Most of what we’ve done since returning to the United States falls under the category of “adulting.” We’ve been to the DMV twice, countless doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping (my favorite), and, of course, we’ve spent hours catching up with family and friends. I can’t say it would take you the full four hours it took us. Whatever you decide, best wishes in the New Year! We drove the hour and a half north to Temperance River State Park, taking in the stunning views of the North Shore along the way. Disclaimer: the picture below is taken from hiking all the way down to the river. Make sure it's in 1080p! Park at Judge CR Magney State Park (park pass required). Hike south a mile and a half to the spur to the summit. Park off of Lake County Road 6 and hike about one mile in to the first outcrop view (continue along the ridge for more). This is the best view we got: Foggy summit view of Carlton Peak. ( Log Out /  Add your thoughts, or comment via facebook …, Your guide to Minnesota's spectacular Lake Superior region, Mount Josephine summit view near Grand Portage, Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth lit for July 4th fireworks, Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth lit for 4th of July fireworks, Wildflowers next to Highway, July 4th weekend. This meant a significantly longer hike than had we simply parked at the Britton Peak Trailhead, however, it also meant that we got to start our hike with gorgeous views of the Temperance River. That’s Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs, all about the need for food and comfort. One of the better summit hikes on the north shore. Taylor Lund. The loop is a little less than two miles around. Carlton Peak. As our kids get older, their motivation has changed. by Superior Hiking Trail Volunteer and Special Correspondent Anna Swarts. Tofte Peak had eve n better views than Carlton. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We also had a picnic of Lärabars and apples at the peak to extend our viewing time. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Hike about a mile up the accessible trail to the falls. A family once shared some donuts with me here while I was thru hiking the trail, so it has a special place in my heart! Oh, the hard work … The whole section is lovely. Park off of Lindskog road, north of Grand Marais. Website Designed by Faster Solutions Inc. COVID-19 AND THE SHT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, Recreate Responsibly on the SHT This Fall, How to Thru-Hike the SHT: A Webinar and Q&A with Annie Nelson. View Scott's Recording. For those just heading to the water, turn right (west) when you hit the main SHT if you want to head toward the campsites. We followed the river for a mile or so before veering off into the woods. A climbing permit is required for each climber and free from the ranger station at the main park entrance. Older son, just turned 13, “Because my pesky little brother was complaining about it and I had to show him up with Albert.”. However, if you want to cut out some work, park at the Britton Peak parking area off of the Sawbill Trail. These couple photos probably added to the total hiking time : ). Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PMTrail Information Center Hours:Closed Until Further Notice. Trail map for Carlton Peak can be found here. Lake Superior to one side and an endless sea of trees to the other. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU! And there might be some licorice on top.”, Me, age 45, bedecked in my tech gear: “Because it’s a great hike and I need to GPS it for Hiking the North Shore.”. I needed a photo from the summit for our forthcoming book, Hiking the North Shore. Carlton Peak, hiking, Minnesota, North Shore, summer, Temperance River, Temperance River State Park, travel, wanderlust. Scott Allison. But can you blame me? To reach Lake Agnes by the shortest hike, park off of Caribou Lake Trail. I have enjoyed swimming here, to clean up from backpacking, but anyone could enjoy its chilly water and picturesque rocks for sunning on. We bagged Carlton Peak this week. Again, this is choose your own adventure. This is another great spot to have a picnic. Here for the sweet summit reward. Last time I was there, the summit was fogged in. If you want to hike up a big hill, you can reach this spot from Temperance River State Park. Starting in Duluth, we woke up at a pretty leisurely pace (it’s summer break after all!). Most of this section (heading south) is a pretty gradual climb. No good pictures, so I had to go back. But so many of our travels take place solo, meaning it’s hard to get any photos together other than a hurried selfie. Friend Albert, the hiking motivation for older brother, Hans. You can choose to park at the state park and explore from there, or at a parking area off of County Road 45. At about 900 feet above the lake, the summit is the highest point along Minnesota's portion of the North Shore. If I let my family guest blog, they would say I took an annoying number of photos during this first stretch of our hike. Creepy cool stuff. South and east side of the mountain belong to a Day Use are The summit of Carlton Peak, with its bare rock expanses, was pretty busy for a Wednesday. We have a great photo of the younger son at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park with the arch in the background and a big peanut M&M in his fingers.