Lake Superior North Shore Audio Tour

Download the GuideAlong self-guided audio tour and you'll discover more on your Lake Superior North Shore road trip. Hear fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, local tips and directions play automatically along Highway 61, all based on your location.
You'll be guided to all of the area's famous highlights as well as lessor known gems including one of Minnesota's most photographed lighthouses, a historic mansion that's also the site of a famous murder mystery, and an iconic 932-foot-high scenic lookout over Lake Superior.

Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you, and bypass any that don’t.

- Stories, tips and directions play automatically based on your location
- Travel at your own pace
- Tour offline using GPS, no cell service or WiFi needed
- Suggested itineraries for half, full or multi day use
- No time limits or expiry, free updates
- Like having a tour guide along for the drive

Purchase one tour per vehicle.

Meeting Point

North Shore Drive

N Shore Dr, Duluth, MN 55804, USA

Start at one of the official tour introduction points (Duluth or Grand Portage) or join anywhere along the route and pick up the commentary at the next audio point. Open the GuideAlong app to preview the tour route and browse the suggested itineraries and trip planner.

What's included:

• Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
• Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
• Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
• Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
• Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own
• One-Time Purchase: No time or date use limit or expiry
• GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 245 Points

Not included:

• Minnesota State Park Vehicle Permit ($7 per vehicle per day or $35 per year)
• Glensheen Congdon Estate Tours: Adults $5-$32, Children $8-$20 (2024)

What to expect:

Duration: between 3 hours and 11 hours

North Shore Drive

N Shore Dr, Duluth, MN 55804, USA

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.

3 hours

Betty's Pies

2019, 1633 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA

How can a pie shop, along a route abundant with pie opportunities, be a special highlight? Betty's Pies near Two Harbors is a local institution. For decades hungry North Shore visitors have found their way to this historic restaurant to get their fix, and we're big fans of their 5 layer chocolate pie. You will satisfy your need for dessert any time of day.

1 hour

Glensheen - The Historic Congdon Estate

3300 London Rd, , Duluth, 55804-2010, Minnesota

A Mansion and a Murder. One of the most visited historic homes in Minnesota for its grandeur and splendor, Glensheen Mansion is also the site of a famous Minnesota murder mystery. Located on the eastern end of Duluth.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Gooseberry Falls State Park

3206 Highway 61 East, , Two Harbors, 55616, Minnesota

Millions of years of geological and glacial sculpting of basalt have gone into the creation of these very pleasing falls. This state park is a very popular stop, expecially since we get four waterfalls all in the one place.

1 hour

Grand Portage

Grand Portage, Minnesota

The Ojibwe call Grand Portage “The Great Carrying Place” because it marks the start of an 8.5-mile portage - portage means carrying your canoe and all your stuff over land - between Lake Superior and Pigeon River. Today, you can step onto this ancient trading route yourself. Also located at the beginning of this historic trail is the Grand Portage National Monument, with reconstructed buildings of the trading fort and representations of the Ojibwe Village. The Monument and Heritage Center are well worth visiting.

1 hour

Hovland Dock

Grand Marais, MN 55604, USA

This is a spot that is much more about the context of what it represents than the dock itself. If you like to be haunted by history, the Hovland Dock is a great place to stand still and imagine all the lives that have passed through this area. Today, the dock is all that remains of the once-thriving fishing village and it's interesting for.. well, its state of disrepair!

1 hour

Judge C.R. Magney State Park

4051 E Highway 61, Grand Marais, 55604-2150, Minnesota

Many state parks and waysides on the North Shore Scenic Drive have a waterfall for visitors to enjoy, and waterfall chasers will find many delights. The best time of year to enjoy waterfalls on the North Shore is April when the snow typically melts, sending water crashing through the rivers that feed into Lake Superior. Just one great example is Devil’s Kettle Falls, located Inside Judge C.R. Magney State Park. A double waterfall forms where the Brule River splits into two falls separated by an outcropping of hard, volcanic rhyolite rock. On one side, the river falls into a pool of water and continues on its journey to Lake Superior. But where does the other side go?

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Palisade Head

5480_5512 Highway 61, Beaver Bay, 55614, Minnesota

Popular with peregrine falcons, rock climbers, and sightseers just like us, this geologic landmark near Silver Bay is one of the best viewpoints along the entire North Shore. Hovering 350 feet above the water, Palisade Head is a massive rock formation - it's pretty much a sheer cliff, and from its edge, the views are wide-ranging. It's a sight not to be missed.
Here's the best part - no major hiking required. The car park is at the top!

30 minutes

Split Rock Lighthouse

3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd., , Two Harbors, 55616-2020, Minnesota

Without a doubt, Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most iconic photographs to capture on your tour. One infamous storm in 1905 all but destroyed 29 ships, leading to the construction of this navigation aid 20 miles north of Two Harbors. Not only was it purposeful - the setting is majestic. Please share your photo with us!

30 minutes