Northern Wilds August 2026

Adventure AWAITS

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Discover the Northland

I know it’s cliché, but those of us who live on and experience the North Shore are truly lucky. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful places anywhere, with endless opportunities for adventure and recreation. And, of course, we’re lucky enough to call the greatest of the Great Lakes our neighbor. So when the Northern Wilds crew started planning our August issue, Parks and Historic Sites felt like a no-brainer. The hardest part? Narrowing it down. The Northland is home to so many incredible places that we simply couldn’t fit them all in.

Let’s start in Along the Shore, where Michelle Johnson helps us celebrate the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs’ 50th anniversary. The Corps are a reenactment group in Thunder Bay dedicated to preserving the fur trade era from 1799 to 1820. This month, you can find them at Grand Portage Rendezvous Days, Aug. 7-9. Next, Laura Durenberger-Grunow explores the history of Duluth’s Minnesota Point, also known locally as Park Point. Naomi Yaeger visits the Ely-Winton Historical Society Museum to uncover the stories behind Ely’s boomtown beginnings. Rounding out the section, Chris Pascone shares practical resources and firsthand knowledge for paddling the Lake Superior Water Trail. They say a photo is worth a thousand words, and boy, did Kalli Hawkins deliver. In our first feature story, she takes readers on a visual journey through the North, showcasing iconic landmarks, scenic parks, and historic sites that are well worth a visit.

In our second feature story, author and photographer Rudi Hargesheimer pairs stunning imag-

ery with his recommendations for some of the best hiking trails in the Thunder Bay-to-Marathon area. More of his favorite hikes can be found in his book, Superior Trails: A Photo Tour of Lake Superior’s Best Hiking Trails.

Of course, we can’t talk about parks and historic sites without mentioning Isle Royale. Did you know that Canadians tried to “seize” the famous island in 1907? Strange Tales columnist Elle Andra-Warner uncovers the story behind the bizarre event.

As we move beyond our theme, Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis shifts his focus from fishing to the upcoming hunting season. North Shore Dish columnist Virginia George gives us a lesson in spicy flavors, and Anne Graybeal chats with Grand Marais artist Jayne Richards in this month’s Creative Space.

I’ve always heard that when you live in a tourist destination, you don’t always get to experience the “touristy” things. And while I’ve visited many of the parks and historic sites along the North Shore, there are still plenty I haven’t seen. Here’s hoping we all get to cross a few more off our bucket lists soon. Now, go enjoy summer!

Breana Johnson Editor editor@northernwilds.com

ENTER YOUR PHOTOS AND WIN PRIZES!

CATEGORIES: Landscape, Wildlife, Adventure Lifestyle, and Macro. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three photos per category. Winners will be announced in the January 2027 issue of Northern Wilds.

ENTER BY SEPT. 30

WEBSITE: northernwilds.com/contests/photography-contest

photo contest

Meet our Judges!

Photo Tip of the Month:

When photographing wildlife, the eyes are the focal point. Ensure your camera’s focus is locked on the animal’s eyes, and wait for catchlights—the reflection of the sun or sky in the eye—to bring the subject to life. Get down to their level: Avoid shooting down at small animals. Crouch, lie on the ground, or get to eye level for a more intimate portrait. Observe behavior and anticipate the animal’s next move. You’ll get better results from a relaxed animal than one you’ve spooked.—David Johnson

David R. Johnson is a photographer from Grand Marais. A fourthgeneration resident of the area, he grew up exploring the area’s vast forests, lakes, rivers, and streams. “I travel the back country all the time taking photos of anything that catches my eye; the northern lights are my favorite, followed by wildlife,” he says.

Smedley’s

regularly labours under a heavy pack of camera gear in search of fish, photos and outdoor adventure. His contributions to U.S. and Canadian books, magazines and newspapers have earned him an arm load of national and international awards. He currently resides in Wawa, Ontario with his wife Francine.

and

since the early 1970s. Paul and his wife

to the North Shore of Lake Superior in 1976 managing several State Parks until his retirement in 2010. They currently reside near Grand Marais where Paul continues to pursue his passion for photographing Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters.

Paul Sundberg has done landscape

wildlife photography

Karla moved

James

wiry frame

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CONTRIBUTORS

Elle Andra-Warner, Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Gord Ellis, Virginia George, Anne Graybeal, Rudi Hargesheimer, Kalli Hawkins, Michelle Johnson, Michelle Miller, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Chris Pascone, Alec Peterson, Joe Shead, Victoria Lynn Smith, Naomi Yaeger, Sam Zimmerman

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs in Thunder Bay. | SUBMITTED

The Canadian Corps of Voyageurs Fifty Years of Firelocks, Fur Trade, and Living History

THUNDER BAY—If you’ve visited Fort William Historical Park (FWHP) in Thun der Bay, you’ve met the talented interpre tive staff who step convincingly into the early 1800s every day. At select events, they’re joined by a larger group—dressed in red coats, capotes, sashes, linen shirts, and moccasins. You might notice they can load a flintlock without thinking about it and seem to know exactly how a voyageur militia camp should smell, sound, and run. They’re members of the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs, and this year marks their 50th anniversary.

The Corps began on Dec. 6, 1975, when John Robertson, then armourer at Old Fort William, decided Thunder Bay needed a proper black‑powder reenactment group— one rooted in the region’s fur‑trade histo ry. He borrowed the name from the origi nal Corps of Canadian Voyageurs, the unit raised by the North West Company during the War of 1812 to move military supplies through the interior. By May 1976, Robert son and his fledgling group were already walking the wharf in full period dress. They incorporated later that year.

Half a century later, the Corps is still here—older, larger, and more deeply woven into the cultural fabric of the region than Robertson could have imagined.

The Corps portrays the fur trade era from 1799 to 1820. | SUBMITTED

A LIVING EXTENSION OF FORT

WILLIAM HISTORICAL PARK

At FWHP, members of the Corps are an im portant part of the interpretive engine. Mem bers portray early‑1800s military personnel, voyageurs, militia, and families. They talk to

visitors about the Regiments de Meuron, the Corps of Canadian Voyageurs, and the daily realities of fur‑trade life. They demonstrate black‑powder weapons, campcraft, food ways, and the social world of the interior.

“They are more than dedicated volun teers—they are the living spirit of Fort William

Historical Park,” says FWHP general manag er Patrick Morash. “Through their passion, generosity, and unwavering commitment, they breathe life into our stories, enrich every visitor experience, and ensure our shared his tory is not only preserved, but vividly brought to life for generations to come.”

That “living spirit” comes from the Corps’ internal culture. They train their own members, mentor newcomers, and maintain high standards for authentici ty—clothing, gear, research, and inter pretation. They’re much more than casual hobbyists—they’re serious students of the fur trade, the War of 1812, and the fami lies who lived through both.

A COMMUNITY THAT SPANS GENERATIONS

The Corps is distinctly multigeneration al. “From our oldest member at 90 to our youngest at 4, we’re a family‑oriented group with a keen interest in historical mili tary life,” says longtime member Chris Mills. Their time period runs from 1799 to 1820, centered on voyageur life and the fur trade. Around the campfire, conversations range from musket calibers to Métis history to why certain events in the War of 1812 unfolded the way they did.

They’re also a social group—historians, teachers, campers, and curious minds who

enjoy the fellowship as much as the research. “We gath er, we talk, we share meals,” says Mills. “We come from all walks of life, but we’re all keen on history.”

A HALF‑CENTURY OF TRAVEL, FRIENDSHIP, AND FIRELOCKS

The Corps’ event history reads like a map of North American reenactment culture. Members have appeared at the Grand Portage Rendezvous in Minnesota since the early 1980s and at dozens of events across Ontario, Manitoba, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Their cross‑border ties are deep.

“Grand Portage is more like extended family,” Mills says. “We start off where we left off the year before. If needed, everyone is willing to lend a hand—pitch a tent, set up a fire, share a drink.”

FWHP staff echo that sentiment. The partnership be tween Fort William and Grand Portage is longstanding, mutually supportive, and central to regional tourism. Knowl edge‑sharing, skill‑building, and friendships flow freely across the border.

WHY IT MATTERS—ESPECIALLY NOW

The Corps’ work is essentially hands on cultural preserva tion. FWHP says the group helps visitors understand the fur‑trade era, including the complex relationships between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous peoples, while helping to advance reconciliation.

