Trail Tales: Paths Less Travelled

all the trails I hiked this autumn, and why

Oct 27, 2021

There are a lot of different reasons people love the outdoors.

Some people love the solitude, the sounds of the quiet wild, and the time for reflection. Others love the outdoors as a medium to learn and practice teamwork, or leadership, or just to learn about themselves. Other people love the outdoors for the community around it, for the way you can find people like you on trail and make lifelong friendships based on that one really horrible kayak trip, or that incredible sunrise.

And I think that your reason for loving the outdoors influences the trails you seek out and your attitude towards other people in the outdoors.

Personally, I love the outdoors for a combination of those reasons. I love the solitude you can find, the times when it feels like you’ve dropped off the modern Earth, and I love the outdoors as an educational space. I also love the outdoors as a space to meet people, and encourage others to get out on trail, and I’m always happy to stop and chat with other hikers and paddlers.

This October, Emily (hiking buddy, photography collaborator, check her out she does great work!) challenged ourselves to hike some of the less travelled trails near us.

We headed off the beaten path because…

A) While we don’t mind seeing other people on trial, the North Shore is crazy busy come fall color time! Popular places like Bean & Bear, Mount Sophie, and Oberg Mountain all have 100s of cars outside of their small parking lot, and at peak hours you’ll often have to wait in line to get to the iconic overlooks. If you’ve driven 8 hours from Chicago and want to see that specific overlook, sure, waiting in line might be no big deal and part of the experience.

Personally, I don’t love waiting in line anywhere. In the outdoors, waiting in line always makes me kinda sad. It reminds me vaguely of the ways the wild is treated like a theme park sometimes— like a place you pencil into your plans, buy a ticket, and get an Instagram photo in return, rather than a place that is very much a part of human history and we depend on for survival.

I don’t presume to know anyone’s motives for being outside, but waiting in line for photos of the wild always feels very transactional to me.

B) Emily and I are both photographers/artists, and like all artists, we want our work to be unique from everyone else’s.

For me, photography can be such a fun motivator to get outside, a way express myself and communicate about relationships with the outdoors, and a way to motivate others to experience the outdoors. There are a lot of talented photographers along Minnesota’s North Shore (check out Reece Hickman, John Keefover, and Vallen Cook), and it can sometimes feel challenging to make your work stand out when there are so many talented people taking photos.

C) There are beautiful places everywhere.

One of my personal missions is to show that the outdoors are beautiful and special wherever you are and wherever you go, not just at the most “Instagrammable” spot.

The Trails we Tackled

Late September to now, here’s a complete list of the trails we’ve tackled since Late September and my favorite things about each.

1) Magnetic Rock Trail

Magnetic Rock is a really interesting magnetic standing stone that you can find up the Gunflint Trail. It’s about a three mile hike round trip, and you’ll probably see a beaver and maybe see a moose.

In addition to the rock itself, there are also some interesting overlooks of the boreal forest below. Because Honeymoon Bluff and the Caribou Rock Trail are nearby, most people skip Magnetic in favor of the more impressive views on the other two trails.

I’ve been out here quiet a few times, usually when I’m looking for a quieter trail and not necessarily for jaw dropping photos.

I really like the intimacy of Magnetic Rock. The trail runs through the Hamm Lake Fire burn area, and as a result the trail feels tundra-esque and very outside of Minnesota.

2) George Crosby Manitou

George Crosby Manitou State Park is probably one of the more popular spots on this list, but at 9am we didn’t see a single other soul on the way to the falls.

I didn’t grab any photos of the falls that I loved; by the time we were there it was kind of garbage lighting, so here’s a shot I didn’t love with a vintage salvage edit slapped carelessly over the top.

One thing I loved about this state park is how large and layered the falls are. You can’t tell from the photo, but they wrap quite a ways around the corner.

3) Fantasia Overlook via SHT

The hike to Fantasia Overlook and Johnson Lake is easily my second favorite hike in Minnesota. It’s a hard uphill, great views on the spur to Fantasia, and it feels like you’re on top of a mountain. 10/10.

I feel like Fantasia is often overlooked when it comes to photographic potential because it’s not as classically stunning as Bean & Bear or Oberg. I still love it. Plus, it’s less than a mile on to Johnson Lake Overlook and that spot is easily on par with the others.

4) Caribou Rock Trail to Rose Lake Cliffs

Probably the prettiest, most difficult hike in all of Minnesota. I’ve already written lots about this place, and you can read it here.

5) Mount Rose

Up in Grand Portage National Monument, Mount Rose has pretty views of the surrounding hills, the fort below, the bay, and Lake Superior. It’s an easy paved hike uphill, good for anyone looking for views but not looking to suffer.

6) Pincushion Mountain

Pincushion is one of the trails closest to town and home for me, and is sort of equivalent to like your local park where everyone jogs and walks their dog.

That said, it’s beautiful.

If you decide to visit Pincushion, I recommend treating it with a little extra respect because you’re likely sharing the trail with people who live in town, hike this route a lot, and care deeply about it.

7) Wildflower Meadow

I’m not going to share the exact location of this spot because I know a lot of people who live nearby, and because we stumbled upon it by accident and I’d like to give you the chance to stumble too.

That said, here are some hints:

1) It’s on the Superior Hiking Trail

2) You have views of a notable Lake Superior Rock

3) From this trailhead, most people hike the other way toward an ominously named river.

Good luck, and let me know if you figure it out and make it up!

8) Poplar River Overlook (twice!)

This trail near Lutsen is medium popular in the fall, mostly for the lovely overlook of Caribou Lake in the first mile. If you continue past the overlook towards the Superior Hiking Trail, there are some pretty nice other views, and a not too shabby spot for an October swim.

Hello Stranger

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