This River Gorge Hike Is One of Minnesota’s Most Scenic

The highlands above Lake Superior are where you'll find the state's steepest topography, with some of the peaks rising more than 2,200 feet above sea level, or over 1,600 feet above the surface of the big lake. The many rivers that tumble down these highlands create some of Minnesota's best-known waterfalls. One river, however, does things a little differently as it rushes down to its mouth, and the best way to experience it is a hike along the Temperance River Hiking Club Trail in its namesake state park. This river gorge hike in Minnesota is unlike anything else in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

You'll typically begin this hike from the trailhead off Minnesota Highway 61, not far from the Temperance River's mouth (unless you're approaching it from a spur off the Superior Hiking Trail). The Hiking Club Trail will lead you over some large rock formations, which can be slippery if wet, so you'll want to wear shoes with good tread. It will then proceed for about a mile to the SHT bridge, where the trail loops back to the river's edge. It's at this point that the relatively wide, tree-lined Temperance slips down into a deep, narrow gorge.

Unlike other rivers that simply tumble over the basalt that forms the North Shore, the Temperance River cuts right through it in a series of cataracts, cauldrons, and cascades, rushing violently through the gorge for almost a mile. The second part of the hike follows the lip of the gorge along the river's course, offering hikers glimpses of its raw natural power and beauty. When you see it, you'll be happy that this river gorge hike is not actually in the gorge: The river seems downright angry, squeezing through this narrow passage to get to the lake, where it can finally slow down and relax.

The loop to and from the trailhead is 2.2 miles and is considered moderately challenging, thanks to a rock scramble and around 260 feet of elevation gain. You can preview the trail on AllTrails+ to get a feel for what I'm talking about. Once I've done the loop, I usually cross back over the highway to follow the boardwalk trail along the river's final gorge and tumble down to Lake Superior. It's only a few hundred feet long, but it's punctuated by a picturesque waterfall beneath the arch of the highway bridge.

Don't stop there, though. Hike the rest of the way down to the river's mouth, where you'll find a lovely pebble beach right on the Lake Superior shoreline. It's a wonderful place to sit down for a picnic lunch, to skip stones across the water, or to sift through the rocks looking for lake glass and agates—whatever feels like the right way to unwind after this river gorge hike in Minnesota.

Have you hiked this trail? What are some other unusual hikes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? We'd love to hear about your favorites. Ready for your next Minnesota adventure? Try mapping it out with Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.