Gentler, but Still Rewarding Hikes

The road that runs along the shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to Grand Marais to the Canadian border is Highway 61. For easy short hikes into nature, there are many State Parks to stop at right off the highway.  Many of the popular parks are Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche, Crosby Manitou, or Cascade.  Each park has unique hiking trails that go along and over cascading rivers, to great look-out points, or down to Lake Superior itself.

There are also sections of the Superior Hiking Trail that are accessible along Highway 61 or a short distance off it. Some favorites are the Oberg Mountain loop and the Temperance River's dramatic and narrow river canyon near Tofte.  Closer to Grand Marais are the Pincushion Mountain and the Brule River Loop trails in Judge C.R. Magney State Park.  I have done all these hikes and can recommend them for people who can do mild to moderate physical activity.

Many of these gentler hikes, which are under three miles long, are described in a handy book, Gentle Hikes, by Tornabene, Morgan and Vogelsang. It is available both on Amazon or at many stops along the North Shore.

So grab a map or book, water bottle, camera, hiking poles, and get out there!