Best Fall Scenic Drives on Minnesota’s North Shore

For some of the North Shore’s most vibrant fall color, leave the lakeshore behind and head inland. The winding forest roads around Lutsen and Tofte take you through some of the area’s best hardwood forests.

• Begin your fall color viewing with a drive along the Honeymoon Trail, a gravel forest road between the Sawbill Trail and the Caribou Trail. To get to the Honeymoon Trail, follow the Sawbill Trail (County Rd 2 located in Tofte right across from Coho Café) for approximately 11 miles until you reach the intersection of Forest Road 164 (Honeymoon Trail) on your right. The route winds through sugar maple forests, creating the classic North Shore fall experience: a road disappearing beneath a canopy of brilliant autumn color. When you reach the Caribou Trail (County Rd 4), turn right and make your way back to Hwy 61. 
• The Caribou Trail (County Road 4) is part of the Honeymoon Trail fall driving loop, but it’s worth exploring on its own. As you travel inland from Lutsen, the landscape transitions to dense hardwood forests, with maples putting on an especially beautiful show at peak fall color. Stop at Caribou Cream, located a couple of miles up the road, to indulge in maple syrup and sweet treats made possible by the surrounding maple forests. Or, turn it into a maple syrup crawl with a short detour along Honeymoon Trail and Barker Lake Road to Wild Country Maple Products. The drive into the Wild Country property is breathtaking during peak inland fall color. 
• For a more extended drive, head to Grand Marais and then inland along the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway. This is where your fall drive changes character. Instead of Lake Superior views, you'll find yourself surrounded by the forests and lakes of the Superior National Forest. The 58-mile Gunflint Trail winds deep into the Northwoods, offering a completely different perspective on fall. Take your time. The road itself is the attraction. Look for brilliant stands of maple, golden birch and aspen, along with the evergreen trees that keep the forest green as other trees change color. You don't necessarily have to drive the entire trail. Go as far as you'd like, find a scenic place to stop and enjoy the quiet before turning back toward Grand Marais.

Tip: Before heading onto forest roads, download routes or bring a paper map. Cell service can be limited in the woods and on inland roads.

One of the best things about a fall road trip is coming back to somewhere cozy at the end of the day. After hours spent exploring the North Shore, return to Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts and slow down. Enjoy dinner, relax by the lake or settle in with a warm drink and watch the colors change outside your window.

Good to Know: You don't have to plan every part of your fall adventure yourself. Bluefin Bay's complimentary activities program offers seasonal experiences such as guided hikes, fall-color kayaking, autumn foliage driving tours and other ways to experience the season.