In a state that has stately forests, lakes small and large, prairies, and rolling countryside, it’s hard to pick one area as the most scenic. But the North Shore and the Arrowhead region (named after its shape) have arguably some of the loveliest vistas in the state, and the region is one of the state’s most popular for visitors.
The eastern edge of the Arrowhead runs along the shores of Lake Superior, while the northern border runs along Canada, areas rich in geological and historical interest. Much of the Lake Superior area was inhabited by the Ojibwe before the arrival of the Europeans, who came searching for trade routes and posts. The French were prominent explorers and settlers in this area, looking for furs and other goods for trade, and their influence is seen in community names like Grand Marais and Grand Portage. Fur trading was a central activity until about 1840, when most of the traders and trappers moved elsewhere, including the Mississippi Headwaters area. However, the arrival of railroads in 1869, combined with increased ship traffic on Lake Superior, lead to a population boom. The growth of commercial fishing as well as the development of the iron ore industry, combined with more sophisticated infrastructure and shipping methods, lead not only to established communities but to the beginning of the tourism industry.
While fishing and mining enjoyed their heydays, the lumber and agricultural industries were booming as well, at least until the Depression years, when competition in other parts of the country reduced their prominence.
Today’s North Shore and Arrowhead still sees considerable commercial fishing and mining activity, but tourism has come to play an ever-increasing role in the local economy. The establishment of the million-plus-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness within Superior National Forest, which keeps this wilderness preserved nearly as it was in the days of the voyageurs, brings thousands of visitors each summer for camping, hiking, and boating. But whereas visitors used to come only in the summer for fishing and hiking, now they come year-round, taking advantage of the area’s winter landscape for activities like skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and even dogsledding.
GUIDANCE Hinckley Convention and Visitor Bureau (320-384-0126 or 1-800-952-4282; hinckleymn.com), P.O. Box 197, Hinckley, MN 55037. Contact them via their website or phone number to order a visitor’s guide to the area.
Cloquet Area Tourism Office (218-879-1551 or 1-800-554-4350; visitcloquet.com), 225 Sunnyside Drive, Cloquet.
Duluth Convention and Visitor Bureau (218-722-4011 or 1-800-438-5884; visitduluth.com), 225 W. Superior Street, Suite 110, Duluth. The Duluth CVB has extensive information about the city on the lake, but be aware that the website is packed full of text and images, and can be overwhelming.
Visit Cook County (218-387-2524 or 1-888-922-5000; visitcookcounty.com/community/lutsen-tofte-schroeder).
Tofte Information Center, 7136 W. MN 61, Tofte.
Grand Marais Information Center, 116 W. MN 61, Grand Marais. Provides information for visitors to the popular ski resort of Lutsen as well as Grand Marais, Grand Portage, and the Gunflint Trail.
Boundary Waters (bwca.com). A website full of practical information and resources on visiting the Boundary Waters area.
Reserve America (1-877-444-6777; recreation.gov). A major national site where visitors to the Boundary Waters area can reserve sites and permits.
Ely Chamber of Commerce (218-365-6123 or 1-800-777-7281; ely.org), 1600 E. Sheridan Street, Ely. The Ely Chamber can provide help and information not just on Ely itself, but also on the Boundary Waters.
International Falls and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitor Bureau (1-800-325-5766; rainylake.org), 301 2nd Avenue, International Falls. A well-organized CVB devoted to tourism along the Canadian border and into the Voyageurs National Park area.
Voyageurs National Park Association (612-333-5424; voyageurs.org), 126 N. 3rd Street, Suite 400, Minneapolis. Provides information and resources for visitors to the state’s only national park.
Kabetogama Lake Tourism Bureau (218-875-2621 or 1-800-525-3522; kabetogama.com), 907 Gamma Road, Lake Kabetogama. Tourist information for the Lake Kabetogama region.
Iron Range Tourism Bureau (218-749-8161 or 1-800-777-8497; ironrange.org). The Iron Range Tourism Bureau offers a free print guide to the Iron Range as well as online information.
