communities restaurants shops maps attractions winter activities lodging events shipwrecks lake superior As the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior feels like an inland sea. Thousand-foot lakers [ships that sail the Great Lakes] and ‘salties’ [ships that cross oceans/salt water] corss the lake to the ports of Duluth and Two Harbors. Its’ vastness surprises visitors. Shaped like the head of a west-facing wolf, you can only see the opposite shore at the tip of the nose in Duluth / as you head up the north shore and at the eastern edge. how big is lake superior? Big enough that experts estimate about 350 shipwrecks have occurred in Lake Superior, of which only half have been located. It is just a bit smaller than the country of Austria. how deep is lake superior? Lake Superior’s average depth is 483 feet and reaches a depth of 1332 feet, about a quarter-mile deep. The deepest point is 40 miles north of Munising on the south shore of the lake. how cold is lake superior? The highest surface temps are about 65º F in August, with the coldest temps in March when they hit the freezing point. The lake forms ice covering about 70% of its surface in any given year and freezes over once every 20 years, the last time being 2014. Park Point, the sand peninsula reached by crossing the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, boasts shallow sandy shorelines where the summer sun warms the water. As you head up the north shore or away from shore the water gets colder. Lake Superior, referred to locally as ‘the big lake,’ acts as a coolant in the summer months, bring temps down by 15-20º F compared to a few miles inland. Hence the colloquialism ‘colder by the lake.’ This flips in the winter when that warm 30-35º water acts like a heating pad keeping conditions along the shore more temperate, well, relatively. Lake Superior offers up plumes of sea smoke when the cold winter air hits the ‘warm’ water,’ refracts the sun into millions of flashes across its’ rippled surface, raises waves big enough that you can feel their crash in your heart. It is awe inspiring. lake superior facts to know & tell Biggest of all the Great Lakes at 350 miles long and 160 miles wide Largest freshwater body in the world Surface area of 31,700 square miles Contains 10% of the WORLD’S fresh water Holds 3,000,000,000,000 gallons of water [3 quadrillion] Average depth is 483 feet Deepest depth is 1,333 feet Length of the shoreline is 1,826 miles Average water is 40° Calmest months are June and July Stormiest months are October and November Highest recorded wave is 28.8 feet; unofficial wave height is believed to be over 40 feet Last completely froze over in the winter of 2014 Average underwater visibility is 27 feet, and in places reaches to 100 feet No tide but does have a seiche – oscillations in the lake due to natural disturbances such as a change in wind or air pressure how do you get close to the big lake? Plan on spending some time along its shore, it’s easy with all the public access spots. It will take more planning and a reservation on one of a few tour boats or aboard a charter fishing boat to get out on the big lake, but oh is it worth it. The scope of the lake becomes so much more apparent when you are on the water. From southwest to northeast, here is a complete list of public access points to Lake Superior. With more than two dozen choices between the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth and the Canadian border, you never have to travel more than 15 miles to get close to the Lake. mile 0.0 watch 1000-footers & salties … sail through the canal and under the Aerial Lift Bridge. The gargantuan counterweights slowly descend, raising the 900-ton span of the Aerial Lift Bridge nearly 140 feet in the air to allow 1000-footers [ore boats carrying taconite pellets] and salties [ocean-bound ships] to pass into the harbor. The canal was excavated in 1871 and is a deceptive 300 feet wide and 1,650 feet long. The first aerial transfer was erected in 1905 and modernized in 1929 to what you see today. It can rise to its full height in 55 seconds. Learn More Driving Directions mile 1.5 1st norwegian to land in america Leif Erikson is said to have landed in Nova Scotia in 1000 AD. A Norwegian Viking ship named after the adventurer arrived in the Duluth harbor in 1927, whereupon a local businessman purchased it on the condition it be placed in an existing park and renamed to honor the Norse explorer. While the ship is currently under renovation, the