the wandering chick
A return to Duluth
and the North Shore to Grand Portage
I don't often return to places I've already seen...there are too many places I've not been yet and little time in which to do them. But three factors contributed to a return to Duluth and Minnesota's North Shore: the friends who invited me, a side trip to Ely, which I had not yet been to, a side trip to Grand Portage and the fact that we'd be staying two nights at one of my favorite lodges, Naniboujou, near Grand Marais. Okay, that's four things.
The Grand Portage National Monument was a true highlight. The Ojibwe Village there is very imformative and well done. A couple of hikes offered excellent views of Lake Superior and Minnesota's highest waterfall.
And then there's the Naniboujou Lodge across Highway 61 from the Judge Magney State Park. Nothing beats the cozy, layback ambiance, except perhaps the savory meals that are served there. (Photos of the lodge can be seen on Duluth's other page.)
Ely was a slight disappointment, mainly because everything is centered around kayaking/canoeing the boundary waters. That's about the only reason one would go. Unfortunately, I do neither. With that said, however, I'm glad I went. Shopping and the restaurants were great. (Pictures of Ely's wolf and bear centers are on a separate page. )
Enjoy the photos. Better yet, make a trip yourself. You'll be pleasantly awarded.
The subtle colors of a birch tree
This and the next seveal shots were taken on Artist's Point in Grand Marais.
Grand Portage is a community on the North Shore of Lake Superior, 34 miles north of Grand Marias, Minnesota and five miles from the U.S.-Canada border at Pigeon River.
Besides a casino and lodge, the Grand Portage National Monument is the center attraction. Its Heritage Center and Fort Charlotte offer excellent information on the Ojibwa tribe and its contribution to the North American fur trading network.Fort Charlotte was built by the fur traders as a trading point.
Grand Portage, the name meaning "the great carrying place," comes from the nine-mile land mass that separates the Pigeon River from the Minnesota rivers and lakes. It was used by voyageurs (French Canadian fur traders) during the 18th and 19th centuries to portage their canoes across the land.
The monument's land forms a U shape around Grand Portage Bay extending to Hat Point on one side of the bay and Tamarak Point on the other. In the middle of the bay is Grand Portage Island, uninhabited.
A view of the Grand Marais lightstation and breakwater from Artist's Point
It's a bit freakish as is, but this is a very clever project by Minnesota artist Corrie Steckelberg. Working with various mediums, this caribou art was created with fabric and fauna. When the blooms take, the caribou will be completely covered with flowers. She placed three in Grand Marais.
The Brule River flows through the Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais on the North Shore before emptying into Lake Superior.
Rock-cut basins begin with a small pebble in a rock's indentation. The pebble swirls in a constant circle by the water flowing over. Over time, the hole increases in size.
The hiking trail to Devil's Kettle in Judge C.R. Magney State Park
The highlight of the Judge Magney State Park is the Devil's Kettle where there are two drops of water. One continues downstream while the other seems to drop into a pothole, called the Devil's Kettle. Though some consider it mysterious, scientists say it's not a mystery at all. In reality, they say, the water renters the river underground and comes out farther downstream.
A series of waterfalls in Judge Magney State Park drops 800 feet before emptying into Lake Superior.
Stairs lead to the Devil's Kettle.
The Ojibwa Village is displayed at Fort Charlotte, showing the culture and lifestyle of the tribe. The Ojibwa were essential to the fur traders, providing them with supplies and teaching them skills in canie repair and trapping.
The boathouse
The living quarters
This is the ferry on Hat Point that takes passengers to Isle Royale.
The Holy Rosary Catholic Church is located on Hat Point and is the oldest church in Minnesota, built in 1865. On its grounds is the cemetery pictured above.
The Pigeon River separates Canada from the U.S. at Minnesota's most eastern point.
A view of Grand Portage Island (center) and Hat Point from the Mount Rose hiking trail.
Minnesota's highest waterfall is located in Grand Portage State Park, called High Falls. It drops 120 feet. It competes with the waterfall at Tettegouche State Park, which is considered the highest completely within the state. High Falls is partly in Canada. The round-trip hike to High Falls is 1.4 miles, and there are three viewing platforms allowing different views.
The Susie Islands comprise 13 islands off the North Shore near Grand Portage. They are named after members of the Falconer family who lived on Susie in the early 1900s. The main islands are Susie, Francis and Lucille. This view was taken from a pullout on the North Shore Highway.
The Cascade River runs for 17 miles, and four of its many drops are located within the last quarter mile of its journey to Lake Superior and within the Cascade River State Park.
A portion of the waterfall trail in Cascade River State Park
Black Beach is a small beach on the North Shore made up of taconite pebbles.
A rock cairn always puts a smile on my face. This one was built on Iona's Beach, also known as Pink Beach.
These last two shots were taken along the trail leading down to Iona's Beach,
The Duluth Rose Garden and Leif Erickson Park make for a nice afternoon lakeside stroll.
Fitger's, once a Duluth brewery and now a luxury inn, offers lakeshore dining and shopping as well.
To see earlier pictures of Duluth and the North Shore, click here.
To see other Minnesota locations, please return to the Minnesota home page.
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