17 Fun North Shore, MN Winter Activities & Things to Do

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Are you looking for the best North Shore, MN winter activities to fill your itinerary during a cold-season visit?

From skiing at the best resort in the Midwest to hiking through the stunning white trees, and cuddling up with a cup of coffee at a resort, there’s so much fun to be had.

I live in Minnesota, just an hour from the North Shore, and some of my favorite activities are here. I love skiing, so I’m here all the time in the winter. Plus, there are fewer people than summer, and I’m not a people person.

In this post, I’ll cover some of the very best things to do in winter on the North Shore.

Best North Shore, MN Winter Activities

Myself sitting at the edge of a ski run while wearing a snowboard on my feet.

1. Go Downhill Skiing at Lutsen Mountain

At Lutsen Mountain, you’ll experience the most beautiful downhill skiing in Minnesota with views of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior in all directions. It’s the best thing to do in Lutsen in winter.

Coming in as the largest ski area in the Midwest, it’s a pretty large resort, featuring 8 chair lifts and 62 trails to choose from. Plus, 2 terrain parks with jumps, rails, and boxes.

Lutsen Mountain is my favorite resort in the state, and I’ve been to dozens of them. My favorite part is that they’re typically open by mid-November before any others are.

2. Hike to Frozen Waterfalls

Checking out the waterfalls along the North Shore are a favorite during the summer, but have you ever seen a frozen waterfall?

High Falls in Tettegouche State Park can be reached with just a short 2-mile hike, and it’s such a beauty when covered in snow.

Caribou Falls is another great one to visit that’s typically less visited than others and looks just like a giant slope of ice.

Although these hikes do get trickier when there’s snow on the ground, with a pair of crampons or microspikes, they’re totally doable!

If you’re feeling really adventurous, head out into the backcountry and ski to Devil Track Falls near Devil Track River, but always use caution because there is no true trail.

Multiple sled dogs pulling a sled through a snow-covered trail in the forest.

3. Go for a Dog Sled Ride

At Positive Energy Outdoors in Duluth, you can book a dog sledding tour that ranges from 2 hours to a full day.

Or, at Points Unknown in Hovland, about 15 minutes inland from Highway 61, there are options ranging from 1.5 hours to full-day excursions.

It’s such a unique experience to go dog sledding. It’s really exhilarating and feels like you’ve been transported to Alaska, even though you’ve never left Minnesota.

A view of Lake Superior from the shoreline during sunset, a great North Shore, MN winter activity.

4. Take a Scenic Drive

As beautiful as the North Shore is, I get that it can sometimes just be too cold to spend time outdoors. This is when taking a scenic drive comes in!

Bundle up, jump in the car, and take the 150-mile road from Duluth to Grand Portage, which follows Lake Superior.

There are so many amazing places to stop. During the North Shore winter, my favorites are Gooseberry Falls, Palisade Head (you’ll have to walk, but it’s worth it!), and Grand Marais.

Myself and Tyler sitting on a red snowmobile on a snow-covered trail in winter.

5. Hit the Snowmobile Trails

There are snowmobile trails all over the North Shore, with over 450 miles spread around Cook County between Lutsen and Grand Portage.

On the North Shore, you’ll find a long, 146-mile trail that stretches from Duluth to Grand Marais called the North Shore State Trail. This is groomed weekly for riding.

This trail connects to tons of other trails including the Tofte Trail System, the Lutsen Trail, and the Gunflint Snowmobile Trail.

We snowmobile a lot since my boyfriend has a big collection of snowmobiles, and my biggest tip is to make sure you have really good gloves. The wind off of Lake Superior can be really cold, and cold fingers makes for a miserable day.

My mom cross country skiing along the tree line in a park.

6. Try Out Cross Country Skiing

There is no shortage of cross-country ski trails to get out and try this fun sport on the North Shore in winter.

Most of the state parks on the shore are open to cross-country skiers throughout the season and even have groomed trails to ride on, including Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche, Cascade River State Park, and Split Rock Lighthouse.

