engl 3930 > staging server > how to > plan a day trip to the north shore
How to plan a day trip to Lake Superior's North Shore By Michelle Ruckdaschel If you will be visiting northern Minnesota, don't forget to plan a day trip to Minnesota's picturesque North Shore on the world's largest body of freshwater, Lake Superior. The North Shore lies on Lake's Superior's beautiful, rugged northwestern coast and is dotted with many popular state parks such as Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Tettegouche. The North Shore offers many outdoor activities and historic sites for the individual adventurer, large groups, and families. While growing up about sixty miles from Lake Superior, I've taken many day trips to the North Shore with my family. The North Shore is one of my favorite places to visit. The guide on the right tells how to spend a day visiting the southern part of the North Shore based on my own experiences. This trip begins just north of Silver Bay, Minnesota, at Tettegouche State Park and ends in Duluth, Minnesota. Visit the North Shore year-round Although the seasons change often in Minnesota, the North Shore is a place that can be explored any time of the year. Split Rock Lighthouse Spring and summer The summer is a busy season for tourists visiting the North Shore. Those who may want to take a slower pace at some of the most popular sites on the North Shore should plan to make their stops during the much quieter early evening hours. Adventure enthusiasts will enjoy the North Shore's rocky cliffs and wooded terrain, as there are plenty of spots in which they can spend their day rock climbing and hiking through one of the state park trails. Rock climbing Hiking Fall My favorite time of the year to visit the North Shore is in the fall when the leaves on the trees change into an array of red, orange, and gold. The colorful scenery presents great photo opportunities along the coast of Lake Superior. Beautiful scenery Great photo opportunities Winter In the winter, downhill skiers head for the slopes at Lutsen's Mountains Ski and Summer Resort. Snowy conditions also make the North Shore a scenic place for winter sport enthusiasts to snowmobile and cross-country ski. Downhill skiing Cross-country skiing Snowmobiling	Begin your day trip! Grab your hiking boots and a camera, and remember to pack a picnic lunch! It's time to begin your day traveling on Highway 61 down the North Shore. 1. Hike trails at Tettegouche State Park The first stop on your trip will be at Tettegouche State Park. Tettegouche offers hiking and cross-country ski trails, rock-climbing opportunities, and camping sites. My favorite activity at Tettegouche is hiking on a trail along the shore of Lake Superior that leads to Shovel Point, a long, rocky cliff that juts out into the lake. 2. Tour Split Rock Lighthouse Split Rock Lighthouse is beautifully set atop a 124-foot high cliff on the coast of Lake Superior. Although it is no longer used to guide ships along Lake Superior's rough waters, it is open for touring. Only on special occasions such as in remembrance of the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald ship is the lighthouse's beacon lit. 3. Hike trails and have a picnic at Gooseberry Falls State Park After a tour of Split Rock Lighthouse, drive a couple of miles along Highway 61 to Gooseberry Falls. After a stop in the visitor center, make your way down the hiking trail to the two waterfalls. I suggest stopping near the river for a picnic lunch to enjoy the beauty and sound of the cascading falls. 4. Visit the ore docks in Two Harbors After a picnic lunch at Gooseberry Falls, drive 12 miles southwest to Two Harbors, Minnesota. Two Harbors is the home to ore docks that are used to ship the taconite from the mines on northern Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range to steel plants along the Great Lakes. This stop highlights the strong mining heritage of northern Minnesota. 5. Have dinner and walk along Lake Superior's shore in Duluth End your day on the North Shore in the port city of Duluth, Minnesota, with dinner at one of Duluth's fine downtown restaurants. After dinner, watch an ore or grain ship carrier make its way under the Ariel Lift Bridge at Canal Park or stroll along Duluth's new lakeside boardwalk called the Lake Walk. For more information on these places, visit: Tettegouche State Park Split Rock Lighthouse Gooseberry Falls State Park Two Harbors, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota Lutsen's Mountains Ski and Summer Resort Make your trip easier with these links: How to pack a picnic for a hike How to pack for a day hike www.mapquest.com
engl 3930 > staging server > how to > plan a day trip to the north shore
Copyright © 2001 Michelle Ruckdaschel Questions and comments to mjruckda1@bemidjistate.edu Last modified: January 31, 2001