This Lesser-known Scenic Byway Is One of the Best Fall Road Trips in the U.S.-and It's Studded With Waterfalls, Incredible Lake Views, and Charming Small Towns

"The fall colors in Minnesota don't get the attention of the foliage in Vermont or Maine, but while every other leaf peeper heads east this autumn, our tip is to head north, where you can experience two distinct peak foliage seasons. Along Minnesota's North Shore, which runs along Lake Superior between Duluth, Minnesota, and the Canadian border, there are two distinct fall foliage seasons: the colorful maple trees in the mountains, followed by the aspen and birch trees that run along the shore."

"Along the way, road trippers wind their way along the Lake Superior shoreline, where waves crash against jagged cliffs and waterfalls tumble into the great lake. The route passes a whopping eight state parks and a handful of small shoreline towns known for their local fish and lakefront views. As an added plus, the cool, fall weather makes hopping out of the car for a hike in the Superior National Forest more appealing."

Minnesota's North Shore features two separate fall foliage peaks: colorful maple trees in higher terrain, followed by aspen and birch along the lake shore. A 154-mile scenic byway runs from Duluth to Grand Portage, tracing Lake Superior's shoreline and earning an All-American Road designation. The route includes jagged cliffs, waterfalls, eight state parks, and small shoreline towns known for fish and lakefront views. Cooler fall temperatures make hiking in Superior National Forest more appealing. Begin in Duluth to access a 12,000-acre estuary ideal for kayaking and canoeing, with a turnoff at Two Harbors for the Boundary Waters.

Read at Travel + Leisure