Activities

Alpine Slide

Everybody likes a little thrill every now and then, and the Alpine Slide is ready to oblige. Getting there is half the fun with a leisurely chairlift ride to the summit of Lutsen’s Eagle Mountain. Then hop on your sled and cruise down an exhilarating half-mile of twisting, turning track back to the base. You …

Fall Colors

Millions of colorful reasons to visit this fall Fall in Cook County is a time of tumultuous beauty. The air turns crisp and clear. Moose get an amorous gleam in their eyes. Changing leaves paint the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness/BWCAW with a palette of goldenrod, pumpkin orange, and firetruck red. In late fall, …

Summit Express Gondola

You won’t find a better vantage point from which to view the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior’s dramatic coastline. This aerial gondola is one of the North Shore’s most popular attractions, taking you on a scenic ride to the top of Moose Mountain, rising 1,000 feet over Lake Superior. The gentle ride at treetop level …

Skiing & Snowboarding

Minnesota’s Mountain Vacation Lutsen Mountains offers the Midwest’s only true mountain ski area experience. Four interconnected peaks overlooking Lake Superior bring big mountain skiing with Up North authenticity. Whether you’re looking for a family ski holiday, a romantic retreat or a weekend ski or snowboard getaway with friends, you’ll discover a real mountain vacation at …

Cross Country Skiing

Cross-Country Skiing: How far can you go? Cook County, Minnesota is home to the largest cross-country trail network in North America, totaling over 400 km. Lutsen – Tofte – Schroeder Area Trails | 140.5km #1 Sugarbush Trail System, Tofte, 77km. Publicly maintained. Mountains and Lake Superior views. Sugarbush Trail System XC Ski Map (PDF) # 2 Lutsen …

Snowshoeing

Strap on a pair of snowshoes and go for a quick kid-friendly jaunt or a full-day adventure. Follow a trail along the Lake Superior shore, trek to a waterfall or dramatic overlook, or even blaze your own path in the wilderness. Whatever your snowshoe style, you’ll find the perfect snowshoe trail here in Cook County. Maybe you’ve …

Dogsledding

Dogsleds were the original snowmobiles, transporting people across the snow-frosted forests and ice-kissed lakes of the north. Mix irresistible dogs with beautiful snow, and you’ve got the recipe for a winter adventure you won’t forget. Cook County is host to a few dogsled races throughout the year. Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon …

Snowmobiling

Snowmobile trails – over 450 miles to explore! This is snowmobiling like nowhere else in the Midwest. With 450 miles of trails that wind through the wildest, the most breathtaking scenery in Minnesota, the hardest part of riding in Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage is deciding where to head first. Every part …

Canoe Tours

Discover the headwaters of the Poplar River as the early fur traders once did in a 10-passenger Voyageur canoe. Deer, otters, and waterfowl are commonly sighted, with moose, bear, and timber wolves are seen occasionally. A great family adventure! Personal flotation devices are provided and required to be worn at all times. Guests should be …

Golfing at Superior National

Superior National at Lutsen is a visually stunning 27-hole, 6,300-yard championship golf course with sloping fairways and grand elevation changes. It has been named the #1 public golf course in Minnesota by Golf Digest magazine. Superior National nestles against the Sawtooth Mountain Range, winds through the Poplar River Valley, and opens onto Lake Superior vistas …

Waterfalls

After the snow melts, experience the raw power of North Shore waterfall season – a fleeting yet unforgettable spring wonder. Cook County has the North Shore’s most dramatic waterfalls, including Devil’s Kettle Falls in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, the ephemeral “phantom falls” that pour from the cliffs lining Highway 61, and the High Falls of …

Hiking

Lutsen Mountains features several miles of hiking trails, including hiking along the famed Superior Hiking Trail. Combine a hike with a ride on the Summit Express for easy access to mountaintop trailheads that lead you through wildflower meadows and deep forests, past waterfalls, wildlife, and spectacular mountain overlooks. Download the “All Trails” app from your app store …