Superior National Forest Forest Road 172 Cascade Loop

Forest Road 172 cuts deep into the Cascade River watershed, threading between towering white pines that survived the fires of 1918. The route starts just inland from Highway 61 near Lutsen and climbs steadily through mixed hardwood forest before hitting the first real obstacle at Deer Yard Creek—a rock-ledge crossing that’ll test your line choice. Past the creek, the road deteriorates into a boulder-strewn track that winds through old-growth cedar swamps where moose tracks outnumber tire tracks.

This is genuine technical driving that demands experienced hands and a well-built rig with rock sliders and skid plates. Best tackled May through September when the swamps aren’t frozen solid. No permits needed, but fuel up in Grand Marais—there’s nothing out here but wilderness. The payoff is untouched backcountry camping spots along the Cascade River and some of the most pristine old-growth forest left in Minnesota.