Beginning some 50 miles south of Duluth, Minnesota and terminating some 50 miles north of Grand Marais, the Superior Hiking Trail winds its way along Lake Superior’s majestic North Shore for over 300 miles.
Offering varied and rugged terrain, thundering waterfalls, serene forests, and quad-burning climbs, the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) just might make you forget that you’re not somewhere in the mountains.
While every SHT hiker is sure to have their favorite spot (although they may not tell you where it is!), just about everyone will agree that the area in and around Tettagouche State Park should be on everyone’s list during a visit to Minnesota’s North Shore.
Located about 60 miles northeast of Duluth, Tettagouche is one of Minnesota’s most popular state parks, and for good reason. Towering cliffs along the shore offer sweeping views of Lake Superior, while the Baptism River careens through the park and gives day hikers easy access to some of Minnesota’s most beautiful waterfalls, including the legendary High Falls and Two-Step Falls.
As you can imagine, this area of the North Shore can get pretty crowded. However, just outside the park’s northern limits, down a short spur trail, lies one of the SHT’s many hidden gems – Fantasia Overlook. With views of Lake Superior that are perhaps unrivaled, Fantasia should be on your shortlist, especially if you only have time for a short day-hike.
Here’s everything you need to know to tackle this often overlooked SHT classic!
Fantasia Overlook Hiking Guide
Parking
To access this under-appreciated Superior Hiking Trail day-hike, your best bet is to drive past the Tettagouche State Park visitor center heading north and take your first left hand turn onto Highway 1. From there, you’ll head up the road for about a quarter mile and look for an easy-to-miss trailhead off to your left hand side. Although this trailhead gets a lot less traffic than the main Tettagouche parking lot – and provides a sneaky side entrance to the High Falls! – you’ll still want to get here early to avoid parking on the road.
The Trail
Trailhead to Highway 1 Crossing
Once you get out of your car, get your hiking or trail running shoes on, and stretch out those quads, glutes, hammies, and calves, you’ll be ready to begin a relatively short Superior Hiking Trail adventure.
Unlike some SHT trailheads that have a separate entry point depending on the direction you’re going, this one just has one.
After a short but steep climb, you’ll hit a fork in the trail. Heading left will take you higher up a bluff before bringing you down into Tettagouche State Park and the Baptism River High Falls (another must-see spot!). But we are heading right (north).
I have to say, I am impressed by this part of the trail every time I’m on it. It only lasts a minute or so but is full of mature trees (cedars?), rocks carpeted with lichen, and sunbeams dancing through the dense foliage. Take your time and enjoy it!
Highway 1 to Fantasia Spur
After this lovely stretch, you’ll cross Highway 1 heading north. As you pick your way through a level section, with Fantasia Overlook looming above you, you’ll get that all-too-familiar feeling for Superior Hiking Trail enthusiasts – “Here comes a climb!”
Soon enough, the climb begins, gradually at first. You’ll enter a stand of young saplings that have begun to reforest an area that was burned by a fire that swept through in 1990. The steepness will increase as you begin to approach the base of the bluff. For me, between being a bit out of shape following an ankle surgery and nursing a sore foot, my trail run transitioned into a hike as the grade increased.
Approximately 1 mile into your hike or run, you will come across a fork in the trail. The main Superior Hiking Trail route will continue straight ahead, while a spur to the left doubles back and begins to climb. Here, you’ll see a sign for Fantasia Overlook, meaning that the goods aren’t far ahead!
Spur to Fantasia Overlook
The spur trail climbs fairly quickly before beginning to level off. As it does, what breath you have left in your lungs will quickly be taken away as a sweeping view of Lake Superior and Tettagouche State Park to the south fills your field of vision.
The views from Fantasia Overlook are simply spectacular. The panoramic view stretches 270 degrees in spots, and the mountain (come on, let us call it a mountain!) sticks up high enough that you’ll usually enjoy a refreshing breeze. You’ll want to stop, take pictures, catch your breath, rehydrate, and maybe have a snack as you soak everything in. In the Midwest, it truly doesn’t get any better than this!
From this point, the trail wraps around the ridge and takes you around the other side of the bluff, delivering excellent inland views. The topography around Finland, MN and Tettagouche State Park is about as close to the mountains as you can get in this part of the United States.
But wait – there’s more! If you turn around and head back to the trailhead now, you’ll miss a great little bonus at the very end of the spur trail. After a brief (maybe .1 mile) forest section, you’ll find yourself on the edge of some cliffs, looking out over a pair of unnamed ponds that drain down into the Baptism River. I stopped for a few minutes to enjoy a nice inland breeze and watch a few ducks drift lazily with the current. This area is a total change of pace from the sweeping views of Lake Superior, and the variety of views is what makes Fantasia Overlook such a great option for a day hike or run.
Return to Trailhead
After you’ve soaked in the ponds and inland views, it’s time to beat it back the way you came and descend to the trailhead. As you do, you’ll experience Fantasia Overlook from a different angle, with your attention being pulled northward rather than southward.
The descent is quick and easy, as you enjoy the steady downward grade of the trail. Before you know it, you’ll be back to your car and onto your next adventure!
Conclusion
The Fantasia Overlook is a great option for the trail runner or hiker looking for a quick day on the trail. The combination of Lake Superior and inland views make it appealing for the day hiker looking to get a brief taste of the Superior Hiking Trail. Its proximity to Tettagouche State Park makes it an appealing alternative if you are hiking later in the morning or afternoon, as crowds will be lighter compared to the main Tettagouche trails.
On the negative side, the lack of a river on this section keeps it from being a full experience of the SHT. Thankfully, the High Falls can be accessed from the same trailhead as Fantasia Overlook, so you can get your waterfall fix quickly!
Fantasia Overlook – Summary & Trail Stats
- Trail System – Superior Hiking Trail
- Distance – 3.06 mi out and back, 1.5 mi each way
- Elevation Gain – 689 feet
- Best For – day hikers seeking Lake Superior views, and those looking to avoid crowds
- Camping on Trail? – No, but there are paid campsites nearby in Tettagouche State Park, and 2 first-come, first-serve hike-in campsites further up this section of the Superior Hiking Trail
Getting to the Fantasia Overlook Trail
From Duluth
- Follow Highway 61 northbound from Duluth, MN for 60 miles
- For your coffee fix – Stop at Cedar Coffee Co in Two Harbors, MN for some of the North Shore’s best espresso and a fresh-baked scone!
- Go past Tettagouche State Park visitor center and pay attention for signage for Highway 1 towards Finland
- Pro tip – There are no bathrooms or water sources at the trailhead. So if you need to use the facilities, fill up on water, or buy some snacks, you will want to visit the Tettagoughe State Park visitor center. Parking is free in the main lot out front.
- Turn left on Highway 1
- After .7 miles, turn left to park at the Superior Hiking Trail trailhead on Highway 1
From Grand Marais
- Follow Highway 61 southbound from Grand Marais, MN for 50 miles
- Need caffeine? – Pull over at Fika Coffee in Lutsen for delicious artisinal-roasted coffee – take some of their beans to go!
- Turn right onto Highway 1 towards Finland. If you hit the Tettagouche State Park visitor center turnoff, you’ve gone too far!
- After .7 miles, turn left to park at the Superior Hiking Trail trailhead
For Your GPS
Superior Hiking Trail Hwy 1 Parking, 51 State Hwy 1, Silver Bay, MN 55614
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