Lutsen: Mountains, Trails and Experiences
Accommodation in Lutsen
Lutsen combines downhill runs on four interconnected mountains with hiking trails, scenic viewpoints and experiences at Moose Mountain. The gondola, various routes and the Alpine Slide offer different ways to explore the landscape. Which of these experiences you choose to focus on may also influence your choice of a vacation rental in Lutsen.
Four Mountains and a Long Skiing History
Lutsen Mountains has four interconnected mountains with 95 runs across 1,000 acres. Views include Lake Superior. For a stay focused on the runs, this offering is a defining feature of the area. If you prefer hiking or combining different activities, there are other ways to experience Lutsen as well.
The ski area's history dates back to Lutsen Resort. Founded in 1885, it was Minnesota's first resort, and Lutsen Mountains grew out of it. Skier Cindy Nelson is also connected with the area: she learned to ski at Lutsen Mountains, became the first American woman to win a World Cup downhill race, and won a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympic downhill.
Gondola Rides and Hiking Trails at Moose Mountain
The Summit Express Gondola travels from the main base area to Moose Mountain above the Poplar River Valley. From there, it offers wide-ranging views of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior. If you'd like to combine the ride with a longer hike, you can take the Spur Trail and Superior Hiking Trail on a 4.5-mile loop back to the base area. The ride up the mountain and the return on foot make this loop a different option from a short detour along a ridge trail.
The Moose Mountain Ridgeline Trail can be combined with the SHT Spur Trail to form a scenic loop of just over a mile. The section of the Superior Hiking Trail through Lutsen Mountains features mountain panoramas, deep cedar forests, maple ridges and Poplar River Falls among its described landscapes. The distances offer a guide to balancing shorter and longer hikes in your day's plans.
Another hiking option leads to the Upper Falls of the Poplar River. From Lutsen, reach them from the end of Ski Hill Road via the connector trail to the Superior Hiking Trail and the old road to the bridge. This trail is about half a mile long.
More Experiences on the Mountain
The Alpine Slide runs half a mile down the mountain from Eagle Mountain. Guests reach the starting point on the Bridge Chairlift. A complete round trip takes 7 to 15 minutes, not including wait times. This makes it a different option in terms of time commitment than one of the hiking loops described above.
The Summit Chalet sits atop Moose Mountain, and the Summit Chalet Cafe offers lunch options. Also in Lutsen is Superior National, a public 27-hole golf course. Together with the hikes, views and runs, these offer more ways to shape your stay around your interests.
Choose Lutsen for Your Trip
If you mainly want to experience the runs, you can plan your trip around them; if you're interested in hiking, the loops at Moose Mountain and the trail to the Upper Falls offer specific alternatives. So, when looking for a vacation rental in Lutsen, it’s worth first considering which of these experiences you want to shape your trip.
More places to explore: Grand Marais, Tofte.
For the broader trip overview: Cook County.
