One of the North Shore’s many attractions is its fall colors—when the leaves change from bright, vibrant green to an array of yellows, reds, and oranges. Many people visit the North Shore to drive the backroads, engulfed by the natural beauty of the seasonal change. Like driving, there are lots of hiking and biking trails throughout northeastern Minnesota that also let you view the fall colors.
While all those methods are spectacular in their own ways, there are people on the North Shore who can take that experience and bring it up a notch—literally. Sawtooth Aviation and Lake Superior Helicopters offer fall colors from above, with views from the sky that you simply can’t get from a hike. Lutsen Mountains’ gondola experience is similar, offering spectacular views from the top of Moose Mountain to the coastal shoreline. All of these opportunities allow for a unique and full fall colors experience.
Lutsen Mountains, located on Ski Hill Road in Lutsen, offers year-round activities such as downhill skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and an alpine slide and gondola rides in the summer and fall. The gondola provides an enclosed ride to the top of Moose Mountain. On your way up, you’ll see immaculate views of the Sawtooth Mountains, as well as the shoreline of Lake Superior.
Rising 1,000 feet above Lake Superior, the gondola offers a gentle ride. “I’m afraid of heights, but when you’re on it you just feel safe,” said a worker from Lutsen Mountains. The ride takes about 10 to 12 minutes one way—perfect for taking in the astonishing view of the changing colors.
You now have the option of a standard gondola ride, or taking part in the new signature gondola experience, where you can enjoy a private ride with up to seven other friends and family members. As part of the signature experience, they also offer coffee drinks from the registration desk prior to your ride, and a goodie bag with house-baked cookies, bottled water, and a free appetizer coupon for Charlie’s Alpine Bistro.
The Lutsen gondola is a fun, unique experience, sure to meet all your fall color needs. To learn more, including times and rates, visit: lutsen.com.
All the methods of seeing the fall colors have their perks—taking a hike or drive or riding the gondola—but “it’s not the same as getting that extra thousand feet of elevation, where you can see for miles in all directions,” says Mike Raymond, pilot and owner of Sawtooth Aviation.
Operated with two pilots, Sawtooth Aviation offers scenic flights for up to three people per ride, all starting from the Grand Marais airport. The rides commonly go along the ridges of Lake Superior in the fall, specifically down by Lutsen where the maple ridges are filled with deep reds and oranges. Sawtooth Aviation offers both a half-hour flight and an hour-long flight.
An airplane ride is an amazing way to get a full view of the North Shore and wilderness all at once, and who knows… you might even see a moose. Getting a bird’s-eye view allows you to see things that you can’t experience from a drive or hike.
For more information on Sawtooth Aviation, visit: sawtoothaviation.com.
Located in Duluth, Lake Superior Helicopters offer year-round tours. There are a lot of misconceptions about helicopters—some people think they are choppy and unsafe. However, this is untrue, and an employee at Lake Superior Helicopters assures that being in their helicopters is a “safe, smooth, and comfortable ride. Once you’re in the air a sense of calm washes over you.” Their program is very accommodating to passengers with a fear of heights, or any other concerns that you may have. Their number one priority is making sure you can get the full experience while up in the air.
Along with their tours, Lake Superior Helicopters also has a flight training program, and all their pilots have gone through their program. Like Sawtooth Aviation, they offer both a 30-minute flight and an hour-long flight, which takes you roughly 30 to 60 miles, depending on your flight time. Based on the weather and your comfort level, they can remove the doors to give you a more involved experience, giving you better views and more photo opportunities.
To learn more about Lake Superior Helicopters, visit: lakesuperiorhelicopters.com.
The North Shore has so much to offer, and there are so many ways to up your fall colors experience. A gondola ride up to Moose Mountain will give you a view of the North Shore, while staying closer to the ground. A plane ride with Sawtooth Aviation will take you all over the North Shore and Boundary Waters, allowing you to see the colors from a new perspective. Or take a ride with Lake Superior Helicopters, offering a smooth, comfortable flight over Duluth and the North Shore. If you’re venturing outside this fall, try viewing the fall colors from above.