When you step into history at FWHP, you can hear the musket crack, smell the woodsmoke, watch a redcoat drill, or see a voyageur family preparing a meal over an open fire. It’s the kind of learning that feels more like entertainment— visitors absorb history without even realizing it.

THEIR ANNUAL RHYTHM—AND WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM NEXT

This month, you’ll find the Corps at the Grand Portage Ren dezvous from Aug. 7 9, continuing a cross‑border tradition that has lasted more than 40 years. Later in the season, they’ll head to Albert Lea, Minnesota, for the Big Island Rendezvous on Oct. 3 and 4, one of the Midwest’s largest historical events. And back home in Thunder Bay, you’ll see

them in October at Run for the Cure.

Although the Corps’ major 2026 appearances at Fort Wil liam Historical Park have wrapped up, their 2027 season will begin soon enough. When winter returns to the North Shore, they’ll be at the Voyageur Winter Carnival in Febru ary. Summer opens with Canada Day on July 1, followed by the Great Rendezvous and Celtic Day in July.

BEHIND THE SCENES AND WORTH APPRECIATING

Living history doesn’t happen by accident. It takes research, sewing, practice, travel, and a willingness to spend week ends in canvas tents instead of modern comfort. It takes

people who care enough to learn the details—how a mus ket misfires, how a voyageur ties his sash, how a family in 1810 cooked a meal with what they had. It takes passion, patience, and a sense of humour.

The Corps has spent 50 years doing that work with an as tounding level of dedication. When you see them in action, you’re seeing the result of thousands of volunteer hours and a shared belief that history is best understood when you can stand close enough to feel it, or better yet, be immersed in it through reenactment.

Learn more about the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs online at facebook.com/canadian.corps.of.voyageurs.

Michelle Johnson

At Fort William Historical Park, members of the Corps play a vital role in bringing history to life. | SUBMITTED

A Brief History of Minnesota Point, Duluth’s Park Point

DULUTH—Stretching out into the waters of Lake Superior lies Minnesota Point, known locally as Park Point. This unique 7 mile pen insula is the longest freshwater sandspit in the world. Over the past century, this nar row strip of land has changed from a rugged landscape to a popular destination for com munity recreation and aviation.

THE BEGINNING

In the early 20th century, Duluth city offi cials first had the idea of a project on the peninsula that would alter the landscape into a public park, ultimately integrating it into the city’s broader park system. According to a letter from then Assistant Attorney Gen eral Ordner T. Bundlie written in the 1930s, the project was originally created to provide work relief for citizens during the economic hardships of that time and to establish a per manent space dedicated to public recreation and health.

By the late 1930s, the “Minnesota Point Development Project” was underway as a collaborative effort involving the City of Duluth, the State Executive Council, and the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). According to documents from the Minnesota State Relief Agency, the state ini tially allocated $90,000 for land condemna tion (the legal process of executing eminent domain), while the City of Duluth agreed to fund any costs exceeding that amount to fully secure the necessary properties.

On April 11, 1938, the State Executive Council officially authorized the transfer of the condemned lands to the City of Dulu th. According to the official minutes of the Executive Council, the agreement stated that “...the City of Duluth shall use said land for purposes of public recreation and pub lic health and that the facilities provided on said land shall be open upon equal terms to all persons whether residents of the City of Duluth or elsewhere...”

The minutes further stated that if the city ever breached the agreement, the property title would legally go back to the state.

In June 1938, dedication ceremonies hosted by local American Legion posts were held to celebrate the new public park.

THE BEACH HOUSE AND AMUSEMENT PARK

The Park Point Beach House was also built during the 1930s WPA development era and designed to serve as the community’s main building for public health and leisure activities. According to the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, the house quickly became a gathering place where generations of locals and visitors could “enjoy the sand and surf of Lake Superior.”

However, funding the complete vision for the beach house and surrounding park was a challenge. In March 1938, then As sistant Duluth City Attorney H.S. Camp bell wrote in a letter that federal WPA ap propriations were running short, leaving the city to find creative ways to raise mon ey. To ensure the park could fully open to the public, city leaders actively negotiat ed leases to install amusement park rides on the Point. According to the St. Louis County Historical Society, this was the beginning of the Park Point Amusement Park, located right alongside the beach

Park Point is a popular recreation destination for locals and visitors alike. | VISIT DULUTH

house grounds. The amusement park was a prominent feature of Minnesota Point until it finally closed in 1964.

DULUTH SKY HARBOR AIRPORT

As Park Point grew in popularity, its flat, long, and narrow geography caught the eyes of the local aviation community. In 1939, Duluth pilots Jack Brockway and William Neukom founded the Sky Harbor Airport. This sea and land airport became a conve nient Park Point location for floatplanes. By the 1950s, according to then City Attorney Bryan F. Brown, airport operations had be gun expanding across the peninsula, stretch ing from the shores of Lake Superior all the way to St. Louis Bay. While the coexistence of an airport and a public park raised questions regarding the agreement’s strict “recreational” mandate, the Minnesota Attorney General’s office clarified in a 1997 review that general avia tion legally qualifies as a form of recreation, meaning the airport did not violate the his toric agreement.

PARK POINT TODAY

Today, Park Point and the Beach House re main under the ownership of the City of Duluth and the state, and remain popular recreational destinations for residents and visitors. The Beach House recently under went renovations and is available for event rentals. The beach has volleyball nets, grills, and an ADA accessible boat launch. A 5.2 mile trail takes hikers through the Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA and past the state’s first lighthouse, built in 1858 and current ly owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The City of Duluth’s updated recreational area plan for the future of Park Point focus es on enhancing climate resilience for roads, buildings, and ecosystems, as well as acces sibility. Some specific long term initiatives include addressing severe shoreline erosion through federal engineering studies and re storing the old growth pine forest through collaborative, culturally informed prescribed burns to ensure Park Point remains an im portant component of Duluth’s landscape for years to come.— Laura Durenberger-Grunow

Duluth’s Park Point is a 7-mile-long peninsula extending into Lake Superior. | VISIT DULUTH

Twin Ports Community Market, New to Barker’s Island in Superior

SUPERIOR—Colorful vendor tents and charming cot tage like sheds filled with handmade merchandise, along with eye catching food trucks that serve delicious eats, line one side of the Barker’s Island parking lot. People of all ages wander among the goods: sauces, jams, spices, fancy sodas and lemonades, hot beverages, sandwiches, baked sweets, roasted nuts, and bread. Crafts made from wood, fabric, yarn, beads, and metal. Jewelry, art, stationery, stickers, bookmarks, magnets, journals, travel mugs, forged candle sticks, aprons, and hand towels. Free face painting. There is something for everyone at the Twin Ports Community Mar ket in Superior, which debuted on June 7.

The market’s host, Ryan Haworth, says they want to pro vide “a weekly venue for customers to come spend the day with family and friends while supporting local businesses within the Twin Ports.” In return, the market gives back to the community. In August, they will sponsor 23rd Veteran, an organization helping veterans recover from trauma. In Sep tember, they will sponsor PJ’s Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rehoming rescue dogs. Vendors will donate part of their sales, and the public can make donations.

Vendors share some common traits. They’re passionate about the products they make, they like meeting people, and they treasure a sense of community.

Haworth runs EatsDirt, offering locally raised poultry sup plements, natural frass (insect refuse), and live bait. His wife, Rebekah, operates Bek’s Brew Barn, which sells iced coffees, lemonades, hot coffee, hot chocolate, ice cream treats, and breakfast sandwiches. When Rebekah’s sister isn’t available to help her, Haworth —in a true sense of community—for goes his EatsDirt table and helps his wife in the Brew Barn.

Vicki and Joe Follis operate the Follis Snack Shack. They began with a pink tent, but as their food and beverage of ferings grew, they bought a food truck. Vicki says, “It has been a very big challenge for us at 64 and 67, but here we are doing it, and we love it.” They serve Indian tacos, walk ing tacos, brats, beef hot dogs, funnel cakes with different choices of toppings, and fresh squeezed lemonade mixed with different syrups.

Chaz Thompson owns Muddy Moose BBQ and sells BBQ sauces and blended spices. Thompson says, “During COVID I had a little extra time on my hands while social distanc

ing, and that is when the brand was born.” Thompson adds, “Keeping up with demands from friends and family became a real life problem, and that was when I felt I actually had a product people loved.” When he works his full time job, his girlfriend, Sydney Olson, runs the booth. For the past four years, KrystalLyn Tomlinson has owned BK Nuts. She started out helping another vendor, then de cided to go into business for herself roasting nuts. Tomlinson enjoys the sense of community: “Everyone is welcoming, tal ented, helpful, and kind.”

