Tettegouche State Park is a Minnesota state park near Silver Bay, covering 9,489 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 9,489acres
- Silver Baymailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Waterfalls
- Wildlife/Peregrine Falcons
- Hiking
- Camping
- Rock Climbing
- Cross-Country Skiing
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Come to Tettegouche for a great sense of the North Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and inland bluffs; the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River; and the historic Tettegouche Camp where visitors can stay the night.
Wildlife. The wide variety of plant communities in the park supports more than 40 species of mammals. Most commonly seen are white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, red squirrel and beaver.
History. In 1898, the Alger-Smith Lumber Company began cutting the virgin pine forests of Northeastern Minnesota. A logging camp was set up on the shores of a lake the loggers called Nipisiquit, an Indian name from a tribe in New Brunswick, Canada.
Geology. The North Shore of Lake Superior is a combination of rock cliffs, pebble beaches, and bold headlands. The landscape owes its character to the erosion of bedrock by running water and glaciers, and especially to the glacial excavation of the.
Visit Facts
- Address5702 Highway 61 Silver Bay, MN 55614
- Phone218-353-8800
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThe Visitor Center and Nature Store are open daily. Summer: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Winter (Mid-October-Mid May) M-F: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm Coffee Bar from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Emailtettegouche.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.33987, -91.19635 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Tettegouche State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | 23 miles, all moderate to difficult | Hike the high cliffs along Lake Superior's shoreline, walk along the Baptism River, or take in the three scenic waterfalls or the loops that wind around interior lakes. About 12 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail passes through the park. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | One and one-half miles | This bike trail also serves as the service road into Tettegouche Camp. Mountain bikes are allowed on ATV trails in and adjacent to the park. |
| Summer | Off-Highway Vehicle | 6.5 miles of ATV trails | Park trails connect to additional mileage outside the park. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 15.5 miles | Groomed ski trails are moderate to difficult. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. Snowshoes are available to rent from the ranger station. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Skate | 4 mile loop adjacent to classic ski trail | — |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 12 miles | Park trails connect to the C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail, and are part of the Silver Trail Riders trail system that connects Beaver Bay, Silver Bay and Finland. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park,except on groomed trails | Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
| Winter | Other | 1.7 miles | The trail from the Lax Lake Road to Tettegouche Camp is packed for both hiking and skiing in winter. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 28 sites | Located on the Baptism River, the campground is one and one-half miles from Lake Superior. These are secluded, well-screened sites. Eight sites are available in winter. Note: A campsite may be occupied by a group of six or fewer people using one camping shelter. Groups of six or fewer traveling in one vehicle may have one additional tent with prior approval from park staff. |
| Electric Sites | 22 sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | 60 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Backpack Sites | Five sites, all located along the Superior Hiking Trail | These sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only and are limited to a one-night stay. |
| Walk-in Sites | Six sites in the Baptism River campground | Bear-proof storage lockers available. |
| Cart-in Sites | 13 sites near Lake Superior's shore | The farthest site is six-tenths of a mile from the parking area. Bear-proof storage lockers available. |
| Canoe-in Sites | — | First-come, first-served watercraft campsites are located along the Lake Superior shoreline. |
| Group Camp | Accommodates up to 35 people | The group camp offers two primitive group campsites in a large open area within a birch woods. Both sites are cart-in, located about one hundred yards from parking. Carts provided. The sites have picnic tables, bear-proof food lockers, vault toilets, and a large fire ring with multiple cooking grills. |
| Other | Winter campsites | Eight drive-in electric sites are available in the winter. Winter camping is also available in the walk-in sites, cart-in campground and group camp, but campers MUST come prepared with their own shovels and sleds or backpacks to get into these sites. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | The Ilgen Falls cabin is accessible. Cabin D at Tettegouche Camp is accessible, but the site does not have drive-in access. |
| Cabins | — | See Tettegouche Camp details reserve now. See –> or Illgen Falls Cabin details reserve now. –> |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boat Docks | Tettegouche Camp | — |
| Canoe Access | — | Carry-in access to Lake Superior is available at the mouth of the Baptism River and south of the main park entrance from a roadside pull-off. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Four picnic areas | Picnic areas are located at the Baptism River wayside, the trailhead, Nipisiquit Lake, and Tettegouche Camp. All have picnic tables and fire rings, some have grills. |
| Picnic Shelter | Two enclosed shelters | There are picnic shelters at the visitor center and at Tettegouche Camp Lodge. The shelter at Tettegouche Camp can only be accessed by foot, and is located about three miles from the trailhead. |
| Nature Play Space | Near group camp | — |
| Other | Rock climbing | Tettegouche is one of five state parks available for rock climbing. Climbing policy questions should be directed to the park. |
| Warming House | Tettegouche Camp Lodge | The Tettegouche Camp day-use lodge serves as a warming shelter in winter. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit the ranger station for park-specific and area tourist information. Part of the building is a rest area open 24 hours/day. |
| Visitor Center | — | The visitor center and rest area features an interpretive area, a gift shop, restrooms, and spaces that can be rented for weddings or other events. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | View naturalist programs on the events calendar. |
| Historic Site | — | The Tettegouche Camp is a historic retreat that dates back to the early 1900s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The camp includes four cabins available for rent. |
| Gift Shop | — | The nature store includes a selection of gift items, field guides, books and clothing. |
| Rentals | — | Canoe rental is available from fishing opener to mid-October. Snowshoe rentals are available when there is snow. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming toys), and kids' discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are free to check out at the visitor center. |
| Firewood | — | Buy firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees – please burn only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice sales are available mid-April to mid-October. |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Station | — | The visitor center parking lot has two free charging stations. Map of all Minnesota state parks with EV charging stations. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
The park is located 58 miles northeast of Duluth. Entrance to the park is 4 1/2 miles northeast of Silver Bay on MN-61.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- George H. Crosby Manitou State ParkState Park, about 10 miles away in a straight line
- Split Rock Lighthouse State ParkState Park, about 12 miles away in a straight line
- Gooseberry Falls State ParkState Park, about 19 miles away in a straight line
- Temperance River State ParkState Park, about 21 miles away in a straight line
- Cascade River State ParkState Park, about 41 miles away in a straight line
- Bear Head Lake State ParkState Park, about 52 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
Related Pages
More In Duluth & North Shore
- Canal Park and the Lakewalk, Duluth
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
- Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site
- Superior Hiking Trail
- Cascade River State Park
- George H. Crosby Manitou State Park
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Grand Portage State Park
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Events in Duluth & North Shore
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tettegouche State Park?
It is near Silver Bay, Minnesota. The DNR address is 5702 Highway 61 Silver Bay, MN 55614.
How much does it cost to visit Tettegouche State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Tettegouche State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Tettegouche State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.