Superior North Shore, Part 2

By Jen.

Dates: 2021/07/12 to 2021/07/14

We continued north along highway 61, arriving at Grand Portage National Monument, which is a really long but narrow monument dedicated to the portage route along the old fur trade water route. At the lake is a recreation of the old trading post.

 

Could you imagine baking with this type of oven?

These birch bark canoes could hold 3-4 tons of cargo!

The 3 sisters gardening technique (a mound with corn, peas/beans, and squash)! Plus some antler-based gardening tools.

Some of the product! They had pelts from all types of animals. Those from the furthest north felt the best (arctic fox, beaver, arctic hare, snow leopard).

From there we made our way right up to the border, Grand Portage State Park (easily confused as we discovered when Jonathan accidentally downloaded the map for this park instead of the national monument).

 

The State Park has the highest waterfall in the state, at 100-130’ feet tall (no official measurement has been recorded).

I guess it becomes obvious why they would need a portage…

It was a bit disappointing to be so close to Canada (the right side of the river in the photos), but not be able to enter. At least it was relatively cool along Superior. Since we had reached as far north as we could legally go, we turned back down the highway to visit Tettegouche State Park.

 

Shovel Point Trail offered several beautiful views.

On the return trip, I was able to catch a few photos of the peregrine falcons that were flying overhead (not an easy task, I assure you).

 

This one had breakfast!

Finally, one landed for a minute!

Then was off again!

Then we made our way to Cascade Falls.

It got distinctly more hot and humid the further from the lake we got.

 

Then there was Split Rock Lighthouse, a bit further south.

 

 

Then there was Gooseberry Falls, which had 3 sets of falls.

 

Upper Gooseberry Falls.

Middle Gooseberry Falls.

Lower Gooseberry Falls. I couldn’t get an angle without that flirting couple…

This window was the easiest path between the middle and lower falls.

Our last stop before Duluth was Betty’s Pies, which came highly recommended.

 

 

Our last stop in the state was Duluth’s 100+-year-old aerial-lift bridge.

 

Check out the 6-ft rolling waves!

In action!

 

Onto Wisconsin!! [Happy Birthday, Grandma!]