park includes the statue, a portion of the Lakewalk, benches, picnic tables and shoreline access to Lake Superior. Driving Directions mile 5.2 cobblestone beach Part of Kitchi-Gami park; Brighton Beach is is perfect for skipping stones, agate-hunting, ship-watching, wading, picnicking and lollygagging. Features summer-use restrooms, picnic tables and grills. Brighton Beach Road starts just past the little blue tourist info center and connects in 0.8 miles to Scenic 61/Congdon Blvd. Note North Shore beaches are pebble or cobblestone; for sand, head to Park Point In Duluth. Learn More Driving Directions mile 5.0 wide open views The mouth of the Lester River draws in fisherman, surfers, kayakers, visitors and locals. A small pull-off parking area on the lakeside of the road leads down to a ledgerock and cobblestone beach where you can gaze to the Aerial Lift Bridge, the south shore and up lake, getting a sense of the vastness of the largest freshwater lake in the world. A seasonal visitor center is at on e end of the parking lot and a few blocks north Lester Park hosts a variety of year round trails to admire the river and waterfalls. Driving Directions mile 10.0 big lake = big fish McQuade Harbor Rest Area is a spanky little safe harbor with a boat launch, kayak ramp, restrooms, interpretive panels, shelter and paved walkway with tunnel to the east breakwall which includes three fishing platforms. Nice spot for a picnic, shore casting, or a little leg-stretcher. Learn More Driving Directions mile 14.3 shorecast Stop at the old Bluebird Landing beach and casting for tout and coho [salmon]. Keep an eye out for freshwater whales, too. You can also fish the 10.8 Talmadge, 12.3 French, and 15.7 Sucker Rivers. License required. Learn More Driving Directions mile 15.8 a scenic drive off a scenic drive Stoney Point Road is ideal for wave watching on stormy days, lake gazing and relaxing on calm days, quiet driving, picnicking. You will find public access toward the east end of the one-mile road. Learn More Driving Directions mile 18.3 set sail A DNR marina, the river, a Lake Superior beach, Rec Center and a few businesses add up to be the little burg of Knife River. Originally founded as Buchanan, after President Buchanan, this unincorporated village has been home to commercial fishermen for the past 150+ years. During a spring gale in April 1914, 64-mile-per-hour winds proved too much for the 239-foot steel steamer Benjamin Noble, which sank off Knife Island. Learn More Driving Directions mile 26.2 walk the waterfront Walk from Agate Bay near the iron ore docks along a 1-mile paved walkway, the Sonju Trail, to Burlington Bay. Agate Bay attractions include the Edna G tugboat, the Railroad Depot museum, the Two Harbors Lighthouse museum and gift shop, and working ore docks – watch ships enter the harbor, dock and load up with pellets. Skip stones, picnic and search for agates along the cobblestone beach of Burlington Bay. Learn More Driving Directions mile 27.5 walk the beach Flood Bay State Wayside offers a nice long pebble beach. Amble, search for agates, wade, picnic, relax. The walkway to the beach goes through a wetland that is sometimes home to waterfowl, otters, and beavers. Offers a seasonal restroom. Driving Directions mile 28.6 mouth of the stewart river This designated trout stream is popular with shore-casters and has a spring steelhead run. The small dirt parking area opens into paths down to the river mouth and a view over a small cliff into the lake. The narrow river winds its way into inland forests. Loggers tried using the stream to shoot logs to the big lake, but it was too narrow and would result in . . . logjams. Driving Directions mile 39.5 gooseberry falls state park For many this is the first big stop on their travels. This four-season park offers accessible trails to rushing waterfalls, plus trails to through the woods, along the river and to Lake Superior; naturalist programs, biking, fishing, fall colors, birding, skiing, plus shopping, exhibits, restrooms, and visitor info in a firelit lobby within the Visitor Center. Learn More Driving Directions mile 42.6 go to the pink beach Drive right up to this expansive beach, Iona’s Beach Scientific & Natural Area, which is bookended by cliffs, rhyolite, and bedrock to the north and basalt to the south. Nor’easters work away at the northern cliff, breaking off shards of the pink rhyolite and wash them down shore. Once home to Twin Points Resort, the area is named after longtime owner