Having stayed over at a hotel in Duluth, we had to drive from Duluth to get to Sugarloaf Cove, our first attraction of Day 2. Here is the map of the path followed on Day 2. We visited quite a few waterfalls on the way.
Sugerloaf Cove Nature Center
The site on Lake Superior is adjacent to Sugerloaf Point Scientific and Natural Area. From the parking lot, the trail splits into 2 :
- The trail to the right goes to the visitor’s center and then directly to Sugerloaf Cove and beach on lake superior.
- the trail to the left is a 1-mile interpretive nature trail also leading to Sugerloaf Cove and beach on lake superior.
We took the trail to the left and hiked the 1-mile nature trail. We stopped at a vantage point on the trail for a view of the entire Sugarloaf Cove and beach. There are all kinds of insects around and so you should be prepared with an abundant supply of inspect repellent as you walk around this place.
Cross River waterfalls
There is a wayside parking lot on Highway 61 where we parked and then walked a pedestrian bridge, to enjoy this waterfall. This river was named after a cross that Father Baraga, a Catholic priest, left at the mouth of the river in the late 1700s.
Temperence River State Park
One of the most popular hikes along the North Shore. This hike brings fantastic scenery, with a trailhead literally on the highway. The hike starts with a dramatic view of the river gorge, before climbing rocky steps and are greeted with an aerial view of waterfalls and natural potholes from the perfectly placed pedestrian bridge. From there, the hike continues upwards for even more gorge views before the ecology shifts towards a peaceful river with a wooded forest.
Cascade River state park
Parking is on the highway 61. Trail starts at the parking lot. Go up a few yards and you will come to the first single falls… continuing on the wooden trail to the left for about 0.3 miles will bring you to overlooks and a footbridge spanning the cascades. You can then walk across the footbridge and loop back to the parking lot. On the way back, you will come across a few more waterfalls.
Five Mile Rock
You can see a rock that looks like a whale just north of Grand Marais. It was used many years ago by Lake Superior shippers as a navigational guide. The rock is named Five Mile Rock not because it is five miles from shore, but because it is five miles from Grand Marais, MN. We just stopped on the side of highway 61 and took this picture from the car.
Devil’s Kettle
Located inside Judge C.R. Magney State park is a mysterious waterfall that’s has been puzzling visitors for decades. Inside this park, the Brule River splits into two waterfalls. The waterfall on the right spills over a rocks, just like you’d expect. The one on the left pours into a giant hole(devils kettle) and seems to disappear (some think the hole leads back to the river).
The hike to the falls is 2 miles round trip, unpaved and gains elevation. You walk along the Brule river initially and as you gain elevation, you can hear the rushing stream in the gorge all along the trail. As you near the waterfalls, there are wooden steps (193) going down (that you have climb up on the way back) and then 60 wooden steps going up to the waterfall lookout area.
Grand Portage state park
You’ve reached the end of Minnesota’s north shore. You can see the Canadian immigration booth as you park the car. From the visitor’s center, you can hike to Minnesota’s highest waterfall – The High Falls. The trail is an easy 1-mile scenic hike and fully paved. The waterfall drops from a height of 120-feet.
There are many overlooks you can stop by on this route with gorgeous view of the lake and surrounding. Two attractions which are worthwhile to visit but we did not have time were:
- Oberg Mountain Trail – Oberg Mountain is a 3 mile moderate hike. High overlooks along Oberg give wonderful views of Lake Superior, Oberg Lake and Moose Mountain. Steep cliffs are at the top; This trail is a spur trail off of the Superior Hiking Trail. This trail is especially beautiful during the fall.
- Lutsen Mountain – Midwest’s largest and tallest ski area with gondola ride.
These 2 stops come after Cross River waterfalls on highway 61.