Oberg Mountain
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Viewpoint along the Oberg Mountain Trail
Oberg Mountain Loop - Superior Hiking Trail Spur
Oberg Mountain Loop is not part of any MN state park, rather it is a spur trail off of the Superior Hiking Trail. Despite it being just a spur trail, this hike is a favorite in the state and is no longer a secret. Expect to see other people as you are hiking. I like to find those quiet, lesser-known trails, but this one was pretty enough around the entire loop that I would recommend it anyway. I would just suggest hiking here earlier in the morning, later in the evening, or during a weekday.
Although Oberg Mountain ascends about 500ft in elevation, this is an easy hike, and the elevation gain is gradual. The trail is nice and wide with minimal obstacles, and overall, pretty accessible with the only challenge being the length at 2.5 miles if mobility is an issue.
As the trail wraps around Oberg Mountain, there are several amazing viewpoints of the surrounding hills, Oberg Lake, and Lake Superior. The views are largely void of manmade objects, but there will be a lot of people on the trail. You should except to get some pretty pictures, but it’s not a place that I would say I felt disconnected from society due to being around so many other people.
View of Lake Superior from the Oberg Mountain Loop Trail
Location and Parking
GoogleMaps will get you to the parking lot if you type in “Oberg Mountain Trailhead”. Traveling on MN-61, you will turn off near mile marker 87 on the Onion River Road. Onion River Road turns into a gravel road, but it a well-maintained road. You will travel along the Onion River Road for about two miles, and there will be a place to park off on your left.
Oberg Mountain is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Duluth. The closest state park is Temperance River, which is 9 miles away (south of Oberg Mountain), and Cascade River State Park is just 10 miles north.
As I mentioned above, Oberg Mountain is a spur trail of the Superior Hiking Trail, so this trailhead also serves as an access point to the SHT. If you are looking for a longer hike, you can just keep walking.
This post stands on its own, but it is a part of a larger network of posts I’ve written regarding things to do along Minnesota’s North Shore. This is a link to my full North Shore Guide for anyone interested. It’s an external link so you won’t lose your spot. I will also re-post this link at the end.
Sign from parking lot point towards the Oberg Mountain Loop Trailhead
Hiking the Oberg Mountain Loop
Using my GAIA GPS map, this hike is 2.5 miles with a gain in elevation of 500ft. There are several viewpoints along the entire loop, so I would recommend walking the entire trail. I chose to walk the loop counterclockwise. This meant the first views I had were of the surrounding hills, then Lake Superior, and hiking this direction saved the viewpoint of Oberg Lake for last.
Map of Oberg Mountain from GAIA GPS app
The below picture shows the trailhead sign that you are looking for from the parking lot. Remember that this is an access point for the SHT, so you do need to find this sign to get started. If you take a trail off in a different direction, you will be on the SHT but won’t be hiking around Oberg Mountain.
Oberg Mountain Loop Trailhead
On the way up to the top of Oberg Mountain
The trail quickly starts to ascend up the mountain, but it’s a very gradual ascent. The trail is also wide, making space for plenty of other hikers. Even before the viewpoints, I enjoyed just walking through the colorful trees of late September.
Oberg Mountain Loop Trail
Most of the trail is hard dirt, but there are a few boarded bridges that you will need to walk over, and some of the viewpoints are over rock. There are dramatic drop-offs from the cliffs, but they are a way off of the main trail. This is a safe place to hike with younger children as long as they stay close to you in some spots.
First view point, if you are traveling counterclockwise
As the trail wraps to the east, you will see several views of Lake Superior off in the distance.
Lake Superior from a viewpoint along the Oberg Mountain Loop Trail
There is one more spot where you will walk back through the forest before you get to Oberg Lake. I had so much fun this day walking through this forest which showered me with yellow and orange.
Fall colors along Oberg Mountain Loop
This is the first view of Oberg Lake. The trail will climb a short amount from here for a better view.
First view of Oberg Lake
Another view of Oberg Lake as you keep hiking around the loop.
Second View of Oberg Lake
Here is the best viewpoint for Oberg Lake. Much too far away for the camera lens I was hiking with was a busy beaver in the smaller swampy area on the right. I watched him for a while swimming back and forth, probably getting his home ready for winter.
Oberg Lake - 30Sep2022
Oberg Lake Fall Colors
After this viewpoint, it’s just a short way to the trail heading back down the mountain towards your car.