The Twin Ports Community Market in Superior is open

| VICTORIA LYNN SMITH

Stina Willemssen welcomes customers into the whimsical Punny Pot. | VICTORIA LYNN SMITH

Jennifer Follis sells jams, pickled garlic, canned asparagus, and other canned goods. She stages her table with a checkered ta blecloth, vintage cookbooks, and kitchen collectables, such as cookie jars, rolling pins, and farm animal figurines, some of which she sells. People are intrigued by the collectibles and cookbooks, which inspire conversation. Originally, Follis tried other crafts, but jams and canned goods became her specialty. “I realized,” she says, “that something I’d done with my grandma and mom would be a per fect fit for me.”

Penny Bauer sells wax melts in a variety of aromas. Bauer loved buying scented wax melts but realized she could save money if she made her own. Then she decided to sell them. “I figured if I could share some thing I like, and could make it easily, then why not?” She named her business Penny Makes Scents and takes pride in keeping her prices reasonable.

Fans of sourdough bread can stop by Lit erally, Just Bread on Aug. 2, 16, and 30, and Sept. 13 and 27. Marisa Solko offers home made sourdough loaves, bagels, and treats. Her sourdough adventure began when her boyfriend, Cory Martin, bought her a sour dough starter kit for her birthday. “I spent about a year experimenting with recipes and inclusions,” Solko says. “It was actually a few of my coworkers and Cory who pushed me to start selling my bread.”

Emily Lozinski and her daughter, Mad elynn, combine their individual talents to sell their goods through EmMe Creations.

Madelynn paints cards, bookmarks, and old repurposed vinyl albums. Emily sews senso ry blankets, crinkle toys, bibs, burp cloths, microwavable bowls, and reusable paperless towels and shopping bags, among other items. Emily says, “I always enjoy meeting new people, even if it’s just for the short conversation I get to have while someone is visiting our booth.”

Stina Willemssen’s background as a for mer graphic designer and digital artist mor phed into The Punny Pot. Willemssen com bines her love of puns and her need to be creative to “make fun, positive art and share the power of a good pun.” Her offerings in clude jewelry, stickers, bags, small beaded flowers, coasters, magnets, journals, appar el, DIY kits, and beverage containers.

Care Zylka, owner of Quilted Through Faith, and Lisa Lepak, owner of Chaos Cre ative, share a small cottage at the market.

Zylka says, “It’s funny that we are together because we are kind of opposites, but make the best partners.” Zylka loves to sew. Her offerings include a line of baby goods, bowl

cozies, coasters, and quilts. She says, “I’m always trying to find new things to add.” Lepak creates beautiful miniature book shelves and hand embroidered pieces with quirky and sassy sayings.

And there are more vendors, including Kidd Kreations, which sells stickers, buttons, notepads, bags, and bookmarks. Star Coun try Crafts features wooden lawn ornaments, aprons, hand towels, dishcloths, and table runners made by Rick and Tracy Salves on. Stackpole Forge, owned by blacksmith Christopher Gross, sells handmade knives and unique home décor made from forged metals, which are sometimes combined with wood and glass. The Bombshell Soda Stand mixes up tasty fizzy concoctions.

Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, Twin Ports Community Market on Barker’s Island in Superior will run through August and September, and weather permitting, into October. Anyone interested in be coming a vendor at the market can con tact Ryan Haworth at ryan@eatsdirt.com.

Victoria Lynn Smith

Rick and Tracy Salveson of Star Country Crafts display goods inside and outside a quaint vendor shed. | VICTORIA LYNN SMITH

Forged goods and home décor by Christopher Gross, owner of Stackpole Forge. | VICTORIA LYNN SMITH

Objects to Crave: Antiques and Oddities in Hovland

HOVLAND—It’s a familiar tale. A mysteri ous shop opens in a small town, its shelves filled with all manner of treasures and need ful things, looked after by a mysterious shopkeeper who promises that anything you desire can be yours—for a price.

Fortunately, Bob and Shel Busch, propri etors of Objects to Crave in Hovland—an homage to the Alanis Morissette song “Un invited”—aren’t interested in any kind of Faustian bargain. Their treasures are avail able for purchase by more traditional means.

While the goods stocked could easily be considered a collection of stories held in antiques and handcrafted goods, the store itself has its own tale. Purchased by the grandparents of the current owners in the 1980s, what became an antique store re mained in the family until 2000. It changed hands a few times and even served as a restaurant. But when the property came up for sale again, Bob and Shel saw an opportu nity to bring it back into the family.

“Our families are collectors of all things weird and whatnots, and we always said if this shop came up for sale—we own the adjoining property—we would do it,” says Shel. “And it did, and so here we are.”

Just a short but picturesque drive from Grand Marais to the nearby town of Hov land, the store is unmistakable. All manner of goods, ranging from works by local art ists to trinkets and one of a kind items dis covered by Bob and Shel during their many excursions to local garage sales and buying trips, adorn the building, promising all man ner of items of interest within—a promise they deliver on in spades.

“Hovland’s kind of known for being a lit tle eccentric town,” says Shel. “Unique,” Bob cuts in. “And artistic. I feel like everyone up here, our neighbours, is of like mind, artistic, and see things differently, I guess.”

“We didn’t want to be an ordinary gift shop,” Shel adds. “We wanted to host items from local artisans, craftspeople, and anything else that related to nature or local history.”

The range of goods defies expectations.

“The stock has to be eclectic and weird. I love that. I love vintage, like retro toys that I grew up with. Records, vintage shirts,” says Shel. “I guess we’re nostalgic—we like things from our childhood. Bands and T shirts… and just different. My whole family is a bit off the wall. My grandparents, who had the shop before, were always into UFOs and just different, you know. Outside of the box.”

Some of the strangest tales Objects to Crave has to offer come from the very goods they sell.

“We had like 50 of these creations this woman made. She travelled everywhere and loved to collect rocks, and she cement ed them in frames and called them stones capes. People loved them. They were like a history of this woman’s travels. They were all different, and they were huge,” says Shel. “Taxidermy, a frog playing a bongo, a Big foot toe—you know, an illusory Bigfoot toe. We did actually have a turtle with something in its mouth that sold the day we opened. Goofy stuff.”

While it’s unlikely one would find alien artifacts or proof of Sasquatch—though not impossible—on the shelves here, what can be found is an ever changing inventory of goods.

“The hardest thing about running this place is the constant inventory manage ment. I have to go everywhere, which is fun, and I love it, but it never ends. I go to yard sales, garage sales, always on the lookout for the quirky,” Shel says.

“It is also reflected in our prices. We want to sell stuff, not keep stuff, because we have a lot of things we need to get out in the public eye,” adds Shel. “We’re con stantly looking at the shelves and thinking, ‘Well, maybe this should change. Maybe move this.’”

As interesting and valuable as their var ious wares are, Bob and Shel have found even greater value in the stories they hear from customers.

“We like to hear the history of this place. We have met so many amazing people with

Wherever you go from here, you belong here.

Walk into any one of our gazillion convenient locations using our mobile app. It’s the simple, secure way to check balances, pay bills, send payments and more— wherever, whenever. Take the next step at northshorefcu.org/NSFCUApp.

Objects to Crave owners Shel and Bob Busch. | ALEC PETERSON

stories to tell. Someone came in and said they used to dance in here, and they knew where the squeaky place was on the floor. Honestly, the people are the best part. I love hearing people’s stories,” says Shel.

When asked about the atmosphere they hoped to create, Bob answers simply.

“We wanted it to be friendly and inviting.”

“I love Harry Potter, and I wanted a metaphysical, nature, sasquatch meets alien vibe,” Shel adds.

As for the future, Bob and Shel have plans.

“We’ve discussed opening up a farmers market to feature local produce, perhaps also a flea market,” says Shel.

Objects to Crave is a seasonal adventure, opening in May and closing on Halloween, a day that holds special significance for Shel.

“Halloween is my favourite season to cu rate for. I’m definitely a Halloween girl.”

The shop is open Friday through Sunday.

One does not approach a shop like Ob jects to Crave with a shopping list or a spe cific item in mind. It is a place best explored with an open mind and time to spare. There are things to be discovered within its walls that cannot be found anywhere else.

