The Land of 10,000 Lakes isn’t exactly front of mind as a climbing destination in the United States – at least not when compared with more mountainous states. That said, there are several spots for climbing in Minnesota that can be both exciting and challenging. One place – Tettegouche State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior – is a particular standout, and one area of the park, Palisade Head, offers what may be the most unique climbing experience in Minnesota.

Palisade Head is a massive headland that rises 200 to 300 feet above the surface of Lake Superior on Minnesota’s North Shore.
MPCA Photos/Flickr
Today, it’s part of Tettegouche State Park, but it’s not connected with the main part of the park.
Dan "Tags" Richardson/AllTrails
It was formed by a lava flow during the Midcontinent Rift event of 1.5 billion years ago.
A cliff along Lake Superior's north shore.
John_Brueske/Getty Images
You’ll find the road/trail to Palisade Head, a couple miles southwest of the park’s main entrance.
Ben Schaffhausen/Flickr
Shovel Point, the distinctive rock headland located at the park’s non-fee area is visible from the top of Palisade Head.
Palisade Head is preserved in its natural state, which means you can walk right up to the edge of the cliff.
Palisade Head Rock Formation on Lake Superior in Minnesota's North Shore
JoeChristensen/Getty Images
There are no fences or guardrails, so visitors must use caution when visiting.

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It is this, however, that makes the area popular with climbers.
Matthew Slimmer/Google Reviews
Ropes and belays can be fixed at the top of the cliff face and run unhindered over the precipice.
Karen Enriquez/AllTrails
Several routes have been established on Palisade Head, many of them are among the longest that can be found in Minnesota.
Ike Levine/Wikimedia Commons
The routes at Palisade Head are mostly rated between 5.8 and 5.12, but a few come in around 5.13.
joel allen/Google Reviews
When you’ve finished your climb, be sure to stick around - there’s plenty to see at Tettegouche State Park, including one of the state’s tallest waterfall.
Todd Bender/Google Reviews
In fact, come winter, when the conditions are right, the High Falls is a popular destination for ice climbers.

Climbers looking for a lot of cliff face to scale can’t do much better in Minnesota than Palisade Head at Tettegouche State Park. For offline trail maps of the Palisade Head area or Tettegouche State Park, including its backcountry sections where cell service is spotty, check out AllTrails Plus. Are you a climber who has tried some of the routes at Palisade Head? Tell us about your experience in the comments, and let us know some of your favorite climbing spots in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

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Palisade Head Trailhead and Parking, 5358 Farver Ln, Silver Bay, MN 55614, USA