Festivals & Events
January
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon,
Duluth & North Shore
February
Laskiainen Finnish Sliding Festival, Aurora
Vasaloppet Ski Race, Mora
May
Dylan Days, Hibbing
June
Judy Garland Festival,
Grand Rapids
Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth
Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival,
Grand Marais
Land of the Loon Arts Festival, Virginia
Hawk Ridge, Duluth
July
Blueberry Art Festival, Ely
Corn & Clover Carnival, Hinckley
Mississippi Melodie Showboat, Grand Rapids
Agate Days, Moose Lake
Water Carnival, Hoyt Lake
August
Fishermen’s Picnic, Grand Marais
Bayfront Blues Festival, Duluth
Hoghead Festival, Proctor
White Oak Rendezvous, Deer River
September
Fall Harvest Moon Festival, Ely
Hawk Ridge Weekend, Duluth
October
Haunted Ship Tour, Duluth
Field of Screems, Chisholm
November
Winterer’s Gathering and Arctic
Film Festival, Grand Marais
December
Weihnachtsfest, Biwabik
For more events info see:
www.exploreminnesota.com
White Oak Rendezvous,
Deer River
32 ExploreMinnesota.com
Grand Marais, and the Superior National Forest ranger
station in town provides information on trails and lakes in
the forest surrounding this woodland road. In the winter,
snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are the draws.
Fourteen miles northeast along the shore is Judge
C.R. Magney State Park, where a rugged mile-long
footpath leads to the Devil’s Kettle waterfall on the Brule
River. Minnesota’s largest waterfall is along the northern
border at Grand Portage State Park, where the Pigeon
River rushes over a 200-foot-drop; a short, accessible
trail leads to overlooks of the falls.
The Grand Portage National Monument features a
reconstructed North West Company fur-trading post
from the late 1700s, and focuses on
Ojibwe culture and the life of fur
traders. The Grand Portage Casino
offers gaming action. Passenger
boats depart from Grand Portage for
Isle Royale National Park, a favorite
with hikers and backpackers.
Wilderness & Lakes
The Gunflint Trail, a 63-mile
paved highway, explores the north
woods and lakes of the Superior
National Forest inland from Grand
Marais. This state scenic byway
provides easy access to one of the
largest wilderness areas in the
country. Island-studded lakes are
rimmed by rugged hills, blanketed by
pine and birch. There’s abundant wildlife, including moose,
deer, bear and bald eagles; it’s not uncommon to hear the
howls of a wolf pack. This is a good area for birding
year-round, with woodland species and water birds.
The lakes surrounding the Gunflint Trail are legendary
favorites with anglers looking for trout, bass and walleye.
Hikers have their choice of Superior National Forest trails,
including the 7-mile round-trip trek up to Eagle Mountain,
the highest point in Minnesota at 2300 feet. Trail rides
from the Gunflint Stables explore the woods by horseback.
The Superior National Forest surrounding the Gunflint
Trail has boat landings and rustic campgrounds. A ranger
station in Grand Marais provides information on
recreation and wildlife in the Superior Forest.
Lakeside lodges, resorts and campgrounds provide
a comfortable stay at the edge of this quiet, peaceful
wilderness. The story of the Gunflint Trail is told at the
new Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, at a
restored 1930s lodge.
