Mark going up Sawmill Creek Dome
Eric grappling Sawmill Creek Dome
North Shore Climbing: Biking isn’t the only way to adventure on the North Shore. This region is a mecca of mid-West climbing. From beginner routes to bouldering to multi-pitch climbs, the Sawtooth Mountains provide one dramatic and challenging climbing venue after another. Sheer basalt cliffs rise straight out of Lake Superior. Anorthrosite domes loom ominously along ridge tops. Enjoy a casual climb or test your mettle against the North Shore’s ‘worst’. Either way, climbing here is like nowhere else.
Superior North Outdoor Center is your North Shore climbing headquarters. Whether you are looking for advice on climbing routes, current guide books or related gear, stop in for a visit. Owners Mark & Melinda Spinler have climbed nearly everything from Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario. The advice is always free and suggestions are always made that factor your abilities, equipment and time.
North Shore Climbing Ethics
The north shore has a unique set of ethics unlike many other climbing areas in the U.S. Because of the fragile environment, all routes on the North Shore (and into Canada) are chalk free and bolt free zones.
Sawmill Creek Dome...
...is located just outside of Finland, Minn. The best access is from Lake County Rd. 6. There you’ll find the Superior Hiking Trail parking lot. The short one and a half mile hike snakes along several scenic ridges.
Palisade Head...
...if you want climbing in its most extreme then pull off Hwy 61. at Palisade Head.
Carleton Peak...
...is one of the North Shore’s fabled Anorthosite domes. It is currently part of Temperance River State Park.