Shel summarizes it perfectly on the store website: “The many hands which have held, used, mended, and loved an object along its journey imprint an essence or energy that moves it beyond the confines of being ‘just an object’ and pushes it to a higher level— touching into the realm of soul—giving it… a soul of its own. I’ve enjoyed being a part of each piece’s journey and story… now it’s another’s turn to impart their experience. Finding Objects to Crave is my passion. Wel come to our shop!”— Alec Peterson

HOURS: 9a-8p MON-THURS 9a-9p FRI & SAT Noon-6p SUN

Located in Hovland, Objects to Crave is open Friday though Sunday. | ALEC PETERSON

New Bear Cubs Arriving at the North American Bear Center

The

dia

The

The North American Bear Center in Ely will welcome new bear cubs in September. | SUBMITTED

The Wild Wild West of the North Woods The Stories Behind Ely’s Boomtown Beginnings

ELY

—The story of Ely is, in many ways, a story of people coming here in search of something—a living, an adventure, a fresh start, or a place to call home. From the Ojib we and the voyageurs to the miners, log gers, and immigrants who followed, each group left its mark on the community. To day, as new residents continue to discover Ely, the Ely Winton Historical Society Muse um works to maintain the stories of those who came before them.

Celia Domich is a board member and vol unteer for the Ely Winton Historical Society Museum. When she talks about Ely, she has excitement in her voice.

“You know, it was like the Wild Wild West here,” she says of Ely’s early days. That’s be cause people thought they had found gold, but it was fool’s gold. For a while, Ely had a Gold Rush boomtown feel, with people rushing in to make a fortune. What they did find was iron ore, which is used to make steel. The lumber and mining industries at tracted immigrants to the area.

For Domich, the area’s history is more than a collection of old photographs and artifacts. It is a story of immigrants seeking a new life, miners and loggers building com munities in the wilderness, and the Native American traditions that predate settlement.

“Ely has got a fascinating history,” she said. “You really see a lot of history that is similar to other parts of the country when the country was changing and the popula tion was growing.”

Through photographs, artifacts, docu ments, and exhibits, the museum preserves the stories of the people and events that helped shape Ely and Winton over the years. Ely is made up of people beginning with the Indigenous peoples who once camped along the shores of Fall Lake. The French voyageurs made regular trips through the region. They traded beads, trade cloth, axe heads, and later bullets and guns for the ani mal pelts the Native people trapped.

Later, mining and logging attracted men from Slovenia, Croatia, Finland, and En gland, and the bounty of the earth was lum ber and iron ore.

Visitors can see Ojibwe and Cree artifacts, learn about the voyageurs, and explore the logging and mining industries through tools, transportation displays, boarding houses, and household items. A gallery features the artwork of noted Ojibwe artist Carl Gaw

boy, whose paintings help bring the region’s history to life.

“So much of the information that we’ve collected over the years really resonates with what’s going on in the country today,” Do mich says.

One exhibit tells about those who arrived in Ely during the early 1900s. Many came seeking work in the mines and forests, hop

[ABOVE] This diorama is a favorite with visitors because it shows the mine buildings on the surface of the earth as well as the excavated tunnels below ground. | CELIA DOMICH

[LEFT] The museum includes a taxidermied beaver and other displays of furs. | CELIA DOMICH

ing to build a better future for their fami lies. Becoming Americans was important to them, Domich explains, and teachers were hired to help newcomers learn English and pass citizenship tests.

“People came to this country and wanted to become Americans,” she says. “This was their new home, their new life.”

Domich reports one wife, Greta, whose husband had sent for her, is reported to have said, “What was that husband of mine thinking?” This was because the area was muddy and filled with wilderness. Her little girl, Liisa, who rode the train through the night, asked her mom, “Did we miss Ely in the night, Mother?”

“Mining was not only hard and dirty, but also dangerous. Many people died,” Domich said.

The last mine in the area closed in 1967.

“When I grew up, I just assumed that I would have to leave,” Domich said.

Domich graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1969. She had a career in the Minneapolis area before retiring and moving back to Ely in 2009.

Now she says lots of new people are mov ing to Ely for the outdoors and tourism in dustry. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is in their backyard.

“We have lots of highly skilled carpenters and builders here,” she said.

THE MUSEUM

The museum is located on the newly named Vermilion Campus of Minnesota North Col lege in Ely.

Depending on visitors’ interest, they can spend two to three hours there or 15 min utes for a quick look.

Among the museum’s exhibits are displays highlighting immigration, Native American culture, mining, logging, education, and com munity life. Many focus not only on major historical events but also on personal stories. They also have an office and research li brary, which Domich says is “constantly busy.”

If you want to look up family history in the area, Domich suggests you call ahead so someone can do some research before you arrive.

The Ely Winton Historical Society Mu seum is open Wednesday through Sat urday from noon to 4 p.m., or by ap pointment. For more information, visit elywintonhistory.org.— Naomi Yaeger

Going Big: Paddling the Lake Superior Water Trail

NORTH SHORE—Canoes and kayaks are gentle boats. Many of us love paddling them as a way to quietly immerse our selves in nature. But there’s one elephant in the room for paddlers in northeast Min nesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontar io. That elephant is Lake Superior. It’s got more chop than a sushi chef making din ner. How are you going to maneuver your glorified floating tub on 3 quadrillion gal lons of fresh water? Currents, wind pow ered fetches, freezing water temperatures, and even the enigmatic Lake Superior seiche all try their best to confound your paddling dreams.

With these challenges in mind, DNRs and regional conservation agencies have worked together to develop local pad dling segments on the world’s largest lake. These sections, stitched together across three states and one province, form the Lake Superior Water Trail, which follows Superior’s 1,826 miles of shoreline. That’s a lot of paddling.

To be clear, there is no “trail” to see on the lake itself. Rather, the Lake Superior Water Trail is a boating route guide that gives paddlers a very useful tool: pre paredness. Considering the risks involved with paddling the big lake, it’s important to have a plan for where to launch safely and where to get off the water if things go haywire. Therefore, the Lake Superior Wa ter Trail has been designed both to help kayakers and canoeists travel safely and to provide information on what to see, where to camp, and which hazards to avoid while on the water.

TO EACH THEIR OWN

Each state and province bordering Lake Su perior provides its own resources to help paddlers plan their routes. The full Water Trail is an amalgamation of routes laid out by state and provincial planners.

a mile by mile description of marinas, pad dle only campsites, and beaches. Paddlers can conceivably camp their way down from Grand Portage at the Canadian border all the way south to the St. Louis River Estuary in Duluth, following the route descriptions.

Wisconsin produces its own Lake Supe rior Water Trail Guide. This 89 page book let, published by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra tion’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Re source Management, is chock full of maps and useful route descriptions.

Michigan boasts 319 miles of paddling on the Lake Superior Water Trail, and all of the state’s information is collected on the web site paddlelakesuperior.org.

Finally, the Ontario section of the Lake Superior Water Trail comes in at a whopping 1,000 kilometers (about 621 miles), from Gros Cap in the east to Thunder Bay in the west. In Ontario, superiorconservancy.org compiles route information and how to vid eos. According to the Lake Superior Water shed Conservancy, “By installing infrastruc ture like washrooms, docks, canoe lockers, picnic tables, interpretive signage, and ac cessible connected pathways, we have pro vided people with a safe and enjoyable way to interact with the lake.”

REAL LIFE KNOWLEDGE

The Minnesota DNR calls Minnesota’s sec tion the “Lake Superior State Water Trail.” A series of five maps, available free on the DNR website, details what to expect along Min nesota’s shoreline. These maps are broken into segments of about 35 miles each, giving

While all of these resources provide route maps, the maps alone are not adequate as navigation aids. Instead, they offer useful information and warnings about what to ex pect on the lake. For example, if a paddler

Wherever you go on the Lake Superior Water Trail, you'll likely be paddling on crystal-clear water. The Slate Islands are a phenomenal example.

| CHRIS PASCONE

for your next Lake Superior Water Trail stop.

| CHRIS PASCONE

is heading north from Silver Creek Tunnel in Minnesota, the DNR’s description reads: “Caution! There are currently no established public landing areas or facilities for the next 7 miles. Be knowledgeable of current weath er conditions and plan accordingly.”

