Located at the southern tip of Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota attracts outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy time at the lake or in one of the many nearby parks. The city marks the beginning of the North Shore, and visitors have the option of fishing, hiking, visiting one of the nearby state parks, or combining all three activities in one trip. Some of the state parks near Duluth are on the shoreline of Lake Superior, while others offer a more forested setting.
Considered by many to be the true beginning of the North Shore, Gooseberry Falls State Park is about a half-hour drive up the shore from Duluth. It's the first of multiple state parks between Duluth and Grand Portage, and is popular among campers. There are 69 drive-in campsites, three group sites, and a kayak site that's accessible only by water. The park includes 20 miles of trails. Some of those trails pass by the park's three waterfalls, which are one of its primary natural attractions.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
3206 Highway 61 E.
Two Harbors, MN 55616
218-834-3855
dnr.state.mn.us
The Jay Cooke State Park is about 20 miles southwest of Duluth. The park has 79 drive-in campsites, four backpack sites, three walk-in sites, and two group sites. People who want to use the park but not sleep in a tent can do so in one of the park's five camper cabins. Its trails, though, are what the park is known for. It includes 50 miles of hiking trails, 13 miles of mountain bike trails, eight miles of paved bike trails and six miles of horse trails. The park's trails link to the Willard Munger State Trail, and park visitors also have the opportunity to walk over a suspension bridge that crosses the St. Louis River.
Jay Cooke State Park
780 Highway 210
Carlton, MN 55718
218-384-4610
dnr.state.mn.us
Pattison State Park is in Wisconsin, about 20 miles from Duluth. Little Manitou Falls, a 31-foot waterfall along the Black River, is one of the natural highlights of the park. There are 59 campsites and three backpack sites. The park is home to a variety of wildlife species, some of which include timber wolves, moose and deer. Interfalls Lake offers swimming as well as a 300-foot beach, bathhouse and picnic area.
Pattison State Park
6294 S. State Road 35
Superior, WI 54880
715-399-3111
dnr.wi.gov
