Superior National Forest Forest Road 166 Cascade River Loop

Forest Road 166 splits off from the Cascade River State Park access road and climbs through some of Minnesota’s most rugged country, following the Cascade River upstream past a series of unnamed waterfalls and through stands of virgin white pine that survived the logging era. The route gets technical after mile marker 4, where granite outcrops force the trail into steep switchbacks and water bars designed to shed runoff can catch unwary drivers off-guard.

This is legitimate 4WD territory requiring high clearance and low range for the steeper sections, especially when wet. Best tackled June through October when snow isn’t a factor, though mud season in spring can make it impassable. The payoff is access to backcountry camping spots with views back toward Lake Superior, plus the kind of solitude that’s rare this close to the North Shore tourist corridor.