Likewise, the Wisconsin guide offers local suggestions. An excerpt about the Red Cliff Reservation, for example, notes:

“There is a full service marina and public campground located adjacent to the Leg endary Waters Casino. The beach here is an excellent location to launch or land kay aks or other small watercraft.”

In the end, though, these tips and warn ings will only get you so far. They’re a valu able resource, but they can’t navigate for you

Located about 25 miles from Thunder Bay, Porphyry Island is a popular stop along the Lake Superior Water Trail, and it provides a great view of Sleeping Giant. |

CANADIAN LIGHTHOUSES OF LAKE SUPERIOR

or keep your fears in check when the waves pick up. You have to be extremely skilled and experienced at paddling big water to make Lake Superior work. Kayaks are generally safer than canoes. Rowboats are another op tion. For decades, early settlers plied Superi or’s waters by rowboat. The Ojibwe paddled Superior by canoe for centuries before them. It can be done. The point is to get out there and gain experience, extending your limits by exploring the Water Trail and experiencing Superior from the water.

A COMPROMISE SOLUTION

The Lake Superior State Water Trail in Min nesota actually extends 15 miles up Lake Superior’s largest tributary, the St. Louis Riv er. Here’s your chance to paddle part of the trail without having to deal with Superior’s moods. The St. Louis River Estuary provides 12,000 acres of paddling opportunities.

According to Kris Eilers, director of the St. Louis River Alliance, “The habitat there is different than you’ll find anywhere else on

than a good map and general preparedness to paddle long routes on Lake Superior.

A key trait is flexibility. Let the lake dic tate your daily progress. You must be able to compromise and adapt to current condi tions. Wind direction is everything on Supe rior, so plan your day based on the current and forecast wind, and remember that con ditions can change on a dime. Having a VHF radio, along with a weather radio, on board can be a lifesaver.

Bare minimum safety equipment for pad dling Superior includes a PFD, a loud whistle or other sound producing device, a water proof flashlight, buoyant rope, and a bailing device, such as a pump or scoop. For more recommendations, check out the Lake Su perior Watershed Conservancy’s “Safety on the Lake Superior Water Trail” video.

There is no end to the challenges that can and will come up on Superior, but using the Lake Superior Water Trail resources will in spire your trip planning and give you an in credible experience paddling big—actually, the biggest—water.— Chris Pascone

Writers Wanted

the Lake Superior Water Trail. It’s the only place on the trail where you’re going to see wild rice. It’s an amazing flyover migratory route for birds. It’s also got ships and bridges and railroads. It’s a different experience.”

For Eilers, one of the best parts of pad dling the St. Louis is exploring the area’s Ojibwe roots: “The river connects people to Anishinaabe culture. The St. Louis River es tuary has provided everything that a person needs to live for thousands of years. That’s why the Ojibwe people came here, why they stayed, and why they’re still here.”

Check out the St. Louis River Alliance website for detailed information about 11 loops to paddle within the Duluth and Su perior city limits.

DOING IT

Just as land based trails have distinct sur faces and routes, Lake Superior, too, can be seen as a network of launch and land ing sites, rest areas, and campsites for hu man powered watercraft. But it takes more

Northern Wilds is looking for writers to cover dining, news and features in Minnesota and Ontario. Writers must be able to work from assignment, generate story ideas, meet deadlines and have basic photography skills.

For more information, contact: editor@northernwilds.com or call (218) 387-9475.

A handcrafted signpost at the Terrace Bay Beach Pavilion offers destination ideas

Thunder Bay’s Dragons of Hope is a dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors. | SUBMITTED

Paddling Toward France Thunder Bay’s Dragons of Hope Take on the World

THUNDER BAY—You don’t have to be from Thunder Bay to picture the scene: a long, narrow dragon boat pulled up along the dock at Boulevard Lake, 22 women in bright pink shirts gathering with the kind of easy laughter that comes from knowing ex actly who your people are. Their paddles— black shafts, pink blades—are at the ready. Someone calls out a reminder. Someone else cracks a joke. The drummer climbs into her seat at the bow, facing the crew. At the stern, the steersperson stands in place with the long steering oar angled into the water.

And then the tone shifts. The crew push es off from the dock, the drummer sets the beat, and the chatter drops away. What’s left is focus—the kind that comes from a team that has existed for 27 years, even as its roster has evolved with each new survivor who steps in to paddle.

The Dragons of Hope formed in 1999 after Doris Rossi, then chair of the Thunder Bay Breast Cancer Support Group, learned about new research linking dragon boating to breast cancer recovery. That research be gan in 1995, when Dr. Don McKenzie at the University of British Columbia challenged the old belief that survivors should avoid upper‑body exercise. He trained 24 wom en in a dragon boat, and the results were clear: Paddling improved strength, mobility, and overall well‑being and didn’t increase the risk of lymphedema—a chronic condi tion that causes lymph to build up in tissues, leading to swelling.

Paddling also did something science didn’t quantify: It gave survivors a place to gather, move, and rediscover their bodies in motion. That first group became Abreast in a Boat, and the movement spread worldwide. To day, more than 400 breast cancer paddling teams exist across 41 countries, connected through the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission.

Thunder Bay’s Dragons of Hope were ear ly adopters. Their first boat, called Debbie’s Eagles, entered Thunder Bay’s inaugural festival in 1999. A year later, they became Dragons of Hope. The name stuck, and so did the paddlers—newbies joined veteran paddlers, year after year. “We sometimes say that dragon boating is the silver lining in having a breast cancer diagnosis,” jokes paddler Lani Garry.

The team’s history includes loss. “Part of belonging to a team of survivors means that we have lost beloved teammates to breast cancer over the years,” says assistant coach and paddler Janice Piper. Every festival in cludes a flower ceremony: Paddlers and spectators toss pink blooms into the water to honour those who are gone and those still navigating their own journey.

Thunder Bay’s geography adds its own complications. While teams in warmer cli mates start racing in early spring, the Drag ons of Hope usually don’t get on the water until late May or early June. And with no local festival in recent years, they travel— often several hours—to compete. They’ve

In late August, the Dragons of Hope will travel to France to race in the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Festival. | SUBMITTED

raced in Kenora, Stratford, and Welland, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Superior, Wisconsin.

In 2014, five members joined a Vancou ver team that included paddlers from the original Abreast in a Boat crew to race in Sarasota, Florida, with survivor teams from around the world. That trip planted the seed for attending the 2018 International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Festival in Italy, where the Dragons of Hope placed 42nd—top third overall—after only six weeks of practice.

In late August, the Dragons of Hope will travel to Aix‑les‑Bains, France, to once again race in the International Breast Can cer Paddlers’ Festival. It promises to be the largest breast cancer survivor dragon boat gathering ever held, with a stagger ing 4,500 participants from 178 teams representing 37 countries. There will be an athletes’ village, a parade of nations, and opening and closing ceremonies. “It’s a bit like the Olympics with an athletes’ village, a parade of nations, and opening and closing ceremonies,” says Piper. “We like to joke that we are ‘international athletes.’”

Some members have never raced before. Some have never travelled abroad. All are excited. “Many of us who participated in Italy recall the thrill of getting to know, pad dling, and celebrating with survivors from across the globe, and we are excited for our new members to share in a similar experi ence in France—perhaps the world’s largest pink party,” says Garry.

Weekly training at Boulevard Lake be gan in June, northern realities being what they are, but winter dryland sessions at the gym kept the team connected and condi tioned. “With the assistance of our dedicat ed coach, we are improving our technique this year,” says Garry, “which we hope will shave some time off our race times and help to avoid injuries.”

Technique matters, as does community support. In 2022, after discovering a light

er, safer style of dragon boat while racing in Vancouver, the team launched a fund raising campaign called “Float Our Boat.” Thunder Bay responded generously, helping them purchase a new‑to‑them boat that’s easier to maintain and better suited for pad dlers with mobility challenges. “We simply would not be able to attend distant festivals and purchase new equipment without that [community] support,” says Piper.

The team’s pride is rooted in longevity. “We are a team of survivors that has thrived for 27 years, and we continue to evolve and grow,” says Garry. Women ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s have been mem bers, proof that you’re never too old to pad dle or to thrive. New paddlers draw inspira tion from veterans who are strong, skilled, and living full lives after breast cancer.