TRAVELING THE GUNFLINT TRAIL
GETTING THERE By air: The primary commercial airport in the region is the Duluth International Airport (218-727-2968; duluthairport.com), served by Delta, with flights to Minneapolis–St. Paul and Detroit; American and United Airlines, with flights to Chicago; and, on a charter-only basis, Sun Country. International Falls also has an airport (218-283-4461; internationalfallsairport.com) served by Delta Airlines and SkyWest Air Lines, both offering feeder routes from Minneapolis–St. Paul, as well as charter service via Sun Country. Many of the smaller cities have municipal airports that can handle smaller jets or prop planes. Taxis, limos, rental cars, and light rail service is available from the airports into Duluth and surrounding areas.
By car: From the Twin Cities, I-35W. will take you up to Duluth and scenic MN 61, which leads all the way up to the Canadian border. If you’re heading to the eastern half of the Boundary Waters or the Gunflint Trail, this is the best route to take. If you’re looking for the western parts of the Boundary Waters, you can take I-35W toward Duluth, then take MN 61 north of Silver Bay to MN 1, which takes you directly to Ely and parts west. An additional option between the Twin Cities and Duluth is the Skyline Shuttle (skylineshuttle.com), which operates out of the Minneapolis–St. Louis International Airport with daily round-trip bus service.
If you’re driving toward Voyageurs National Park, you can take US 169 north out of the Twin Cities through the Iron Range to Chisholm, where you could pick up MN 73, which merges farther north with US 53, which continues to International Falls. An alternate route would be I-94 W. to St. Cloud, crossing over to US 10 to MN 371 through Brainerd and merging with US 71 south of Bemidji. US 71 then continues north to International Falls.
GETTING AROUND Duluth has a public bus system that covers the metro area, with reduced service on weekends and holidays. The service is designed primarily to transport students and employees from outlying homes to work and school within the city. Contact Duluth Transit Authority (218-722-7283; duluthtransit.com) for more information. For maximum flexibility, a car is recommended and is a necessity if you’re traveling outside of Duluth. If you’re staying in the downtown Duluth area and can walk or take a brief taxi ride to other downtown destinations, you could survive without a car. The remaining regions of northeastern Minnesota require a vehicle.
WHEN TO COME The summer months are a particularly popular time in the Duluth, greater North Shore, and Voyageurs National Park areas, where the cooler temperatures generated by Lake Superior keep the heat from rising to intolerable levels. The scenery is beautiful, and countless events and festivals up and down the shore take advantage of that. Autumn months draw foliage visitors to all parts of the North Shore and Arrowhead region, while winter draws sports enthusiasts, particularly skiers to Lutsen and snowmobilers, snowshoers, dog sledders, and ice fishers to the more remote areas. Be aware that the winter months can produce some bitterly cold temperatures, particularly in the far northern reaches, but local stores are well prepared to provide the necessary outerwear. And if you’re not fond of cold weather, bundle up in one of the many bed-and-breakfasts or lodges with cozy fireplaces and enjoy the snowy scenery from the warmth of indoors.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY Call 911.
St. Luke’s Hospital (218-249-5555; slhduluth.com), 915 E. 1st Street, Duluth.
Lake View Memorial Hospital (218-834-7300; slhduluth.com/Find-a-Location/Lake-View-Hospital.aspx), 325 11th Avenue, Two Harbors.
North Shore Health and Hospital (218-387-3040; northshorehealthgm.org), 515 W. 5th Avenue, Grand Marais.
Fairview Range Medical Center (218-262-4881 or 1-888-870-8626; fairview.org), 750 E. 34th Street, Hibbing.
Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital (218-365-3271; ebch.org), 328 W. Conan Street, Ely.
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital (218-326-3401; granditasca.org), 1601 Golf Course Road, Grand Rapids.
Rainy Lake Medical Center (218-283-4481; rainylakemedical.com), 1400 US 71, International Falls.