North Shore Adventures: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Paddling from Duluth to Grand Portage

by Katie Berg

Overview

Step out of your car and into adventure!

Minnesota’s North Shore is a paradise of trails, waterways, and scenic beauty. It’s meant to be explored. No one knows this better than local author and outdoors enthusiast Katie Berg. She has hiked, biked, and paddled her way through the entire region. Now, she’s sharing her secrets with you. If your idea of fun involves hiking boots, bicycles, or kayaks, grab this guidebook and gear up! You’ll be introduced to more than 40 options for outdoor adventure. From pedaling one of the Midwest’s top-rated bike parks at Spirit Mountain to paddling along the shoreline of the Lake Superior Water Trail, experience the best that this unparalleled region has to offer. Each featured outing includes maps, full-color photographs, driving directions, and a detailed description, so you know what to expect on every trip. Plus, if you seek extreme adventure, this comprehensive guidebook includes bonus destinations for climbing and scuba diving. With North Shore Adventures at your fingertips, you’ll always know what to do and where to do it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591939214
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/14/2018
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

After moving to Duluth, Minnesota, for college, Katie Berg never left. While working her way through undergraduate and graduate school, she served as a climbing instructor for a small local climbing gym. At the same time, she explored northern Minnesota (and the rest of the world) on foot, in a kayak and canoe, in a climbing harness, and underwater as a diver for almost 15 years. Currently, she is a college writing teacher and a dance competition coach and choreographer. She still finds time to serve on her local climber coalition board while enjoying as many type-2 fun outdoor activities as she can.

Read an Excerpt

Easy/Moderate Day Hikes

Temperance River State Park

Getting There & Parking
You’ll want to park at the Temperance River State Park Trailhead at the Hwy. 61 milepost 80.3 on left side of highway coming from the south. No overnight parking. Overnight parking is allowed at the other parking area in park with state park sticker; check-in with state park staff.

Condition Information
Easy to moderate terrain. Rock and path can be slippery when wet, but a beautiful and memorable hike on rainy days. Good for all ages, though the hike might be a little tough for younger kids.

Details
This particular section of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is on numerous lists for “best waterfalls” of the North Shore, and it’s easy to see why. The Temperance River cuts straight through the molten basalt rock to form deep ravines with potholes, steps, and even pipe-like features. The access-friendly trail cozies right up to some of the most beautiful waterfalls on the SHT. One of the best parts about this hike is the choose-your-own adventure aspects. From the parking lot, you can pick what side of the river you want to explore first. Bridges connect the two sides at more than one area, so you can decide whether you want to do the longer or shorter version of the hike en route, depending on weather and conditions. This means that you can do the short 2-mile loop if you want to get out and stretch your legs, or you can hike up and back on sections of the SHT and do the spur trails surrounding the Temperance for a full day of forests, waterfalls, and fun. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, some beautiful northern wildflowers, and if you’re lucky, some raspberry patches.

For those that want to feel some elevation gain, start on the northern side of the Temperance and hike the 3.4 miles to the top of Carlton Peak. With 6.8 miles total just going out and back to Carlton, plus the option of hiking around the south side of the river after you summit, Temperance can be a full day of gorgeous hiking.

One of the best parts about this area? When you conclude your hike, cross the road and take a short jaunt down to the shores of Lake Superior. This is one of the places you can swim in the warmer Temperance River right where it feeds into the lake, so it’s possible to avoid the frigid temperatures of Lake Superior if you want to cool down on a hot summer day.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Hiking Introduction

• Jay Cooke State Park
• Minnesota Point
• Superior Hiking Trail: Magney-Snively to Ely’s Peak Loop
• Gooseberry Falls State Park
• Superior Hiking Trail: Split Rock River Loop
• Superior Hiking Trail: Bean & Bear Lakes Loop
• Tettegouche State Park: Tettegouche Lakes
• Superior Hiking Trail: Section 13
• Temperance River State Park
• Superior Hiking Trail: Oberg Mountain
• Superior Hiking Trail: Carlton Peak
• Superior National Forest: Divide Lake
• Judge C.R. Magney State Park/Superior Hiking Trail; Devil’s Kettle & Brule River
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: Eagle Mountain
• Gunflint Trail: Magnetic Rock Trail
• Gunflint Trail to Border Route Trail: Caribou Rock Trail
• Grand Portage State Park: Middle Falls

Biking Introduction

• Jay Cooke State Park
• Spirit Mountain
• Chester Park
• Enger Park
• Hartley Nature Center
• Lester Park
• Mission Creek
• Piedmont and Brewer’s Park
• Britton Peak/Sugarbush Ski Area (Tofte)
• Pincushion Mountain (Grand Marais)

Climbing Introduction

• City of Duluth: The Alternative Living Cave (ALC)
• Tettegouche State Park: Shovel Point
• Tettegouche State Park: Palisade Head
• Sawmill Dome (located near the Superior Hiking Trail)

Paddling Introduction

• St. Louis River Estuary
• Duluth Harbor
• Brighton Beach & Kitchi Gammi Park
• McQuade Small Craft Harbor
• Split Rock Lighthouse
• Tettegouche State Park
• Lake Superior State Water Trail

Diving Introduction

• Madeira Shipwreck
• Hesper Shipwreck at Silver Bay
• Lake Ore-Be-Gone
• Isle Royale National Park Shipwrecks

The Best of the North Shore

About the Author