Other Outdoor Things to Do within an Hour Drive
Below are hyperlinks to other posts I’ve written about things to do that are located within an hour’s drive from Oberg Mountain.
Temperance River State Park
(south) This is the most unique State Park along MN-61 where seven waterfalls can be seen in a hike less than 2 miles. Several of these waterfalls occur in dramatic pothole formations. The official MN State Park map undersells this state park, as does the size of the parking lot off of MN-61.
Sawbill Canoe Outfitter
(southwest) The closest entry to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area from MN-61 is Sawbill Lake. There is a canoe outfitter on the lake where canoes and other gear can be rented. There is a 4.5-mile three-lake trek for a single day exploration, and multiple options for multi-day canoe trips.
Sugarloaf Cove
(south) A privately owned section of Lake Superior with an interesting bay protected by rock formations. This park has a small fee and includes its own visitor center.
Caribou Falls State Wayside
(south) An easy hike to large but quiet waterfall..
George Crosby Manitou State Park
(southwest) This is a rustic, quiet, and less travelled MN State Park with one of the more impressive waterfalls in Minnesota.
Tettegouche State Park
(south) This is my favorite MN State Park. There are four waterfall hikes within the park, amazing views of Lake Superior along the cliffs above the water, secret beaches with sea caves, and more inland there are some incredible views from above of smaller lakes (especially gorgeous in the fall colors).
Bear and Bean Lake Loop
(south) Part of both the Superior Hiking Trail and Tettegouche State Park, the Bear and Bean Lake Loop is one of the most popular trails along the North Shore. The views are amazing, and the trail is fun to hike. Be warned though this is a 7-mile loop trail with an elevation gain of 900ft.
Black Beach
(south) This is a free beach on Lake Superior’s shoreline, lined with black rocks. There is an island that can be explored by foot. There are also tables right on the beach, making this my top recommendation for a picnic location.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
(south) Pebble Beach is my favorite place to stop and play along the North Shore, and I think the best place in Minnesota to skip rocks. Little Two Harbors is the best short trail to see the lighthouse up close. Split Rock River is the best long trail with small waterfalls and views of Lake Superior. Day Hill is a shorter trail with views of Lake Superior.
Iona’s Beach
(south) This is a free beach on the Lake Superior shoreline, full of beautiful pink rocks.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
(south) Hike to three amazing waterfalls in 1.3 miles. Additional hikes included within the link.
Two Harbors, MN
(south) Not a hiking recommendation, but Betty’s Pies really is a fantastic place to stop for pie!
Lutsen Ski Resort
(north) Lutsen is the best ski resort in Minnesota. During the summer months, the gondola continues to run. There are hiking trails and a half-mile Alpine Slide.
Cascade River State Park
(north) This park has multiple waterfalls that cascade, making it difficult to provide an actual waterfall count. Similar to Temperance, most of the waterfalls are within a hike less than a mile long. This is also the only MN State Park with a true hike along the Lake Superior Shoreline.
Eagle Mountain
(north) The highest point in Minnesota can be accessed from the BWCA along a 6.5 mile out-and-back trail. This is an easy trail until the last 1/3 of the trail ascends 500ft dramatically. A permit is required, but it’s free, and the paperwork is available at the trailhead.
Grand Marias, MN
(north) My favorite pizza along MN-61 is at Swen & Ole’s Pizza in Grand Marias.
Lake Walk - Superior Hiking Trail
(north) The only section of the Superior Hiking Trail that is along Lake Superior’s shoreline is the Lake Walk, a 1.5 mile stretch of sand / loose gravel, just south of Judge Magney State Park. Note that this is an awesome beach, but a hard place to hike long distances due to the soft ground.
Judge C.R. Magney State Park
(north) This park has two large waterfalls - Upper Falls and Devil’s Kettle.
Grand Portage National Monument
(north) When visited in the summer months, this National Monument includes an interactive fort that depicts the life of British fur traders from the 1780s. Outside of the fort is an exhibit on the Ojibwe Native Americans, which is open year-round.
Link to Full North Shore Guide from NatureImpactsUs.com
For more ideas of things to do up and down MN-61 along Lake Superior, visit my North Shore Guide.
More from www.NatureImpactsUs.comOther Hiking Ideas
If you are looking for more hiking suggestions, please check out my below map which has additional posts linked to each pin.