North Shore (Minnesota)

• The Range
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
• Gunflint Trail

Lake Superior is one of the worlds largest inland lakes. While it is located in the middle of the United States, the lake is accessible to the Atlantic ocean. As a result, cargo ships from around the world can be seen on Lake Superior carrying wheat, iron ore, and other cargo.

The main access into the North Shore area is Highway 61, an All-American road and national Scenic Byway. It begins where Interstate 35 ends, at the northern end of Duluth. It is not the smoothest or best-maintained highway, but it offers many spectacular views of Lake Superior along its approximate 150 mile stretch within Minnesota.

Other than Duluth, there is no public transportation available to the average visitor to the region. There are chartered bus trips, an international airport at Duluth, many small municipal airports, and marinas on Lake Superior at Duluth, Silver Bay and Grand Marais.

• The Sawtooth Mountains, There are a multitude of rivers and streams running down through the Sawtooths to Lake Superior, with uncounted cascades and waterfalls along their way. Trails lead through the dense forests on both public and private land.
• Wildlife thrives in this mostly undeveloped area, home to numerous state parks as well as Grand Portage National Monument, Superior National Forest, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Locally (and not locally) grown wild rice, fresh Lake Superior fish (including salmon), and pies are what the region is probably best known for.

Be watchful for both whitetail deer and the local moose. Both are most active at dusk and dawn.