Other trail systems include Pincushion Mountain, Sugarbush Trails, and the Northwoods Ski Trail, all featuring miles of trails.

Looking down at my skates on ice while skating, a great thing to do on the North Shore, MN in winter.

7. Go Ice Skating

I grew up figure skating in school, so one of my favorite things to do on the North Shore in winter is go ice skating.

There are plenty of ice rinks lining the North Shore that are open for visitors, many of them having warming shacks to warm up in.

Odegard Park in Two Harbors, Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte, and the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais are a few options.

In Duluth, you can also skate at Bayfront Festival Park, which has a beautiful backdrop of Lake Superior behind you.

A large lake that is frozen over in winter and covered in snow for ice fishing.

8. Go Ice Fishing

Because Minnesota has so many lakes, us locals can’t waste the North Shore winter time without putting them to use, so ice fishing is a huge sport!

Lake Superior doesn’t always freeze, because of its size and how harsh it can be, so many people choose to fish it from the shore. You can often catch lake trout.

If you can’t seem to get out onto Superior, there are other great ice-fishing lakes around that are open.

Myself snowshoeing through trees in a forest in Minnesota while wearing all black winter gear.

9. Go Snowshoeing

If you aren’t up for regular hiking or cross-country skiing, try snowshoeing in the Superior National Forest, since it’s one of the best winter on the North Shore activities.

You can snowshoe anywhere in the state parks as long as you stay off of groomed trails, or you can check out some other trails like the Sugarload Nature Trail.

Parts of the Superior Hiking Trail are also open for snowshoers.

If you need snowshoe rentals, I would recommend checking out the state parks, since many of them rent them. Otherwise, if you’re staying at a resort, check with the front desk! So many of them offer complimentary rentals for guests.

Myself holding a paper cup from a coffee shop near a bush covered in snow.

10. Warm Up With a Cup of Coffee

If you’ve had enough cold for one day and are ready to warm up inside, consider stopping at one of the many local coffee shops along the shore.

There are plenty to choose from, all of them making a delicious coffee that will surely warm you right up.

My personal favorite is Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors because it’s tucked back in the woods and is so cozy. Others include The Java Moose in Grand Marais and Duluth Coffee Company.

A line of snow-covered trees in a large snowy field on the North Shore in winter.

11. Go Winter Hiking on the North Shore, MN

If you’ve ever wanted to go hiking on the North Shore but always find that there are crowds everywhere, then winter is your time to shine!

Winter is my favorite time to hike because there’s almost no one else around.

A few of the best trails for winter hiking on the North Shore include Devil’s Kettle, High Falls, Shovel Point, and Day Hill Loop.

The state parks are open for the most part, you might just have to do a little bit of trudging through the snow to make your trail. You could also use snowshoes to make it easier.

Myself and Tyler standing in front of a heart light display celebrating Christmas in Minnesota.

12. See the Lights at Bentleyville

At the very start of the North Shore, Duluth has tons of amazing things to do to celebrate the holidays, like seeing the Bentleyville lights.

I’ve been to Bentleyville every year since I was little, and it’s a must-do Christmas tradition for my family now!

There are over 5 million lights lining the sidewalks, hanging on displays, and covering decorations that you can walk through.

It’s free, and you can also enjoy free hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn, roasting marshmallows, and bring your kids to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

A large path that leads down a hill surrounded by snow-covered trees.

13. Check Out the Fat Tire Bike Trails

This fun thing to do on the North Shore in winter is kind of like mountain biking, but with larger tires which make it easier to keep grip on the snow.

At Spirit Mountain in Duluth, you can use their lift-operated system where you ride the ski lift up and ride the bike back down.

You can also find trails at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and join the Norpine Fat Bike Classic each January with a group of other bikers.

14. Attend the John Beargrease Dog Sled Marathon

The John Beargrease Dog Sled Marathon happens each winter in Duluth and is the perfect chance to see how these sled dogs work.