Iona Lind. Scientific and Natural Areas [SNAs] are natural resources that are rare or of exceptional scientific and educational value. Driving Directions mile 46.0 visit this north shore icon Split Rock Lighthouse is the most well-known visual representation of the North Shore. Have you been? The Lighthouse, part of the MN Historical Society, offers a guided tour of the lighthouse, fog-signal building, oil house and light-keeper’s house. The visitor center has gifts, exhibits and a brief video. Each November 10th, the beacon is lit at the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial. The adjacent state park has trails, camping, and alluring forests running down to the shoreline. Learn More Driving Directions mile 53.7 silver bay marina Spacious slips for daily or seasonal rental, a picnic area, amenities in the marina shop, a short hiking path and a top-notch view of ships being loaded with taconite at Cliffs Natural Resources dock. The Silver Bay Marina plays host to the annual Salmon Classic fishing contest, too. Learn More Driving Directions mile 54.8 the shore’s only black beach This calm slice of shoreline gets its name from the taconite tailings [crushed rock] that makes up the beach. Offering picnic tables, outhouses and both the Black Beach and an agate beach. New in 2020 is the adjacent campground. Learn More Driving Directions mile 58.5 all in one stop Spread over 9300 acres, Tettegouche is a handful of overlapping parks including Lake Superior coastline, Baptism River and falls, inland lakes, hardwood forests, rugged topography PLUS 24/7 restrooms, a café and gifts, and charming fireside indoor and outdoor seating. Something for everyone! Learn More Driving Directions mile 73.3 walk on billion-year-old lava Take a leg-stretcher along the 1-mile interpretive nature trail that departs from the parking area and includes a stop at Sugarloaf Cove on Lake Superior. The Interpretive Center has exhibits and artifacts from early logging operations in the area. Learn More Driving Directions mile 75 shoot hoops in a ghost town For thirty-one years Taconite Harbor was home to families working the adjacent Erie Mining loading dock and power plant. When mining took a downturn in the 1980s, the company cleared the town for a new venture. Follow the road south of Highway 61. On the right you will see the remnants of main street, including a few street lights and the basketball court. The end of the road takes you to an outdoor exhibit explaining the taconite operation, a public boat launch, safe harbor, and views of the rusting ore docks. Learn More Driving Directions mile 79.2 father baraga’s cross Take a moment to be grateful for safe travels. in 1846, Father Frederic Baraga set sail from La Pointe Michigan to an outpost on the North Shore. The wind picked up and waves battered the small boat. After a harrowing on the big lake, the missionary and his companions safely beached the boat at the mouth of the Cross River. In gratitude for their safe arrival, the priest erected a wooden cross on the beach. The current symbolic cross has been placed in remembrance of his journey. It is a quiet stone beach. Driving Directions mile 80.4 temperance river state park Amazing river gorges that start a few feet inland from the highway, waterfalls, two foot-bridges, hiking, a cobblestone river mouth, camping and hiking. Hike a short way upriver to the amazing gorges, then return south of the highway and walk across the foot-bridge. During spring runoff or after rainy days, the river spray will mist you. Back in the day, this was the only river without a [sand] bar at the mouth, hence the name, Temperance. Learn More Driving Directions mile 82.4 see the handmade cobblestone well and bridges Donated by the eldest daughter, Elizabeth, of original European settlers John and Cecilia Tofte, Tofte Park features two cobblestone bridges and a cobblestone wishing well plus a picnic site and open shelter. Have a picnic, listen to the lake, hangout. Available for rental for weddings, reunions, gatherings. Learn More Driving Directions mile 93.6 take a break! Grandview Park in Lutsen offers a pavilion with picnic tables, charcoal grills, a fire ring, a playground and room to run around. Family-friendly and open to all. Learn More Driving Directions mile 99.8 cascade river state park Cascade brings the river to you. A quick jaunt up well-maintained trails brings you to overlooks and a footbridge spanning the cascades [ideal photo spot]. Picnic spots are a quarter mile