on Lake Superior you’ll need a deep water self-rescue and understanding of basic navigation and weather patterns. When in doubt, book a guided tour. Here are outfitters leading trips in top Lake Superior kayaking destinations:

• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore & Sea Caves: Lost Creek Adventures (I work here!)
• Pictured Rocks, boat-assisted: Pictured Rocks Kayaking
• Monteral Falls & Bete Gris Bay (above, left): Keweenaw Adventure Company
• Tettegouche Sea Caves or Split Rock Lighthouse: Day Tripper of Duluth
• Rossport, Ontario: SAND Adventures
• Wawa, Ontario: Naturally Superior Adventures

Ultimately, kayaking n Lake Superior is an incredible experience, but it’s important to consider safety first.

READ: How to kayak Lake Superior

The best season to visit Lake Superior

Lake Superior is one of those places that is truly beautiful in all seasons! Personally, my favorite time of year up here is September and October as temperatures begin to cool, bugs die off, and the colors begin to change. I’m also a big fan of the dramatic winters of ice and snow that come late January through the end of February.

A breakdown of what to expect visiting Lake Superior month by month:

• January: Cold temperatures, cross country skiing, sauna season and dramatic sunrises and sunsets through sea smoke. Travel is possible in winter months, but maintain flexible plans around potential inclement weather.
• February: Similar to January weather but days get longer.
• March: Days are longer, northern lights, winter conditions are still pretty much pervasive. Thaw begins at the tail end of the month.
• April: Ice out on the rivers and waterfall season. Many hiking tails are closed for mud management. You can often find deals on lodging but many businesses go on break.
• May: Wonderful month to visit but a wildcard with snow yet. In general, it’s warm, quiet, no bugs and really lovely.
• June: Buggy, rainy, but tourist season begins. My jaded local take is skip June.
• July: Peak tourist season, but popular things are popular for a reason. Best time for kayaking.
• August: One of the best months up here. Great swimming, kayaking, hiking and more.
• September: Most of the shops are still open, tourism ebbs off but the great weather continues. It’s often too bumpy on the lake for calm water kayaking which is fine by me, and cool enough that hiking is really pleasant. Colors often begin to peak last week of September in northern parts of the lake. Sometimes flurries. Northern lights.
• October: Fall colors peak through the third week of October. Weather is extremely unpredictable, but not in a bad way. First snow in northern parts pretty much going to happen.
• November: Hunting season, so hike with care. Cheap lodging and lots of closures, but often wild ice for skating and hiking on frozen lakes up North. First snow widespread. Gales of November for wave watching.
• December: Snow, first sea smoke, but still shoulder season pricing often right up until Christmas.

Best Lake Superior waterfalls

One of the things the Lake Superior region is best known for is it’s waterfalls! From Michigan to Minnesota, you can find tons of beautiful waterfalls to enjoy year round.

Here’s a quick list of bucket-list Lake Superior waterfalls:

• Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan
• Miner’s Falls, Michigan
• Bond Falls, Michigan
• O Kun-De-Kun Falls, Michigan
• Copper Falls, Wisconsin
• Pattison State Park, Wisconsin
• Gooseberry Falls, Minnesota
• High Falls (Tettegouche), Minnesota
• High Falls (Pigeon River), Minnesota

Although most visitors sea out waterfalls in the summer, I highly recommend a waterfall road trip in the winter. In addition to dreamy snowy conditions, there’s nothing that beats walking up to a curtain of ice (while practicing ice safety! no ice is safe ice).

from east to west, here are highlights of visiting Lake Superior by region:

The Shipwreck Coast & Tahquamenon Falls

The Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of the most remote sections of the Lake Superior shoreline, with few towns between Sault Ste Marie and Munising. Here, you can find a number of State Forest Rustic Campgrounds including sites right on Lake Superior, Forest Service Roads, miles on miles of beach, and more.

In addition to beaches, I recommend spending time in Tahquamenon Fall State Park, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and exploring the Forest Service roads (with a four wheel drive vehicle of course) and rustic camping in the area. Throughout the region you can expect no cell service and some of the most wilderness-adjacent car camping you can find in the United States.

The region here is sometimes called Michigan’s Shipwreck Coast due to the amount of shipwrecks that have washed up between the Pictured Rocks and Whitefish Point along the desolate mix of beach and pines. I camped here on the coast in late March and we were the only people for miles. The thing I remember most is how much it felt like we were at the true edge of the earth with just sand, forest, open blue horizon and these massive sun-bleached stripped trees that had washed up all along the shoreline.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Michigan’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the true gems of Lake Superior. Personally, the colored rocks and scenery remind me of what Greece might look like. In the Pictured Rocks, you can find great hiking, backpacking, camping and of course kayaking.

While kayaking in the Pictured Rocks probably gets the most press, personally I actually think this is a more impressive area to hike. There are several incredible waterfalls accessible by short hike, and a lot of the dramatic cliff features are actually more impressive from above than from the water (and this coming from a sea kayak guide!). Surprisingly, the Pictured Rocks have relatively frequent rockfall, which makes me nervous to paddle near the cliffs– or hike near the edge.

Additionally, another benefit of choosing to hike the Pictured Rocks over paddle is that there are a lot of hidden coves and beaches that are perfect for a little swimming break, something that’s hard to orchestrate on a guided kayak trip.