It’s such a unique event, and you’ll get to learn the workings of a real sled dog team and watch them do their thing as they race up to Grand Portage.

You can watch at multiple checkpoints, including in Duluth, Two Harbors, Finland, and at the finish line in Grand Portage.

The Christmas City Express train in the station in Duluth during the holidays.

15. Take a Ride on the Christmas City Express

The North Shore Scenic Railroad stretches along Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors, and you can book yourself a ride on it!

In December, you can take the Christmas City Express, where you’ll listen to holiday tunes and drink hot cocoa as you ride up the shoreline.

Throughout the ride, you’ll have great views of the lake. My family took this train ride back when I was little, and I remember it so fondly because my grandparents were with us.

Green northern lights as seen from a road.

16. Watch for the Northern Lights

The North Shore has become one of the best places to watch the northern lights in Minnesota, thanks to the solitude and minimal light pollution.

On a dark, clear night, you can find a place along the shore to watch for the aurora borealis. Just be sure to use a northern light predictor, since they only are visible in certain conditions.

I had actually never seen the northern lights in my life until last winter when I went up to Grand Marais and finally saw them! It was incredible.

A few of the best places to watch them are Artist Point and White Sky Rock in Grand Marais, and the Gunflint Trail. Watching the northern lights is one of the best things to do in Grand Marais in winter.

The lighthouse in Duluth as seen during winter with snow and ice on Lake Superior.

17. Relax at a Resort

One of the best ways to take in the amazing views of Lake Superior without freezing is to stay at one of the local resorts on the North Shore.

So many of the resorts offer lake views from their rooms, so you don’t even have to leave to enjoy the North Shore.

My favorite is Bluefin Bay because they have an outdoor hot tub that overlooks the lake. It’s so relaxing to sit in there and stay warm, while still admiring the crashing waves.

Winter Weather on the North Shore

If you’re visiting the North Shore this winter, you’ll definitely want to be prepared for the weather, as it can be brutal (if I’m being honest!).

The North Shore averages about 70 to 120 inches of snow every year, making it the place with the most snow in Minnesota.

Temperatures are very cold, with them rarely rising above 30° F and oftentimes dropping below 0° F.

It’s also important to remember that the wind off of Lake Superior can make it even colder, so hypothermia and frostbite can happen really fast! I always wear one more layer than I think I need, to keep myself warm.

Myself wearing black winter gear and snowshoes while walking through a field on the North Shore in winter.

What to Wear in Winter on the North Shore

It can be tough to know what to wear in Minnesota in winter because of how cold it gets, but here are a few things that you should wear during your visit.

Base Layers: I choose merino wool base layers to start, since they wick away sweat and keep me comfortable Layering is key to staying warm.
Mid Layers: Then, move to a mid-layer such as a fleece jacket or thick sweater to keep the heat in.
Top Layers: Lastly, finish with a weather-proof jacket to keep the wind and snow off of your body.
Gloves: My fingers are always the first to get cold, so I wear a thick pair of gloves that are able to keep them warm in harsh winters.
Hat: A lot of heat escapes from your head, so have a warm, fleece-lined hat to keep your ears and head warm!
Wool Socks: I love having thick, warm, wool socks to keep my feet warm. Cold feet = miserable day. So keep them warm!
Warm Boots: Again, having cold feet makes a good day bad, so I always am sure to wear my warmest winter boots to keep my feet warm and dry.
Microspikes or Crampons: If you plan to hike at all, be sure to have microspikes to strap onto your shoes to help with grip.

Wrap-Up: Things to Do North Shore in Winter

From watching dog sled races to bundling up in a warm resort and getting out for a winter hike, the North Shore has so many great winter activities!

Us local Minnesotans have learned to embrace the cold, and by bundling up, you can also get out and have fun during the winter season.

Now that you know what to pack your itinerary with, you’ll want to find somewhere to stay along the North Shore, so you have a perfect home base to come back to after exploring.

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