North
Shore Scenic Drive
The
North Shore of Minnesota has what no other place in the Midwest can
offer -- an inland sea, a mountain backdrop, an unspoiled wilderness,
and a unique feeling all its own. The North Shore is a place that you
will want to come back to again and again.
Drive
the North Shore Scenic Drive from Duluth to the Canadian Border, and
along the way see some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.
Enjoy the natural treasures of eight state parks and the Superior National
Forest. The beautiful trails of the parks and the 200-mile Superior
Hiking Trail offer unlimited opportunities to experience firsthand this
magnificent landscape. If you want to enjoy the lake itself, charter
fishing, sailing, kayaking, and excursion boats are popular alternatives
to swimming in these scenic northern waters.
The rich history of the North Shore is deeply rooted
in its plentiful natural resources. On the northern end of the Byway,
visit Grand Portage National Monument, which features a reconstructed
North-West Company fur-trading post. Stop in Grand Marais, a quaint
harbor town that is the entrance to the Gunflint Trail, a paved trail
leading inland to the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness. At the southern
end of the Byway, watch giant ore boats pull up to the docks at Two
Harbors. Also visit a much smaller boat, the 100 year-old tugboat, The
Edna G., which is displayed here. Learn the story of this area in small
museums in Two Harbors and Tofte, as well as interpretive programs at
the state parks.
"The
National Scenic Byways Program recognizes highways that are outstanding
examples of our nation's beauty, history, culture, and recreational
experience by designating them as All-American Roads and National Scenic
Byways. The roads being featured were designated by the Secretary of
Transportation from nominations submitted by the states and federal
land management agencies. These designations provide a compass for people
from all over the world to explore America's treasured open roads."
www.byways.org
