3 minute read
Superior by the Season
Seasons Superior by the
DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST
It’s named “Superior” for a reason. The Superior National Forest encompasses three million acres of the Arrowhead region of Minnesota and is the eighth most visited National Forest in the nation. This forest is renowned for its vast remote settings, including the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), named one of the world’s “50 Places of a Lifetime” by National Geographic, and the nationally known Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), a wildly scenic 310-mile trail from Duluth to Canada, dubbed “The Appalachian Trail of the Midwest.”
Explore on the Water
You don’t have to own your own equipment to experience paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! No gear or experience? No problem! Professional outfitters and guides are ready to help you plan and prepare for the canoe trip experience of a lifetime! And for new paddlers, Gunflint Trail outfitters host “Wet Your Paddle” days annually in June and July, offering an hour of free canoeing with instruction if needed.
VisitCookCounty.com/Outfitters
We don’t like to brag, but many of Minnesota’s state record fish have been caught right here in Cook County! Walleye, bass, trout, and northern pike are just some of the species that thrive in our many pristine inland lakes and streams. Or head out on the big lake (Superior of course!) with a local charter guide and land a trophysized lake trout or salmon! Charters will take care of equipment needs and bring you right to the strike zone
VisitCookCounty.com/Fishing
Explore from Shore
For something everyone can enjoy, try rock skipping and agate hunting. You are guaranteed to capture the imagination of all ages and maybe you’ll find a treasure or two.
VisitCookCounty.com/Agate
Grab a bike and take a cruise along the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. This paved recreational trail provides a safe corridor for bicyclists, in-line skaters, joggers and walkers along Highway 61, paralleling the North Shore of Lake Superior. The best section is between Lutsen and Schroeder where you will hug the shoreline, cross several rivers and even cycle through a state park!
VisitCookCounty.com/Biking
Curl up with a blanket, a thermos and binoculars to watch for wildlife. During migration season watch as hawks, ducks, songbirds and eagles travel up and down the shore looking for their seasonal habitat. If you are lucky, you may even spot a Peregrine Falcon passing through.
VisitCookCounty.com/Birding
Autumn is one of the most dramatic and striking seasons of the year. The tone of the lake turns from a palette of powder blue with soft rollers to steel gray and choppy. Paired with the vibrancy of the trees that line the North Shore National Scenic Byway, you are in for a treat as you cruise the coastline.
VisitCookCounty.com/Fall
Storm Season
Late October – November
It is not typical to plan a trip around the hope of inclement weather. However, when a Nor’easter hits the northern shores of Superior, there is no experience like it. The Gales of November are when the lake turns aggressive with swells that can reach up to 20 feet high before crashing into shore. Numerous ships have succumbed to the wild Gales of November.
Dark Sky Season
Year-round
Starry nights are easy to find here in Cook County, MN. To see the wonders of the night sky, all you have to do is look up! In 2020 the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was designated a “Dark Sky Sanctuary'' by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The BWCAW is now one of four Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the U.S., and at 1.1 million acres, it is the largest of only thirteen on earth.
Waterfall Season
April – May
After the snow melts, gravity pulls the runoff over the Sawtooth Mountains, down the river valleys and into Lake Superior. The roaring waterfalls of the North Shore are certainly a sight to be seen, heard and felt. Download our waterfall map.