READ: Best Things to do in the Pictured Rocks, Michigan

The Keweenaw Peninsula

Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is surrounded by Lake Superior on three sides and home to some of the best short waterfall hikes and scenic overlooks along the lake. Personally I love the Keweenaw in the winter more than just about anywhere– Finland vibes!

While visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula, check out…

• O Kun-De-Kun Falls
• Takka Saunas
• Brockway Mountain
• Sea Kayak Bete Gris and Montreal Falls

Additionally, check out the Keweenaw Pasty Trail for some history you can taste.

READ: Ultimate Guide to the Keweenaw Peninsula

The Porcupine Mountains

If I could only recommend one Lake Superior destination, I would recommend the Porcupine Mountains. The Porkies have a beautiful mix of long, challenging hikes and shorter, more accessible view points and a variety of scenery including dramatic overlooks, Lake Superior shoreline, and waterfalls.

Personally my favorite part of the Porcupine Mountains is the Escarpment Ridge Trail beginning from the Lake of the Clouds Trailhead.

READ: Ultimate Guide to the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

If you’re looking for the best Lake Superior sea caves, check out the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Located in the northwestern corner of Wisconsin, this chain of 21 islands is home to secluded beach camp sites, lighthouses and sunsets and remote sea caves. The catch? All of this is water access only.

The best way to see the Apostle Islands is arguably an overnight sea kayaking trip, which requires a little bit of time and for most paddlers, a guided trip. However if you’re just visiting for a weekend consider checking out…

• A day sea kayaking trip to the sea caves with Lost Creek Adventures (where I work!)
• An evening cruise out in the islands
• Hiking the Lakeshore Trail at Meyers Beach

READ: Best things to do in the Apostle Islands

Duluth, Minnesota

At the southwestern end of Lake Superior, check out one of the coolest cities on the Great Lakes. Duluth, Minnesota is a vibrant and fun city near hiking, biking, and more with breweries and shopping to choose from. If I didn’t live where I do now, Duluth would probably be at the top of my list.

Duluth is the perfect all-season Lake Superior destination with direct flights available from Chicago. Personally, my favorite time of year to visit is the winter, especially in sea smoke season when the temperatures begin to really drop for the first time. Here’s what I’d recommend you hit on a day in Duluth:

• Jay Cooke State Park
• Cedar and Stone Sauna
• Dovetail Cafe
• Hike/Ski Lester Park

Beyond being a destination in itself, Duluth is also a great place to base camp for access to the North Shore.

READ: Best Hiking near Duluth, Minnesota

The North Shore

The North Shore of Minnesota is probably one of the best places to visit on Lake Superior. There is so much to do off Highway 61, which runs between Duluth and Canada. The Superior Hiking Trail has some of the best hiking in the world. Several state parks offer waterfalls and overlooks to explore and on the North Shore you can rock climb, sea kayak and access the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

I lived on the North Shore for four years before moving to the south side of Lake Superior, and my time living in Grand Marais was the first time I really realized that you truly can be outdoors in all four seasons. While the area is most popular in the summer and fall, personally I think it is the most magical in the winter.

Here’s what I would recommend on the North Shore at a glance:

• Split Rock Lighthouse
• Hiking Tettegouche State Park
• New Scenic Cafe
• Rock Climbing with Forged Guides
• Cascade River State Park
• Grand Marais, Minnesota

READ: Ultimate Guide to Minnesota’s North Shore

Isle Royale National Park

If you’re looking for a true wilderness adventure on Lake Superior, head out to Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale’s claim to fame is that it is one of the least visited National Parks, but the most revisited. Additionally, Isle Royale is known for it’s long-running wildlife study on the predator-prey cycle between wolves and moose on the island.

Isle Royale is best done as an overnight trip, and can only be reached by boat or seaplane. Keep in mind that you’ll want to maintain flexible travel plans around your travel to Isle Royale. While many might assume seaplanes make for the most reliable transportation, the ferries can actually run more reliably than the small seaplanes and aren’t subject to fog delays.

The ultimate Isle Royale trip is backpacking Greenstone Ridge, but you can also book a guided overnight sea kayaking trip with Keweenaw Adventure Company.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Isle Royale National Park

Best camping on Lake Superior

If you’re planning a car camping trip on Lake Superior, you’re in for such a treat! Lake Superior has some of the greatest car camping sites I’ve ever encountered. Beyond car camping, there are also incredible backpacking and sea kayaking campsites.

Here are some of the best lakefront and lake view places to camp on Lake Superior:

• Lake Superior State Forest Campground – Car Camping, remote, first-come, first-serve
• Twelvemile Beach – Car camping, reserve on rec.gov, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• McClain State Park – Modern campground, car/rvs, reserve online
• Ontonagon Township Park – Variety of site types, call day of to reserve or first-come, first-serve
• Backpacking sites in the Porcupine Mountains – Sites on Lake Superior, on Mirror Lake, and overlooking Lake of the Clouds
• Washburn Memorial Park Campground – First-come, first-serve, developed campground
• Burlington Bay Campground – Reservable, developed
• Grand Marais Campground – Reservable, developed

READ: Ultimate Guide to (Solo) Car Camping

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