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Lake Superior, Minnesota
Duluth and the North Shore
A port city on a hill above Lake Superior: the Aerial Lift Bridge rising for giant lake freighters, Canal Park and the Lakewalk, Glensheen mansion, and up the North Shore, Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse.
Photo: Aerial lift bridge duluth mn, Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge spans the ship canal to Park Point. It lifts for ore boats and salties coming into the harbour, the farthest inland freshwater port you can reach from the Atlantic. Wave to the ships.
Highway 61 follows the North Shore northeast, past waterfalls in state parks and Split Rock Lighthouse on its cliff. Be adventurous and keep driving.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
Free exhibits on shipping beside the canal.
Split Rock Lighthouse
A 1910 lighthouse on a cliff up the North Shore.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Vista Fleet harbor cruise
Lake Superior and Duluth Harbor cruises.
Season Daily tours roughly May–Oct (check before you go).
North Shore Scenic Railroad
Train rides and excursions from the Duluth depot.
Part of our Western Lake Superior guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Ships come in at all hours.
- The North Shore needs a full day.
- Sunrise over the lake.
Nearby and worth the drive
Sea caves and lighthouses.
Marquetteabout 6 h · Guide ↗Presque Isle and the ore dock.
Ready-made trips with Duluth and the North Shore
4 days · Duluth and the North Shore → Apostle Islands and Bayfield
Duluth and the Apostle Islands
Lake Superior's port city, the North Shore and the sea caves of Wisconsin.
3 days · Duluth and the North Shore → Grand Marais
Duluth to Grand Marais
Lake Superior's North Shore, from the lift bridge to an artist town.
Good to know
- Tourism: Visit Duluth.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Aerial lift bridge duluth mn, Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Middle Gooseberry Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota, Edward Morrissey, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Enger Tower, No machine-readable author provided. Jakes19 assumed (based on copyright claims), Public domain
Photo: Glensheen, Learjet at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Photo: Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior, Jim Sorbie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Canal Park Lakewalk High, Jacob Norlund, Public domain