08/28/2026
Cascade Falls – North Shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota
Autumn on the North Shore of Lake Superior is one of those experiences every Minnesotan should have at least once.
For years, I had seen spectacular photographs coming out of northern Minnesota during the few precious weeks of peak fall color. Finally, I decided this was the year. I cleared my schedule, watched the fall color reports and planned a long weekend around being on the North Shore at exactly the right time.
And wow, did Minnesota deliver.
We used the Lutsen area as our home base, giving us access to Lake Superior, the Superior Hiking Trail and some of the most beautiful waterfalls and landscapes in northern Minnesota.
After an incredible morning photographing the autumn colors from Oberg Mountain, we headed northeast along Highway 61 to explore Cascade River State Park.
What surprised me most was the water.
Late fall in northern Minnesota can often mean relatively low water levels. But after a mild and moist Minnesota summer, the Cascade River was absolutely raging.
For a photographer, it was glorious.
The powerful white water rushing over the dark rocks, surrounded by brilliant yellows, oranges, reds and deep evergreen, created the kind of scene I had traveled north hoping to find.
This photograph, Cascade Falls North Shore of Lake Superior Minnesota, captures that moment.
But for me, photographs like this are about more than beautiful scenery.
Trips like this remind me how important it is to occasionally escape the routines of everyday life, get outside, explore and allow ourselves to be renewed by the extraordinary beauty of God's creation.
Minnesota has some remarkable treasures.
The North Shore of Lake Superior in autumn is certainly one of them.
Get out and capture the adventure!
Read the complete story of this North Shore autumn photography adventure:
https://waynemoranphotography.com/blog/autumn_photography_on_the_north_shore_of_lake_superior_minnesota/
