There’s nothing quite like fall on Minnesota’s North Shore — and this long weekend is an invitation to experience it at its most vivid and unforgettable.
As the maples ignite in reds and golds and Lake Superior deepens into its moody autumn blues, we’ll immerse ourselves in the sights and rhythms of the north woods. This is peak leaf-peeping season, when the forests are alive with color and the air feels crisp, and restorative.
We’ll base ourselves at one of our favorite North Shore stays, Hungry Hippie Hostel just outside Grand Marais, perfectly positioned near some of the most scenic trails and waterfalls in the state. This is a hiking-forward experience designed to help you really know the landscape. Over the course of the weekend, we’ll explore an expertly curated mix of trails —moving through hardwood forests, climbing above river valleys, and finding waterfalls framed by fall color. Expect two longer, rewarding hikes at a steady, supportive pace, plus a scenic trail lunch to help fuel our adventure.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip comes when we take to the sky. A gondola ride at Lutsen Mountains offers a rare, sweeping perspective of the North Shore in autumn — 360° views of forests ablaze with color and the vastness of Lake Superior stretching out below. After soaking in the views from above, we’ll return to the forest on foot, hiking down along the Superior Hiking Trail and experiencing the contrast between aerial awe and intimate trail-level beauty.
The weekend also includes time to slow down and savor the cultural heart of the North Shore in Grand Marais, a lakeside town known for its Scandinavian roots, vibrant arts scene, and excellent food. You’ll have space to browse local shops and galleries, wander in-town trails along Lake Superior, or settle in on the rooftop deck at Voyager Brewing with a cribbage board and a local beer. We close the trip with a celebratory group dinner at one of Grand Marais’s standout restaurants, reflecting on a weekend defined by movement, color, and connection.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to head north in the fall, this is it. Thoughtfully paced and deeply immersive, this trip offers the best of the North Shore — hiking, waterfalls, aerial views, and small-town charm — wrapped into one unforgettable autumn escape.
Adventure Rating: Beginner
Hiking and activities for this trip will be beginner friendly. Hikes will have some elevation gain, but will be moderately paced and distanced.
ACTIVITIES
Hike the best trails the area has to offer at Cascade River State Park and beyond. Hiking will be moderate, as our goal is to get above the valleys to fully take in fall color. There are hundreds of miles of trails near Grand Marais, and we’ve picked the best of the bunch.
Experience a gondola ride at Lutsen Mountains, a quintessential Minnesota experience, as we soar above the trees for amazing views of the mountains and Lake Superior. Then, hike the Superior Hiking Trail back down immersing yourself in the forest.
Explore the quaint Scandinavian town of Grand Marais, where art is celebrated and the connection with the natural world is baked into the fiber of the town. Visit local shops, eateries and galleries, or take a hike just outside of town. We’ve built in time for you to make your own adventure on the north shore!
Enjoy a final group dinner in Grand Marais at one of the many amazing local restaurants that call the town home
ACCOMMODATIONS & LOCATION
We’ll be staying at our favorite place on the North Shore, the Hungry Hippie Hostel! Participants will have the choice of camping in a tent (showerhouse and modern bathrooms are just a short walk away!) or staying indoors in the hostel’s upstairs bunk room, which we’ll have all to ourselves. See registration info below for more details
GETTING THERE
If you are flying in from outside of Minnesota, the closest airport is the Duluth International Airport (DLH) (about a 2.5 hour drive away). You’ll need to rent a car to get to the hostel, or arrange carpool with a local Wanderer. Carpooling details are sent pre-trip in the private trip Discord channel. Carpooling arrangements can’t be guaranteed, but we try our best to connect Wanderers for coordination!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Your registration provides you:
Expert planning and two professional Wander Women guides to help make the weekend as seamless and fun as possible!
Three nights of hostel and camping accommodation and parking
All food for the weekend, (minus one dinner) prepared by your guides, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and beverages
Guided hikes all along the North Shore
Gondola ride at Lutsen Mountains
Camping accessories: Camp kitchen, camping chairs, fire kits, first aid kits, dining ware, fire wood, games, coolers
Wanderer swag bag full of goodies
A private trip Discord channel to connect with guides and fellow participants before & after the trip
Comprehensive pre-trip online guide with detailed logistics, packing recommendations, and trip tips
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Participants will be responsible for providing/paying for:
Transportation to/from the trip (we always encourage carpooling and can connect you with other participants to ride with!) and to trip activity locations
Gear: Participants are able to rent camping gear from Wander Women
State park entrance fees
Saturday dinner in Grand Marais
INVESTMENT
There are multiple sleeping choices for this trip — pick which is best for you!
Camping: $615
Twin bunked bed in bunkhouse: $665
Private queen room in bunkhouse: $715
PAYMENT PLAN
We offer payment plans for all our trips, so you can pay a deposit now and the rest over time! WeTravel (our booking platform) easily lets you make a downpayment (this is also your non-refundable trip deposit!) and set up automatic payments for the remainder. For the payment plan schedule, just check the WeTravel page for details. There is NO fee for choosing the payment plan option!
Deposit for this trip: $330 (camping & twin) / $360 (queen)