farther along Highway 61. If you want to ski over the river and through the woods, Cascade has amazing cross-country skiing. Feel free to snowshoe anywhere, too. Learn More Driving Directions mile 103.9 admire the panoramic views Heading northeast, just past Thomsonite Beach, Highway 61 curves left, revealing picturesque Good Harbor Bay, Seagull Rock, and, in the distance, Grand Marais. Use the pull of to admire the view and take photos. A quarter mile farther is Cut Face Creek Wayside, a nice spot for a picnic, an agate search, and skipping stones. Learn More Driving Directions mile 109.3 the harbor Skip stones, gaze, look for an agate, bliss out, watch for a flock of seagulls and see if it is following a local commercial fisherman into the docks. Learn More Driving Directions mile 109.6 walk out to an island Artist’s Point is the island and tombolo, spit of land, that makes up the east side of the harbor including the east breakwall and lighthouse; a drop of wilderness in the lake. So inspiring! Find picnic tables along the East Bay’s cobblestone beaches. Learn More Driving Directions mile 115.0 wait, is that a whale? No, but keep looking! Enjoy the wide-open vistas at Five Mile Rock, a landmark for early travelers. Listen to the waves lap, pick rocks, see if anyone is fishing around the rock.(That’s five miles from Grand Marais, not five miles out in the lake). Learn More Driving Directions mile 118.7 meander in and out of the river Relax, skip stones, and picnic on the beach. The there-and-back hike follows the Kadunce River with spurs to overlooks and pools. During the warm months of summer, when the water runs low, many locals hike up the river including climbing the waterfall. Learn More Driving Directions mile 122.8 paradise beach A nice stretch of cobblestone beach close to Highway 61 and just farther enough from Grand Marais to be less visited. Admire the view, search for agates, have a picnic; mo amenities so pack out what you take in. Driving Directions mile 130.0 horseshoe bay This sweet little bay is a Lake Superior safe harbor with a boat access; no amenities; pack out what you pack in. Driving Directions mile 143.3 discover fur trade history Learn about the alliance between the Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the fur trade boom in the late 1700s. at the Grand Portage National Monument. Explore the reconstructed stockade and great hall, the visitor center, garden and grounds, Mount Rose trail and historic Grand Portage trail leading 8.5 miles inland to Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River. Learn More Driving Directions attractions & tours the arts attractions & tours fall color tours fall color report historic sites lake superior mile by mile only on the shore picnic spots shipwrecks state parks waterfalls check out these north shore favorites upcoming events north house folk school november courses november 2, 2021 - november 30, 2021 thanksgiving skiing at lutsen mountains november 24, 2021 - november 27, 2021 harbor rail farmers market november 27, 2021 6th annual small business saturday craft sale november 27, 2021 annual craft sale november 27, 2021 see all events Mount Jo Fall Colors near Grand Portage Fall Color Ore Boat Full moon over Lake superior fisherman Lake Superior rollers near Lutsen Snow covered breakwall Grand Marais Harbor Ship departing Duluth Hovland Dock Lake Superior Miles wide view of Lake Superior near Tofte Late autumn waves Grand Marais shoreline Lake Superior ice breaking from shore Frozen Lake Superior in front of Aerial Lift Bridge Summer fog obscuring lighthouse near Grand Marais Campground Winter ship sails past pine Hjordis leads Tall Ship past Grand Marais Fall colors Grand Marais from the Big Lake Lake Superior from Autumn hilltop Sea smoke covers 1000-footer on Lake Superior Taking in Lake Superior Black Beach view across Lake Superior to Palisade Head Summer Fog near Palisade Head Teal waters and crashing waves Palisade Head Lake Superior Boulders at Taconite Harbor on Lake Superior Aerial View Grand Marais Harbor Artist Point Grand Marais Laker sails past Fitgers in Duluth Pink Cobblestone beach Lake Superior view from Moose Mountain Lutsen Isle Royal, Rock of Ages, Susie Islands on Lake Superior Sea Smoke rises near Split Rock Lighthouse East Bay Lake Superior artist Sea smoke rises around ship passing Two Harbors because words don't do it justice view gallery GRAND MARAIS WEATHER © 2021 northshorevisitor.com / nina simonowicz | inquire about advertising