Locally and at the Superior, Wisconsin, festival, the Dragons of Hope are known for their precision—the ability to paddle in sync, a deceptively difficult skill. When they

race, they don’t hold back. “Twenty‑two focused women in a boat, paddling in sync, leaving all our energy on the water,” says Piper. “We feel incredibly empowered and exhausted when we cross the finish line. There’s no feeling like it.”

As late August approaches, France is no longer an abstract destination. It’s the next chapter in a long northern story—one built on camaraderie mixed with a little stubborn optimism. The Dragons of Hope know what it means to paddle as a survivor team, and they know what it means to stand among thousands of others who understand that experience intimately. Aix‑les‑Bains will be a celebration, a reunion, and a reminder that survivorship doesn’t stay still. It moves for ward—sometimes slowly, sometimes pow erfully—but always together.

Learn more about the Dragons of Hope and follow their adventures on line at facebook.com/dragonsofhope.

Michelle Johnson

Paddlers and spectators toss pink flowers into the water to honor those who are gone and those still on their journey. | SUBMITTED

Thunder Bay HARBOURFEST

Healing on the North Shore Inside Heavens Earth Massage

TWO HARBORS—The North Shore pro vides a natural “reset” button. With beau tiful trails, waterfalls, and endless views of Lake Superior, it offers countless opportuni ties to slow down and relax. It is also home to places where visitors can unwind, be pampered, and experience natural healing. Heavens Earth Massage in Two Harbors is one such massage center, offering clients an individualized escape.

Silver Bay resident Chelsie Grayhawk has been drawn to helping people feel better through massage since she was 8 years old.

“My grandmother would rub my shoul ders, and I remember being fascinated by how good it made me feel.”

Open for Dining

Breakfast: Tuesday - Saturday seating is at 8am, set menu BY RESERVATIONS ONLY

Dinner: Monday - Saturday seating is at 6pm, with an early beverage service at 5pm BY RESERVATIONS ONLY

Gift Shop Open: Tues - Sat, 9am -5pm

That fascination grew as she was in troduced to science in school and learned more about the remarkable human body. She had a dream and joked with her fam ily about becoming a truck driver so she could take the miracle of massage on the road and help as many people as possible. Grayhawk eventually earned her massage therapy degree and opened Heavens Earth Massage in 2023.

Achieving that goal proved to be a long journey. Just shy of graduation and earning her degree, Grayhawk was hit by a drunk driver and severely injured her back. During her lengthy recovery, she learned a great deal about coping with pain.

“It was a full time job taking care of the pain,” she says.

Doctors told her that without surgery, she faced paralysis. Grayhawk decided against surgery and instead dedicated her recovery to natural methods of healing. Through her research, she came to believe that physical pain can sometimes be linked to emotional trauma stored in the body.

That experience inspired her to return to school, where she completed a de gree in occupational therapy focused on children’s mental health. She worked in rehabilitation facilities in Duluth and also became a foster parent, learning new ways to communicate with young people and help them express how therapy could meet their needs. Her goal was to help break cycles of pain and trauma.

“I will be a forever student and continue learning,” Grayhawk says.

Today, she is exploring opportunities to teach, hoping to share what she has learned about pain, healing, and recovery over the last 20 years.

Heavens Earth Massage combines Gray hawk’s formal education with her personal experiences to create a holistic approach to massage therapy. Along with traditional massage techniques, natural oils, and in cense, she also focuses on identifying the origins of each client’s pain or discomfort.

“I know how frustrating pain can be, and I practice all new techniques on myself before applying them to clients,” Grayhawk says.

She is also expanding her knowledge of cranial sequencing, the study of crani al bone, soft tissue, and vascular relation ships, to further personalize assessment and treatment.

When Heavens Earth first opened, it served about 30 clients per month. Today, that number has grown to approximately 150, with a waiting list.

Services include 30 to 90 minute deep tissue, prenatal, and sports massage ses

sions. Grayhawk says the salon’s approach to care “is rooted in respect for your indi viduality and holistic consideration of your

Located in Two Harbors, Heavens Earth Massage combines owner Chelsie Grayhawk’s formal training and personal experience to provide a holistic approach to massage therapy. | SUBMITTED

health concerns and personal goals… that is why no two sessions are ever the same.”

The salon’s name was inspired by a favor ite song by the band Delirium that Grayhawk discovered in her early 20s. Lyrics including “don’t deny yourself” resonated with her, and she says the name “just clicked” as the perfect fit for her business.

Heavens Earth Massage is located in Two Harbors, just off Highway 61. For more in formation or to book an appointment, visit heavensearthmassage.com.

Grayhawk has also expanded her business to Beaver Bay as co owner and therapist at Mysig Massage. “Mysig” is a Swedish word meaning “cozy.” The new salon opened in April and embraces much of the same phi losophy as Heavens Earth, specializing in in tentional, personalized bodywork designed to release tension, reduce stress, and calm the body.

Clients can also upgrade services to include dry brushing, hair oil treatments, and facials. Both locations are open year round. For more information or to schedule an appointment at Mysig Massage, visit mysigmassage.com.— Michelle Miller

museum and nature center

Mondays 1pm - 2pm Nature Talks

Tuesdays

Kids’ Day! 11am - 4pm

Ends August 18th

History Chats 1pm - 2pm

Fridays 1pm - 2pm Nature Hikes

Sunday, August 9 2pm

Mark Zimmer

Traveling the BWCAW

OPEN DAILY

Thru Oct. 18

10 am - 5 pm

Gift Shops • Wildlife Viewing Picnic Areas • Hiking Trails Family Fun for Everyone!

Monday, August 10 1-3pm

Membership Meeting @ Seagull Community Center

Friday, August 14

6:30-10:30pm

Dark Sky @ Schaap Center

Saturday, August 15

6:30-10:30pm

Dark Sky @ Chik-Wauk

Sunday, August 16 2pm

Kyle Johnson - Moths

Sunday, August 23 2pm

Sammi Shimota - Moose

NEW EXHIBIT

The Gunflint Trail Historical Society and the Anishinaabe Exhibit Task Force are pleased to announce a new permanent exhibit: Zagaandagaa-Anishinaabeg, People of the Thick Coniferous Forest

The exhibit will feature a new mural by artist Sam Zimmerman, an interactive area map, and the story of Chief Blackstone’s Final Walk, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder. Visitors will also find a wall highlighting local Anishinaabe artists and their connection to the Gunflint Trail area, along with a cozy space where they can listen to stories about past Anishinaabe Border Lakes residents as shared by their descendants.

Celebration Event August 22nd, 2-4pm

Landmarks of the North: Icons, Parks, and Historic Places

By Kalli Hawkins

There are countless places to pull over, stretch your legs, and take in the view along the North Shore and beyond.

Some are iconic stops that have welcomed visitors for generations. Others reveal themselves through a short trail, a weathered historic site, or a quiet overlook where the landscape tells its own story. This photo essay features a selection of parks, historic landmarks, and scenic destinations from Duluth to Thunder Bay, with a few inland stops across the Northland. Whether you’re exploring them for the first time or returning to a favorite overlook or trail, each offers a different perspective on the places that make this region worth getting to know.

offers more than a view

explore hundreds of miles of

among the forests, and experience the

The Cross River Heritage Center in Schroeder shares the stories of the North Shore’s communities, people, and past. Visitors can explore exhibits on local history, Ojibwe culture, early settlement, and the industries that shaped the region. | CROSS RIVER HERITAGE CENTER

generations of ships,

and stories on the

tour the historic lighthouse, explore the surrounding grounds, and learn about the people and maritime history behind one of the North

most recognizable

|

Located on the Sibley Peninsula, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

from the iconic cliffs above Lake Superior. Visitors can

hiking trails, paddle along the shoreline, camp

rugged landscape of Ontario’s north shore. | SLEEPING GIANT PROVINCIAL PARK

Located near Beaver Bay, Split Rock Lighthouse has stood above Lake Superior’s shoreline since 1910, bearing witness to

storms,

lake. Visitors can

Shore’s

landmarks.

MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely preserves the story of the “Root Beer Lady,” who welcomed generations of paddlers to her island home on Knife Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Here, Dorothy Molter stands in front of the Coca-Cola cooler where she kept her homemade root beer. | DOROTHY MOLTER MUSEUM

the

| LISTENING POINT FOUNDATION,

| MINNESOTA DNR

Isle Royale National Park is a unique island ecosystem in the middle of Lake Superior, encompassing more than 200 square miles of forests, lakes, and rugged shoreline. Accessible only by boat or seaplane during the warmer months, the park’s seasonal isolation helps preserve a landscape where moose, wolves, and other wildlife remain year-round residents.

| KALLI HAWKINS

Grand Portage National Monument preserves the story of the people who shaped this region’s past. Visitors can explore the reconstructed fur trade post, attend cultural demonstrations and educational programs, and learn about the enduring connection between the Anishinaabe people, the land, and Lake Superior.

| A. HERNANDEZ: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Hovland is a quieter stop along the North Shore. The hike to Devil’s Kettle is the park’s most famous attraction, but visitors can also explore river trails, waterfalls, and quiet areas to pause and take in the scenery.

Tucked along

edge of Burntside Lake near Ely, Sigurd Olson’s Writing Shack reflects the writer and conservationist’s deep connection to the northern wilderness. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site offers tours and educational programs that share Olson’s life, writing, and enduring influence on wilderness conservation.

INC.

Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay captures the rugged character of the North Shore, where cliffs, forests, and waterfalls meet Lake Superior. The visitor center is a favorite stopping point for many travelers, offering interpretive displays, picnic areas, and a chance to slow down and take in the view.

| KATIE FOSHAY: TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK

Thunder Bay’s Fort William Historical Park preserves the story of one of the largest fur trade posts in North America. Through reconstructed buildings, demonstrations, and living history programs, visitors can step into the world of voyageurs, traders, and Indigenous peoples who shaped the region’s past. | FORT WILLIAM HISTORICAL PARK

Superior Trails:

The Big Lake’s Best Trails Span All Shores

Story and Photos by Rudi Hargesheimer

After I had made my 15th Circle Tour of Lake Superior, I decided it was time to chronicle my best of the best hiking trail images in a book designed to whet the appetite for trav elers seeking dramatic scenery on the world’s largest fresh water lake.

I have my own definition of the word “best.” To me, a landscape photographer, that word means most scenic, most dramatic, most adrenaline pumping, and definitely, most in spiring and photogenic. My goal in Superior Trails: A Photo Tour of Lake Superior’s Best Hiking Trails is to share those best images with a wide audience of travelers—to motivate them, or you, to get in the car with hiking footwear ready, camera in hand, and visit places on the big lake that you nev er knew existed. I want you to say, “I just have to go there!”

I live in Minnesota and am a longtime fan and advocate of the North Shore of Lake Superior. I was a 12 year board member of the Superior Hiking Trail Association, serving six of those years as its president. I have hiked and photo graphed all the other trails along the Minnesota shore, too. But my appetite for “best” scenes did not stop there.

As a backpacking enthusiast, I have sought out back packing trails near where I live for a very long time. The long drive to the western mountains and their great trails had me yearning for something much closer to home. I looked to Lake Superior. I hiked several of the somewhat well known longer trails near the lake and soon discovered that there were many options I had missed. I had driven right past them. Surprising to me—and, I am sure, surpris ing to most hikers in the Midwest—is the quantity of qual ity trails that beckon on the big lake’s perimeter. There are 20 backpacking trails.

Not a backpacker? Many dozens of shorter trails offer big scenery, too.

Superior Trails: A Photo Tour of Lake Superior’s Best Hiking Trails presents a wide array of best scenes on both long and short trails. Some are easy to reach on short strolls from your car. Some are on short or long, but arduously rugged, trails. All are worth hiking.

For Northern Wilds readers, I will focus in this article on a few of the trails at the top of the lake—in the Thunder Bay to Marathon area. But the Ontario east shore of the lake, Up per Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin trails are featured among the 320 images in my book.

Leaving Grand Marais, heading northeast, the land scape changes abruptly at Mount Josephine near the Ca nadian border. For me, the allure of Canada starts here. No longer is the view looking outward to Lake Superior an uninterrupted flat horizon line. Now, for many miles east ward, islands, bays, and fjords dominate the panorama. The view from the summit of Mount Josephine includes the Susie Islands just below and the expanse of Isle Royale in the distance.

In Ontario, close to the Minnesota border, the James Dun can Nature Trail at Little Trout Bay is a linear 6 mile hike offering the classic Canadian views of irregular in and out coastlines. Beach and Mount Mollie summit spurs add va riety. Superior Trails: A Photo Tour of Lake Superior’s Best Hiking Trails does not dive into a detailed description or of fer turn by turn directions or a map of the trail. Instead, the photos are meant to simply get you headed that way. I rec ommend alltrails.com for details. This is true for all the trails featured in the book.

Eagle Canyon in Dorion features two massive suspension footbridges: a 300-foot bridge and a 600foot bridge suspended 152 feet above the canyon floor.

Located in Terrace Bay, Aguasabon Falls drops 100 feet into the Aguasabon Gorge.

My

Not to be missed near Thunder Bay is Kakabeka Falls and the Mountain Por tage Trail. Other short trails within Thunder Bay are pos sibilities, too. Mount McKay is an obvious possibility. It rises high directly above the city, but I don’t include it as a “best” trail because the city view, although impres sive, is not my idea of beau tiful or “best.”

Across the waters of Thunder Bay, dominating the eastern skyline of the city of Thunder Bay, is the Sleeping Giant on the Sibley Peninsula. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park has 62 miles of hiking trails. The big at traction is the huge cliffs. From the top of the Giant’s “Knees” to the talus slope below is an 825 foot vertical drop. You won’t find the likes of that anywhere else in the middle of North America. From the bottom of the cliffs, on the 22 mile Kabeyun Trail, it looks like you are in Wyoming or Colorado, looking up at a treeless 13,000 foot summit ridge. The Kabeyun Trail starts at Thunder Bay Overlook, accessible by car, and leads south around the base of the Giant. The hike to the top of the Knees used to be a scram ble through VW Bug sized boulders; now it is mostly a long wooden staircase—a long way up, but easy. They call it the “Top of the Giant Trail.” It is 14 miles round trip from the road by Silver Islet, but you can mountain bike six of those miles, leaving only 8 miles of hiking.

Ouimet Canyon is a visual treat. A very easy short trail leads to several overlooks of the deep, narrow slot cut into the Canadian Shield. One view is of “The Indian.” Nearby is Eagle Canyon, a commercial enterprise featuring its own ver sion of a narrow canyon, but adding two suspension bridges crossing the void rim to rim.

Dorion Tower is also near Ouimet Canyon. I call it a “best” trail because the view of rock climbers scaling a towering pinnacle with Lake Superior in the background is certainly worthy of the adjective. But it is not an easy trail to access. You need a four wheel drive vehicle just to get to the start, and then the trail is a matter of following pink ribbons through the dense forest—doable, but not a pleasant stroll.

The Nipigon River Recreation Trail connects Nipigon and Red Rock. High on a ridge, it looks down on the Nipigon River as it widens and merges with Lake Superior. What about No Good Lake? Is it a good hike? Yes. Take the 6 mile loop Deer Lake Mountain Trail for an enjoyable hike. I presume the name comes from a lack of fish, but the views are very good indeed.

Ruby Lake Provincial Park does not often make it onto the tourism list of good hikes. This is because the access road is suspect at best. My car was branch whipped multiple times as I maneuvered through giant mud pits on the very narrow lane leading miles to the actual start of the Ruby Lake Look out Trail. The trail itself is easy. It leads to grand panoramas of the lake, deeply squeezed between cliffs on both sides, and the backdrop of Lake Superior.

Mazukama Falls is finally getting its due. The huge 82 foot cascade drops past red cliffs into tiny Mazukama Creek. The hike in is a short 2 mile round trip—but rugged. The trail crosses the creek at one point without the aid of a bridge. Expect wet feet. You can keep going another 4 miles round trip to the Stairway of the Saints and Wingtip overlook above the falls if time allows.

Obscure is the story and location of Gomar Falls. At 279 feet in height, it far exceeds Niagara and all other Ontario waterfalls. But this one currently is not on most maps. It is in the high Palisades of the Pijitawabik bluffs above Orient Bay and the Nipigon River. The walk in follows a power line—no discernible trail—then climbs through thick forest and jum bled rocks via a pink ribbon route to the base of the falls. You’ll need alltrails.com to find it. Nearby is Cascade Falls, reached by a similar scramble through the woods.

