Lutsen is located in Minnesota’s Cook County. It is nestled along one of the most scenic stretches of Lake Superior along Highway 61 in the heart of the Sawtooth Mountains. Lutsen has a population of 360 and was founded in the 1880s. Boasting cool, clear, fresh, pollen free air, this region attracts many visitors each summer. Lutsen and the immediate vicinity offer excellent lodging and dining overlooking the Lake. While many people come to the area to enjoy the multitude of recreational opportunities, it’s the surroundings that bring them back over and over again.
For those who have a wilderness canoe trip in mind, the North Shore region offers easy access to world famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) entry points not far from the Highway. It’s serene, peaceful, rejuvenating, powerful, breathtaking and wild! No matter what words you choose, there will always be a special part of the experience that words alone can’t describe. In winter, the area offers excellent downhill and cross-country skiing. Four mountains and nearly 100 runs comprise the largest ski complex in mid-America. Lutsen Mountains has the tallest and longest runs in the Midwest, over 1000 feet of vertical rise and the Midwest’s only gondola. In summer, the Lutsen Mountain Ski area gondola on Moose Mountain safely brings sightseers to mountaintop vistas. You can also view miles of wilderness from the chairlift ride to the summit of Eagle Mountain, then either continue the ride down to the valley or travel down the Alpine Slide, a specially built toboggan in a twisting 2,200 foot track that winds through the forest, down the side of the mountain.
Cascade River State Park offers easily accessible hiking trails along the beautiful falls of the Cascade River. Founded in 1885, the historic Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior is the longest operating resort in Minnesota. Visitors will enjoy the Scandinavian themed lodge and the covered bridge across the Poplar River.
