Minnesota

Ely's Peak is located near the neighborhood of Gary-New Duluth. It is located right off of Becks Road. To get there from Grand Avenue you'll turn onto Becks Road. The small parking lot will be located about 2 miles north and will be on your right. If you are coming from Interstate I35, you'll take M...

The Adventure The work is done. According to The Photographer’s Ephemeris ( app.photoephemeris.com ) the sun will rise at 7:11 AM. You grab your gear, a hot beverage, and set out for the open road. Scenic 61 follows the shore of Lake Superior all the way from Duluth to Two Harbors, MN. The drive up ...

Located smack dab in the center of farm country, the Jeffers Petroglyphs are something you wouldn't expect to find in southwest Minnesota. If you're in the area or just passing through, this is an interesting place to view petroglyphs that have been dated back to nearly 7,000 years ago. Beginning in...

Beth Lake is part of the "Lady Chain" of lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It's secluded, serene and worth the trip, especially if you're up for an afternoon of cliff jumping. You can reach Beth Lake in half of a day, assuming you set out in the morning and are efficient with your time. But f...

The best part of Rifle Lake is how remote it is. There's no quick way to find this small, secluded lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The lake supports just one campsite and is less than a half-mile long, according to rook.org. It is also part of the Rifle/Bridge Loop, which is a good option fo...

One of the trailheads for this hike begins at Temperance River State Park. Parking can be found alongside Highway 61. The Superior Hiking Trail passes through this park and this is the trail you will follow to reach Carlton Peak. The trail follows the Temperance River and is relatively flat until it...

The badlands of South Dakota meet the prairies of Minnesota in Blue Mounds State Park. Located in the extreme southwestern corner of Minnesota, Blue Mounds is one of the largest prairie parks in the state. A majority of the 1,500 acres of grassland sits atop a massive outcrop of Sioux quartzite rock...

At the Headwaters Trailhead there is a visitor center, bathrooms and a large interactive station for kids and adults to learn interesting facts about the Mississippi and the history of the area. The hike itself is just over a mile and completely flat. The trail follows the small Mississippi River to...

This waterfall and observation deck are just a short walk from the west-most parking lot off of Grove Street. Just to the right of the same lot is a suspension bridge, as well. To stretch the legs, afterward, take one of the park's six trails to other scenic sites, like the Redwood Falls Bridge and ...

Temperance River State Park is located near Schroeder, and parking can be found alongside Highway 61 for easy access to the trail following the riverbed. There are two main falls that shape the gorges -- one just north of the highway and the other below the footbridge that is just south of the highw...

A little known section of the Chippewa National Forest called “The Lost Forty" leads day hikers through some of the last remaining virgin red and white pine trees in Minnesota. These trees are 300-400 years old and measure between 22 and 48 inches in diameter. But even more incredible than the age a...

From Hwy 61 in Lutsen, you'll turn on Caribou Trail (Hwy 4). You'll drive about 4 miles and turn right for the public boat launch area. There will be a small parking area on your left before the boat launch. This trail is apart of the Superior Hiking Trail. Follow the short little trail up to the ro...

The trail to Kawishiwi Falls begins at the parking lot and winds through a wooded trail with minimal elevation gain. There are several different vantage points of the falls that are accessible from the trail (above, below, and from the side). The trail is also part of the portage between Garden and ...

Big Bog, an uninspired name for the 500 sq. mile bog in north central Minnesota (the largest in the continental United States), is sometimes called Minnesota's last true wilderness. The Boundary Water Wilderness is so remote, unvisited, and uninhabitable that all attempts at settlement failed - the ...

Once you pull into the Visitor Center Parking Lot, drive down towards the Baptism River and park before crossing the river. The trailhead is just on the other side of the river. The trail follows the river towards the falls with several small trails down to enjoy the river and rapids at different po...

Every Autumn, Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota designates some of it's best roads as official Fall Color Routes. These roads go deep into the forest, far from towns and cell phone reception to show off the best Minnesota has to offer. Peak season is short, only a week or two sometime b...