Carlton Peak Trail

Carlton Peak is one of the most prominent summits on the Minnesota North Shore, rising 927 feet above Lake Superior on a massive pluton of anorthosite, the same pale gray rock that forms the Split Rock River gorge. The trail to its summit via the Superior Hiking Trail is the most strenuous hike in Temperance River State Park and one of the most demanding day hikes on the entire North Shore. The route leaves US-61 at the Britton Peak trailhead and climbs relentlessly through boreal forest on the Superior Hiking Trail, gaining 900 feet in less than 1.8 miles. The forest transitions with elevation from hardwoods on the lower slopes to boreal spruce-fir near the treeline, eventually opening onto the anorthosite rock faces of the summit zone where vegetation diminishes to scattered krummholz and lichen. The summit itself is a broad anorthosite dome with 360-degree views: Lake Superior fills the southern and eastern horizon, the forested ridgeline of the North Shore extends in both directions, and on clear days the Sawtooth Mountains visible to the northeast form a serrated skyline. Rock climbers ascend the south face on established routes rated up to 5.10, their colorful ropes visible from the hiking trail below. The anorthosite summit rock is a beautiful pale gray to lavender color that takes on a warm amber tone in late afternoon light.