Lodging and things to do in the oldest settlement on the North Shore
Beaver Bay is small — a few hundred residents — and it is the oldest continuously occupied settlement on Minnesota’s North Shore, founded in 1856. What it lacks in size it makes up for in position: you are between Split Rock Lighthouse and Tettegouche, with Palisade Head and Silver Bay minutes north.
This is the stretch of shore people picture when they think North Shore — cobble beaches, the Beaver River gorge in the middle of town, and trailheads for hiking and mountain biking that start where the pavement ends.
Falls and a rock gorge right in town, viewable from the wayside on Highway 61 — a five-minute stop.
Mountain bike trails climbing the ridge above town, with granite slabs, flow lines and lake views.
Several trailheads within a few miles, including the Cove Point Loop and the Split Rock River loop just south.
A 300-foot sheer cliff you can drive to the top of, with the best long view of the shoreline anywhere on Highway 61.
Split Rock Lighthouse 10 min south, Gooseberry Falls 15 min, Tettegouche and High Falls 20 min north, Silver Bay 5 min.
Cove Point Lodge on 3,000 feet of private shoreline, and North Shore Camping Co.‘s furnished tent sites on the ridge above it.
Beaver River Falls sits in the middle of town, the Split Rock Wilds mountain bike trails start on the ridge above it, the Superior Hiking Trail runs right through, and Palisade Head and Tettegouche are a short drive north. Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse are both about 15 minutes south.
About 50 miles up Highway 61, roughly an hour's drive.
Cove Point Lodge has lakefront lodge rooms and cottages on 3,000 feet of private Lake Superior shoreline. North Shore Camping Co., on the ridge just above it, offers furnished walk-in tent sites with beds and gear delivery for camping without the setup.
