Sections South to North
Trail Alerts 
Cascade River State Park to Bally Creek Road
- The Trout Creek on the east side of the Cascade River is a wet-water crossing. The creek is crossable on stepping stones in low water. ONLY after a big rain event or during spring snowmelt season is this river impassible. If hiking Cascade River Loop, hike counter-clockwise.
![](<img width="2560" height="1908" src="https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-300x224.jpg 300w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-768x572.jpg 768w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-1536x1145.jpg 1536w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-nkO4SJZ9OB-2048x1526.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />)
Lutsen Mountains Recreation Area to Caribou Trail
Length
6.4
Miles
Campsites
4
Directions
Lutsen Mountains Recreation Area Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 90.1, turn left on Cook Co. Rd. 5 (Ski Hill Rd.) and go 2.9 miles to recreation area. Park in general parking areas or continue 0.3 miles up road past gondola and restaurant to small trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay in both areas. Bathroom, restaurant, drinking water at trailhead area.
Description
- Mileage includes 1.2 mile of access spur trails. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 5.2 miles
- Scenic section with stretches paralleling Poplar River and beautiful Lake Agnes
- Steep descents and ascents with multiple vistas of Poplar River Valley
- Spur trail to White Sky Rock with incredible view of Caribou Lake
Caribou Trail to Cascade River State Park
Length
11.0
Miles
Campsites
3
Directions
Caribou Trail Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 92.0, turn left on Cook Co. Rd. 4 (Caribou Trail) and go 4.1 miles to Co. Rd. 94. Turn right and take immediate left to trailhead parking lot. Overnight parking okay, outhouse at trailhead.
Description
- Mileage includes 1.3 mile of access spur trails. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 9.7 miles
- Features White Sky Rock overlook spur and Lake Agnes
- Follows maple ridgelines with views of Lake Superior and Sawtooth range
- Crosses several scenic creeks and near thundery waterfalls on Cascade River
- Panoramic views from Lookout Mountain
Cascade River State Park to Bally Creek Road
Length
9.5
Miles
Campsites
5
Directions
Cascade River Wayside Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 99.9 on left side of highway. Main SHT is on the west side of the river. Spur trail on east side of river has crossing of Trout Creek with no bridge, which may not be passable in the spring or after rain event. There is a bridge upstream 0.2 miles from the wayside parking lot to cross from one side of the river to the other. No overnight parking at wayside. Overnight parking is available by Cascade River State Park campground with a state park sticker; check-in with state park staff.
Alternate Parking Option #1: Co. Rd. 45 (Pike Lake Rd.) on north end of Cascade River Loop. At Hwy. 61 milepost 101.5, turn left on Co. Rd. 7 and go 2.0 miles to junction with Cook Co. Rd. 44. Continue straight on Co. Rd. 44 for 0.5 miles. Turn left and go on Co. Rd. 45 for 2.6 miles to parking lot on right. Overnight parking okay.
Alternate Parking Option #2: Co. Rd. 158 (Bally Creek Rd.) at the Sundling Creek spur trail. At Hwy. 61 milepost 101.7, turn left (north) on Co. Rd. 7 and go 4.3 miles. Turn left on Co. Rd. 48 and go 0.3 miles to “T” intersection. Turn left on Forest Rd. 158 (Bally Creek Rd.) and go 1.9 miles (passing first SHT parking lot on Bally Creek Rd.) to large grassy parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Mileage includes 0.5 mile of access spur trail. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 9.0 miles
- Trail heads upstream paralleling Cascade River
- Views of Eagle Mountain (highest point in state)
- 7.8 mile Cascade River Loop goes up one side of river, crosses bridge over river on Co.Rd. 45 (Pike Lake Rd.) and goes back down the other side
Trail Alerts
- The Trout Creek on the east side of the Cascade River is a wet-water crossing. The creek is crossable on stepping stones in low water. ONLY after a big rain event or during spring snowmelt season is this river impassible. If hiking Cascade River Loop, hike counter-clockwise.
Bally Creek Road to Grand Marais
Length
8.3
Miles
Campsites
2
Directions
Bally Creek Road Trailhead: Co. Rd. 158 (Bally Creek Rd.) At Hwy. 61 milepost 101.7, turn left (north) on Co. Rd. 7 and go 4.3 miles. Turn left on Co. Rd. 48 and go 0.3 miles to “T” intersection. Turn left on Forest Rd. 158 (Bally Creek Rd.) and go 1.0 mile to trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Alternate Parking Option: Cook Co. Rd. 6/115F parking lot. At Hwy. 61 milepost 101.7 turn left (north) on Cook Co. Rd. 7 and go 6.0 miles. Turn left on Cook Co. Rd. 6 and go 1.5 miles to pull-through parking lot at intersection with 115F. Overnight parking okay.
Grand Marais Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 110.0, turn left on Cook Co. Rd. 12 (Gunflint Trail) and go 2.0 miles. Turn right on Cook Co. Rd. 53 (Pincushion Drive) and go 0.25 miles to parking lot. Turn from Gunflint Trail has sign marked “Scenic Overlook.” Overnight parking okay, outhouse at trailhead.
Description
- Features scenic Sundling Creek and large beaver pond
- Passes through large red pine forest
- Joins the North Shore State Trail (multi-use trail mainly used as snowmobile trail) for 2.5 miles before steep descent with views of Lake Superior