We had spent the weekend exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. Our last day had been cold, with bright sunshine and strong winds. The snow was deep inland from the lake and there had been no thawing anywhere as the temps hovered near zero. We pulled into our cabin after sunset, yet there was a hint of light in the sky. With a bright star high above, the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, and the comfort of a light to guide us, we knew we were back – to enjoy a fire in the fireplace, and to marvel and appreciate the beauty that surrounded us on our explorations and our journeys.
North Shore
A winter getaway
We’ve just returned from a weekend getaway along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Winter was in all its glory with temps hovering between zero and below. Our days were spent marveling in the beauty of the area and of winter along the far northeast corner of Minnesota and across the border into Ontario. At Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay much of the water was frozen but there were still torrents plummeting over the edge, and the cold winter air caused sea smoke to rise off of Lake Superior. Along the Gunflint Trail people were out participating in and cheering a dog sled race, and there was also a fat tire bike festival taking place. It was good to see so many people in multiple layers of clothing, big hats, thick gloves, and heavy, big boots – all ready to embrace the adventures that are unique to a cold Minnesota weekend.
Biking along the North Shore of Lake Superior
With blue skies and perfect temperatures we headed north to the shores of Lake Superior. We set out on our bikes on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail which parallels U.S. Highway 61 and has some of the most beautiful scenery in the state of Minnesota. Although the bike trail will eventually run the full length of the North Shore, for now it is complete in sections. We rode north from Gooseberry Falls State Park, through Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, to the town of Beaver Bay a distance of about 14 miles. The trail is anything but flat, with steep inclines because of the rock cliffs that line the shoreline of the lake. Today the water was the most beautiful shade of blue, reflecting the clear and sunny skies above. After an ice cream stop the return trip took us into a headwind, but the scenery and the downhill runs made the effort all worthwhile. This section of Lake Superior is the closest I can come in the Midwest to seeing an “ocean” – the expanse is so large that there is no shoreline to be seen on the other side. Just beautiful blue waters on a picture-perfect day all the way to the horizon.
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