Tettegouche State Park encompasses over 9,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Located near Silver Bay, Minnesota, the park offers a variety of activities for visitors. It is home to several lakes and rivers, as well as miles of scenic hiking trails and a beautiful visitor’s center. It is home to Shovel Point, Palisade Head, and the now-gone Sea Stack.

Our Favorite Things to do in Tettegouche State Park

1. Take a Hike: Hike up to the High Falls waterfall, the highest waterfall located entirely within Minnesota. Or, head over to one of the six inland lakes contained within the park. They are known for northern pike and walleye fishing. With 22 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, you are sure to find a route that works for you. Our favorite hike is the 2-mile round trip hike from the visitor’s center to Shovel Point.

2. Enjoy the Visitor Center: Interpretive exhibits include information on the park’s cultural and natural features. The center also has a gift shop so you can pick up a souvenir to remember your North Shore vacation.

3. Go Birding: Print out the Tettegouche State Park bird checklist and grab your binoculars- this park is full of winged beauties! Keep an eye out for some of the parks other non-human residents, too. You might have the chance to spot moose, black bear, white-tail deer, and the occasional northern flying squirrel.

4. Go Rock Climbing: The park features over 100 climbs to choose from, including those from the famous Palisade Head – a challenging vertical climb right off the Lake Superior shoreline. Enjoy climbs such as “Old Men in Tight Pants”, “Driving in Duluth”, “Danger High Voltage”, and “Long Distance Commute”. A free annual permit is required and can be obtained at the visitor’s center.

5. Visit the Mouth of the Baptism River: Located a short hike from the visitor center, the Baptism River flows into Lake Superior creating a cobblestone sand bar. This spot is a local favorite for sun bathing and dipping your toes in the warm river water (or cold lake water) in the summer months.

The Fall of the Sea Arch/Sea Stack

For as long as most can remember, the icon Sea Arch stood tall and proud along the Lake Superior Shoreline in Tettegouche State Park. A narrow piece of rock connected a cliff’s edge to a larger sea stack. In 2010, the Sea Arch ceased to be when that piece of rock collapsed into Lake Superior. The formation then became known as the Sea Stack. For the next nine years, this became a popular spot, especially for photographers. Then, in December of 2019, a winter storm toppled the Sea Stack. Today, only a small amount of the rocks that were once part of the Sea Stack remain above water during low-water times. The fall of the Sea Stack made national news in 2019!

More Info

Want to learn more about this wonderful state park? Check out the Exploring the North Shore guide. The guide goes into more details on camping availability, accessibility, electric vehicle information, and more!

Getting There

The visitor center and parking lot are located on Highway 61 just four miles north of Silver Bay. The park is easy to spot! Just look for the visitor’s center on the lake-side of Highway 61 and turn in. The parking area includes trailer and RV parking.