Highlighting Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive

The North Shore Drive (aka Highway 61) is a 150 mile scenic drive beginning in Duluth and ending in Grand Portage, Minnesota.  There are so many things to see and do … waterfalls, state parks, lighthouses, historic sites, tunnels, and lots of recreational opportunities.   We have printed a mile-by-mile guide off the Internet and are ready to see the sights and sounds of this “Superior” scenery.  Our tour begins in Duluth, Minnesota …

Tettegouche State Park

Minnesota’s North Shore Drive (aka Highway 61) has a lot of roadside scenes that you can enjoy from your car.  However, there are times when you should turn-off the main highway to really see what the place is all about.  Tettegouche State Park is one of those places. 

Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Minnesota

One of the things we did while exploring Minnesota’s scenic North Shore was to stop at Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center (Mile 73.3). It was founded in 1993 to protect and restore Sugarloaf Cove.  We cross the metal footbridge to the Nature Center.  It is after hours and the building is closed.  But we have been here before so we know about the one mile Interpretive Nature Trail.

 Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center

We hike the trail in reverse and stroll along the cascading Temperance River.

Temperance River

We arrive at my favorite section of the trail (Sugarloaf Point) at just the right time of day. The late afternoon sun is casting a warm glow on the scenery and the Lake Superior waves are gently lapping the rocky shoreline in this u-shaped cove.

 Sugarloaf Point

The trail continues through quiet forests …Do you hear birds singing? A squirrel rustling in the leaves?   This is a nice interpretive trail – take the time to enjoy it.  

Interpretive Trail

We finish hiking the trail just after sunset.  It is getting late and we need to find a place to eat and a place to stay for the night.  At the Bluefin Grille (Tofte, MN), we have dinner (burgers and fries - water to drink for $31 + tip).  The wall of windows offers a great view but it gets dark before we can enjoy it too much.  It is still a nice place to relax.  We get a room ($79 + tax) at the AmericInn (Tofte, MN).

For information on the Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, click on the following link:

Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center

Gunflint Scenic Byway, Minnesota

At a cobblestone beach along Lake Superior on Minnesota's Scenic North Shore, we talk with some other visitors about the Gunflint Scenic Byway.  They insist that we "need" to do this.            

We consider the weather (today is sunny and tomorrow the forecast is for rain).  We decide to do the road today thinking the visibility might be reduced under rainy and foggy conditions.  We drive the eight miles back to Grand Marais (Mile 110.5) where the Gunflint Scenic Byway begins.  The 57 mile long road (aka CR- 12) has a couple of scenic overlooks, lots of forests, lakes, and hiking trails.

Gunflint Scenic Byway

Near the beginning is the first scenic overlook offering a view of Grand Marais and Lake Superior. 

Grand Marais Overlook

Around mile 32 is the second overlook - Laurentian Divide. The sign here says, “Water at this point flows northward into Canada's Hudson Bay and eastward into the Saint Lawrence Watershed.” We take the short but steep dirt trail (includes 51 steps) down to the lakeshore. It is good exercise coming back up the trail to the car.

Birch Lake at Laurentian Divide

We keep waiting for this "must see" scenery but (in our opinion) we never see anything special.  The road ends at a lake in the Trail's End Campground. We begin our return drive back to Grand Marais.

On our return to Highway 61, we see a red fox - three different times - running down the side of the road. Two deer are near the junction of County Road 12 and Highway 61 but no other wildlife. 

Maybe we expected too much from what we heard, but (and I hate to say this) if your time is limited, I would skip driving the Gunflint Scenic Byway.  It takes us four hours to drive it, do some hiking, and watch for wildlife along this Scenic Byway … time we felt would have been better spent elsewhere on the North Shore. 

For information on the Gunflint Trail, click on the following link:

Gunflint Scenic Byway

 

Gooseberry Falls State Park - Minnesota's North Shore

If you are driving Minnesota’s scenic North Shore, a stop at Gooseberry Falls State Park should be on your list of “must see” things.  The park officially opened in 1937 and features a rocky Lake Superior shoreline, five waterfalls, Gooseberry River and gorge, Agate Beach and the ancient lava flow known as the Picnic Flow.

    Middle Falls

    Middle & Lower Falls

There is not an entrance fee for this part of the Gooseberry Falls State Park and the Visitor Center/Gift Shop is a good place to start your visit (it has restrooms!). 

We spent two hours hiking the trails and photographing the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls (a total drop of over 100 feet).  The Falls View Trail is a nice loop trail with a couple of pedestrian bridges crossing the Gooseberry River.  

    Falls View Trail

The bridges offer good views of the waterfalls. 

    Pedestrian bridge over the Gooseberry River

The trail splits – one direction goes up these stairs but the Falls View Trail continues along the river.

Take a few minutes to sit, relax, and enjoy the view – even this chipmunk is taking a break.   Please remember do not feed the animals - no matter how cute and tempting it may be to do it!  

The Falls View Trail continues along the river offering a different view of the waterfalls.  Near the end of the trail is a ped-way that goes under the road bridge.  From here, you get a nice view of the Upper Falls. 

    Ped-Way Bridge under Hwy 61

    Upper Falls

Gooseberry Falls State Park has a picnic area, campground, and lots of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. 

For information on Gooseberry Falls State Park, click on the following link:

Gooseberry Falls SP

For information on the North Shore Mile-By-Mile Guide (PDF), click on the following link

MN North Shore Mile By Mile Guide