North Shore Waterfalls

A Road Trip Around Lake Superior’s North Shore

One year in mid June, Jo and I decided to take a trip around the north shore of Lake Superior. One benefit of taking a late spring trip around Gitche Gumme, is due to the rain the upper Midwest typcially experiences in May and early June. The rivers emptying into Lake Superior are typically at high water levels . . . making for terrific waterfalls.

Our trip started in Duluth, Minnesota where we found a nice waterfall along Chester Creek in Chester Park. The Dan Proctor Hiking Trail runs adjacent to the creek on the east side as it tumbles down the hillside towards Lake Superior. On the west side of the creek is the Superior Hiking Trail that connects to the Duluth Lakewalk at the Rose Garden in Leif Erickson Park. Going the other direction the SHT goes to Hawk Ridge and then leaves Duluth heading toward Two Harbors, Minnesota. The Superior Hiking Trail runs the entire length of the Minnesota North shore.

chester creek waterfall duluth, mn
The normally mild Chester Creek was pretty wild in mid-June

The next day we headed towards Grand Marais finding several impressive waterfalls along the route: Gooseberry Falls, Cross River Falls, the High Falls on the Baptism River. Gooseberry State Park is a must-see stop along the Minnesota North Shore for its extensive network of stairs and walking trails completely encircling Gooseberry Falls. You can see these waterfalls and others along the Minnesota North Shore in the following slide show (click on any image to see a larger view)

Slide Show North Shore Waterfalls


  • High Falls on the Pigeon River, MN
    130 foot High Falls on the Pigeon River at the Minnesota-Ontario border
  • manitou Falls, North Shore
    Manitou Falls
  • devils kettle, North Shore
    Devils Kettle Falls in Judge Magney Park
  • Upper Gooseberry Falls, North Shore
    Upper Gooseberry Falls
  • middle gooseberry falls, noRTH SHORE
    middle gooseberry falls

Naniboujou Lodge – Historic Dining and Lodging

On our recent trip we made time to stop in the Naniboujou Lodge on the shores of Lake Superior near the entrance to Judge Magney State Park. We’ve probably passed their sign dozens of times on the way to Grand Portage or Canada. It is worth a stop for the architecture, the ambiance, and the food.

great hall naniboujou lodge
The Great Hall of Naniboujou Lodge is like a Northwoods Sistine Chapel and a spacious and welcoming place for dining.

It is a step back in time to the elegance of a 1929 northwoods gentlemen’s club. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Ring Lardner were among the notables who were charter members. The original estate was over 3000 acres and was to include a wide range of sporting facilities (tennis, golf, bathhouse, etc.) and up to 150 guest rooms. The 1929 stock market crash and resulting depression curtailed plans to expand the estate and its membership and eventually required the club to sell its properties. The original lodge, great hall, and 24 guest rooms have been preserved and operate today as a restaurant and inn. The most impressive feature of the lodge is the great hall which serves as the main dining room. The walls and twenty foot high ceiling are a mural of Cree Indian designs created by a French artist. The huge fireplace at one end of the lodge is the largest native stone fireplace in Minnesota. All the furnishings are suitably aged and fit the image of a 1930s era clubhouse and north woods inn. The menu offers a reasonable variety of choices, all with a creative twist in the recipe. The food was top quality and the price reasonable enough for a family on a budget. There is also a kids menu and pricing. The wait service was courteous and efficient – well-trained. The inn and restaurant is open from mid-May to mid-October and an abbreviated winter schedule – weekends from late December to mid-March.

Highest Lake Superior Waterfall

Further down Scenic Highway 61 is Grand Portage State Park. Be sure to stop at the Grand Portage State Park visitor center and take a short hike to High Falls, one of two waterfalls competing for the title of highest waterfall around Lake Superior. The trail to the falls is an easy half mile walk and is handicap accessible.

Next Page: We cross into Canada to travel Ontario’s North Shore of Lake Superior where more terrific waterfalls are flowing.


Links:

Minnesota North Shore State Parks

Ontario North Shore Provincial Parks

Ross

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