Before backtracking to Duluth, we had a few more sights to see along the northern North Coast between Lutsen and the U.S. border with Canada.
In Judge CR Magney State Park, we hiked the annoyingly steep and staircase-ridden 2.1-mile Devil's Kettle Trail along the Brule River to two waterfalls, the impressive Upper Falls and the stunning Devil's Kettle. Really, the hike was only bothersome because we were tired from yesterday's 7-mile trek.
A portion of the Devil's Kettle Trail
Upper Falls
At Devil's Kettle, the Brule River splits around a mass of volcanic rock, with half the water plunging 50 feet into a pool and the other half disappearing into a massive pothole. Very cool! It was a breathtaking hike in more ways than one.
Devil's Kettle
Five miles from the Canadian border, we pulled into the Susie Islands Overlook, perched 400 feet above Lake Superior's Grand Portage Bay and offering an amazing view of the 13-island archipelago just offshore.
Susie Islands Overlook
Part of the archipelago
Grand Portage State Park is best known for High Falls, the tallest waterfall in Minnesota, which plummets 120 feet into a narrow, rocky gorge. High Falls is on the Pigeon River, which marks the boundary between the U.S. and Canada. We were so close to our northern neighbors, we could have chucked a rock at them, but we didn't want to cause an international incident. A beautiful 1.2-mile hike.
High Falls
Heading back south along the North Coast, it rained for the first hour before a break in the weather allowed us to stop at a couple more roadside waterfalls on the way.
Cross River Falls
Beaver Bay Waterfall
Arriving in Duluth, we drove the Seven Bridges section of the Skyline Parkway above the city before another burst of rain forced us to abandon the scenic drive and seek out our hotel.
One of the Seven Bridges, Duluth, MN
Lake Superior from the Skyline Parkway
Lodging: Super 8, Duluth, MN. The hotel was fine, but it was full of large, rough-looking, Eastern European men who I assume would soon be returning to their ships, docked at the nearby port. It was...interesting.
Rainbow!
Dinner: Canal Park Brewing Company. The rain had passed, so we dined outside, enjoying the pleasant evening. Good brewpub!
Al fresco at Canal Park Brewing
After dinner, we strolled around Canal Park between the brewery and the Aerial Lift Bridge. This is part of Duluth's seven-mile-long Lakewalk. I was hoping to see the bridge raise to allow a ship to pass through, and there was one scheduled for tonight, but the expected arrival time kept getting delayed until finally we gave up and left. The ship was reportedly coming into port for repair. I wonder if it ever made it...
North Pier
Duluth North Pier Lighthouse
Duluth at dusk
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge