years ago, forest fires raged through this
area, and the tragic story is told at the
Hinckley Fire Museum in the old train
depot. Nearby is the Willard Munger Bike
Trail that travels through the countryside to
Duluth. Hinckley’s Grand Casino is one of
the largest in the state, and includes the
Grand National Golf Club. Nearby St. Croix
State Park has miles of St. Croix River
shoreline, canoe rentals and extensive
hiking and mountain biking trails.
There are three other state parks to visit
along this route. North of Sandstone, the
Kettle River rapids tumble through Banning
State Park, making this a favorite spot for
adventurous kayakers. Also at Sandstone is
the Midwest Country Music Theater. At
Moose Lake State Park, the Agate and
Geological Center has displays on
Minnesota’s rocks and minerals. The Moose
Lake Depot Museum has exhibits on both
agates and the forest fires of 1918.
At beautiful Jay Cook State Park, near
Carlton, the St. Louis River leaps through a
rocky gorge, and there are miles of hiking
trails in the park. Whitewater rafting trips
shoot the river’s rapids, and the Willard
Munger Bike Trail begins a scenic descent
into Duluth from here. Carlton is also home
to the Black Bear Casino and Black Bear
Golf Course. A peaceful alternate to I- 35 is
the 50-mile Veterans Evergreen Memorial
Scenic Byway, following Highway 23 from
the Askov exit north to Duluth.
North Shore of Lake
Superior
The largest city in northeastern Minnesota,
Duluth is a bustling inland seaport at the
end of the Great Lakes shipping route. With
its Lake Superior and harbor views and an
incredible array of things to see and do,
Duluth is a popular destination. There are a
large number of hotels, motels and
charming inns, but Duluth often fills up, so
reservations are recommended. The
adjacent community of Cloquet also has
several motels.
The center of activities is the
waterfront. At Canal Park, the landmark
aerial lift bridge rises to let massive
seafaring vessels from around the world
enter the harbor. Visitors gather along the
canal to watch the big ships. Next to the
canal, the Maritime Visitor Center has
exhibits on Great Lakes shipping. Nearby,
the Floating Maritime Museum has guided
tours of a retired ore carrier, the William A.
Irvin. Sightseeing and dinner cruises aboard
the Vista Fleet explore the harbor itself.
Canal Park, Duluth
7GreatAdventures
Kayaking along the North
Shore of Lake Superior
Mountain biking at Giants Ridge
Houseboating in Voyageurs
National Park
Backpacking the Superior
National Trail (Day hikes or
lodge-to-lodge treks, too)
Exploring the Iron Range OHV
Recreation Area by ATV
Mushing a dogsled near Ely
Cross-country skiing
along the Gunflint Trail
