Boardwalk over dunes, Duluth, Minnesota, USA

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Northern Minnesota

Northern Minnesota is a veritable outdoor playground. The immense Boundary Waters wilderness is the main draw, and from May through September, kayaks and canoes ply the state’s many fabled lakes, though the area is big enough to still feel as if you have the place to yourself. The red-cliffed Lake Superior shoreline and watery Voyageurs National Park are also popular seasonal destinations.

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Northern Minnesota
This is the most visited spot on the entire North Shore. The shiner itself is a state historic site with a separate admission fee. Guided tours are…
Chippewa National Forest
Northern Minnesota
The vast Chippewa National Forest covers a large swath of the north-central part of the state. It's a protected wilderness that offers visitors the chance…
Tettegouche State Park
Northern Minnesota
Like most of the parks dotting the North Shore, Tettegouche State Park offers fishing, camping, paddling and hiking trails to waterfalls and little lakes,…
Glensheen Mansion
Northern Minnesota
The directors here claim this 39-room mansion, built on a 12-acre estate, is the most-visited home in the Midwest. Whether that's true or not, a visit…
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Northern Minnesota
The five cascades, scenic gorge and easy trails draw carloads of visitors to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Several cool stone and log buildings, built by…
Hull Rust Mine Viewpoint
Northern Minnesota
It's only from this breathtaking viewpoint about 2 miles north of central Hibbing that you begin to grasp the sheer scale of mining operations in these…
Judge CR Magney State Park
Northern Minnesota
Magney State Park is a beauty. Hiking to Devil’s Kettle, the famous falls where the Brule River splits around a huge rock, is a must. Half of the flow…
Soudan Underground Mine
Northern Minnesota
This is Minnesota's oldest and deepest iron ore mine. Ore was worked continuously here from 1882 to when the mine closed in 1962. The tour includes a deep…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

11 of the best things to do in Duluth, Minnesota: experience life on the edge of Lake Superior

Curated by Sarah Lempa

Hawk Ridge Observatory
Northern Minnesota
It sits 600ft above Lake Superior and provides a grand view, especially between mid-August and November, when 94,000 raptors swing by as part of the…
Aerial Lift Bridge
Northern Minnesota
Duluth's main landmark raises its mighty arm to let horn-bellowing ships into port. About 1000 vessels per year glide through.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Northern Minnesota
This is the most visited spot on the entire North Shore. The shiner itself is a state historic site with a separate admission fee. Guided tours are…
Glensheen Mansion
Northern Minnesota
The directors here claim this 39-room mansion, built on a 12-acre estate, is the most-visited home in the Midwest. Whether that's true or not, a visit…
Enger Tower
Northern Minnesota
The five-story, bluestone, octagonal tower is a defining Duluth monument, located in Enger Park. Terrific views of the harbor and Lake Superior reward…