⛰️🐾 Hike to Pincushion Mountain Overlook — Breathtaking Views Above Grand Marais, MN!

Simba the Adventure Pup and I laced up our hiking boots (well, I did — he went paw-powered) and hit the iconic Superior Hiking Trail for an unforgettable hike to Pincushion Mountain Overlook in Grand Marais, Minnesota! 🌲⛰️

This North Shore gem delivered everything we love — rocky climbs, forest paths, wide-open summit views, and most importantly, a dog-friendly adventure Simba could wag his tail at all day long.

📍 Trail Snapshot

Trail Name: Pincushion Mountain Overlook
Trail System: Superior Hiking Trail
Location: Grand Marais, Minnesota
Distance: ~3.25 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-Friendly: Absolutely — Simba gives it 4 paws up!

🥾 The Hike Experience

The Pincushion Mountain Trail offers the perfect blend of woodland calm and elevation thrill. Starting at the trailhead just a short drive from Grand Marais, the route begins with gentle terrain before ramping up to a rugged, rocky ascent leading to a spectacular overlook.

Along the way we enjoyed:

✅ Towering pines and hardwood forest
✅ Quiet paths with soft forest floor footing
✅ Beautiful ridge views of the Sawtooth Mountains
✅ The final summit — a rocky dome with panoramic views of Lake Superior, Grand Marais, and beyond

Simba handled the terrain like a champ, bounding over rocks, sniffing every breeze, and definitely soaking up the summit moment.

🌄 The View from the Top

At the top of Pincushion Mountain, the views are absolutely jaw-dropping:

• The endless blue of Lake Superior stretching to the horizon
• The charming harbor town of Grand Marais below
• Rolling Northwoods forest in every direction

We sat together at the summit — Simba with his ears perked, me with my camera out — and took it all in. It was the kind of moment that makes every mile of hiking worth it.

🐕 Simba’s Trail Report

• Favorite Part: The summit breeze and squirrel sightings
• Least Favorite Part: Waiting for me to stop filming and keep moving!
• Overall Vibe: Total trail bliss

This trail was 100% Simba-approved, and it’s now one of our Top 5 Favorite Hikes of our full-time RV life so far.

🚐 Part of Our Journey

This hike is featured in our Life on Paws and Wheels series — where Simba and I travel the country full-time in our RV, chasing trails, parks, scenic overlooks, quirky attractions, and every tail-wagging adventure we can find.

🎥 Don’t Miss the Video!

We filmed the full hike for our YouTube channel — from trailhead to summit views to Simba’s summit biscuit moment. 🎥

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🧭 Final Thoughts

If you’re in Northern Minnesota and looking for a moderate, scenic, and totally rewarding hike, Pincushion Mountain Overlook needs to be on your list. Add a pup like Simba to the mix? Now that’s an adventure worth barking about. 🐾❤️

Location: Grand Marais, MN 55604, USA

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