Casque Isles Trail. I first discovered this gem while driving the Trans Canada Highway. The trail club had put up beauti ful billboards. And the trail proved to be even more beautiful. It traverses a rugged 33 miles between Rossport and Terrace Bay via what is known as a “coastal trail.” Coastal trails are found in many locations. They all share a common thread: They follow the coast—as in, no trail at all; just sand or rocky beaches, and exposed, wave scoured bedrock. When the shoreline becomes impassable, a trail cuts through the forest, leading to the next walkable section of the shore. The Casque Isles Trail does this, but also climbs via tough trail to the tops of local mountains. Highlights are Rainbow Falls and Aguasa bon Falls, both easily accessible by car on short footpaths.

Many people say Neys Provincial Park is their favorite. Lawren Harris agreed long before it was a park. His painting of Pic Island is iconic—a great example of the style made famous by the “Group of Seven,” Canadian painters who travelled by rail to their plein air painting locations on the Superior shores in the 1920s and ‘30s. My favorite trail is the short and easy Under the Volcano Trail. It follows glacially scoured and polished, wave washed pink granite ledge rock for 1.5 miles round trip.

Until 2022, I had never heard of the Group of Seven Trail; it is new. The citizens of Marathon, Ontario, knew they were in the hotbed of many of the best Group of Seven painting sites. They are now promoting several sections of very scenic trail totaling 21 miles so far—more to come. My favorite sec tion is called Garden Cove. It is an easy 3 mile coastal trail passing over silky smooth pink and orange pillowed ledge rock just west of Marathon. The views include Painter’s Peak. It is a dreamland for photography.

Just east of Marathon is Pukaskwa National Park, home to the very long Pukaskwa Coastal Trail, 40 miles one way (80

miles out and back), and the Mdaabii Miikna 15 mile loop trail. Shorter day hike trails radiate around the park visitor center and car camping sites. These are a must see even if you’re not camping or backpacking there.

Beyond: The entire east shore of Lake Superior is striking ly beautiful, but beyond the scope of this article. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota also escape coverage in this arti cle. But they are in the book. The U.S. states offer stunning hiking sites, also.

Superior Trails: A Photo Tour of Lake Superior’s Best Hiking Trails is available at various Duluth and North Shore book sellers. It can also be purchased on my website (U.S. delivery only). For more information, visit northshorephotoart.com.

favorite stop along the Group of Seven Trail in Marathon is Garden Cove. The whole trail is a dreamland for photography.

Mazukama Falls in Nipigon drops 82 feet over red cliffs into the tiny Mazukama Creek.

Painter’s Peak is another scenic stop along the Group of Seven Trail.

By Breana Johnson

Two Harbors Art Fair

The 32nd annual Two Harbors Art Fair will take place Aug. 14-16 outside the Earthwood Inn. Thirty artists will showcase a wide variety of work, including ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, paintings, woodwork, and glass. For more information, see our events section.

| KRISTINA LAINGEN

| JOHN SCULLY

Duluth artist John Scully captures the beauty of the North Shore in this painting of Split Rock Lighthouse.

This leather and stone bracelet was handcrafted by jewelry artist

Kristina Laingen.

This northern lights painting, created by Wendy Smith, is titled “Northern Streaks.” Smith is this year’s featured artist.

| WENDY SMITH

Colleen Beddor is the artist behind this beautiful glass piece.

| COLLEEN BEDDOR

Caleb Jones, owner of The Clay Turtle Company, will showcase his pottery at the art fair.

| CALEB JONES

Wood artist Lee Oman and his wife, Paula, have participated in the Two Harbors Art Fair for the past 10 years. | LEE OMAN

After a Lifetime of Creating, Jayne Richards Finds Her Way Home

Creative Space: By Anne Graybeal

“It just took all my life to get here.”

Jayne Richards looked around her space in the Art Sheds in downtown Grand Marais and smiled.

For Richards, that space represents far more than a place to display her watercolor and acrylic paintings, jewelry, and dreamcatchers inspired by the North Shore. It is the culmination of peripatetic decades spent raising a family, returning to college, dealing blackjack, designing graphics, and steadily developing her artistic voice.

“This project is probably the best thing I’ve done,” she said. “I finally get to do what I really want to do.”

Visitors stepping into Richards’ space quickly discover that it feels different from a traditional gallery. People linger. They browse without pressure. Conversations unfold naturally.

“They come in, they have a feeling when they walk in here,” she said. “They hang out and take their time. Some come back, some don’t. But at least they had a little bit of an art experience on the North Shore without really being intimidated.”

Creating that welcoming atmosphere matters as much to Richards as the artwork itself.

Richards grew up in Grand Marais, where her father owned a gas station that supplied fuel to logging camps, while her mother filled their home with piano music. “I just started drawing at a young age,” Richards recalled. “Sitting at the window drawing in the house.”

After her family left town in 1962, Richards eventually graduated from Minnetonka High School before enrolling at St. Cloud State University to study art and art history. Life, as it often does, had other plans.

At 19, she returned to Grand Marais for a summer job with two friends. “We’re still here,” she said with a laugh.

She married a member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippe-

artwork is available

| SUBMITTED

wa, raised three children, and chose to immerse them in their father’s culture, in large part because of the community and connection it offered.

Living between cultures shaped both her life and her perspective. “It just teaches you to be respectful of other cultures and be careful of your own.”

For many years, art occupied whatever space life allowed. “You know how it is in Grand Marais,” she said. “You can’t just have one job.”

After her divorce, Richards eventually made a decision that changed the trajectory of her life. While working full time, she returned to school to finish the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree she had left decades earlier. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1999 with a degree in drawing and photography, discovering along the way a subject that continues to influence her work today.

Using one of the first digital cameras available to students, Richards began pho-

tographing the rock formations at Brighton Beach in Duluth. She translated those photographs into charcoal drawings that became something more personal than landscape studies.

“They were a healing process for me,” she said. The series helped her understand “how things can be separated, but still part of something.”

That willingness to keep learning remains central to her identity as an artist. “My work now is much more satisfying because I’ve learned new skills over the years,” she said. “I’m able to do what I want easier.”

Visitors often compliment her talent, but Richards shrugs off the praise. “People walk in here, ‘Oh, you have so much talent,’” she said. “No. I work hard. You have to work hard to be good at something,” she continued.

That mindset also shapes the way she thinks about artistic success. “Most artists have to learn how to look, to even get to the point that they’re expressing themselves,” she said. “If you stop looking, you’re not going to get any ideas.”

Today, Richards creates the work she knows visitors are hoping to find while remaining true to her own artistic vision. “I get to do it my way,” she said. “Nobody’s telling me how to do it.”

Although she spent years behind a computer creating graphics for clients, Richards eventually realized that was no longer the life she wanted.

“I much prefer this life in front of people, with my art standing on the walls,” she said. Richards serves on the board of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, where she hopes to help other artists find grant opportunities similar to those that helped establish her current space in the Art Sheds. She remains deeply appreciative of that support.

“I figure it’s time for me to give back,” she said.

Located on Broadway Avenue between The Sweetwater Co. and Beaver House, the Art Sheds were created in 2022 by Nita Anderson, former owner of 8th Broadway Gallery. Visitors can typically visit Richards seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through MEA weekend.

After a lifetime of searching, learning, and creating, Richards has found exactly where she wants to be.

“I can’t ask for anything better,” she said.

Grand Marais artist Jayne Richards creates watercolor and acrylic paintings, as well as jewelry and dreamcatchers. | SUBMITTED

Richards’

at the Art Sheds in downtown Grand Marais.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUNDRAISER FUNDRAISER FUNDRAISER CARE PARTNERS CARE PARTNERS

Sunday, August 30 | 2-4pm

Sydney’s Frozen Custard | 14 Broadway Ave, Grand Marais

Here's the Scoop!

Make a donation to support Care Partners and enjoy a Sydney's Frozen Custard!

Participate in our annual quilt raffle!

Chat with a volunteer about joining our wonderful Care Partners team!

Meet Care Partners staff!

AUGUST 7th

Supporting memberscommunity on the journey of aging and end-of-life

Enjoy live music Enjoy live music from the North from the Shore Swing Band! Shore Swing Band!

Generously sponsored by:

AUGUST 14th

Join us for everyone’s favorite outdoor painting competition:

It’s Plein Air 2026

Sept. 11-19: Competition Week

Sept. 17: “Quick Paint” at Artist’s Point, 3:30-5pm

Sept. 17: Off-Easel Sale at Harbor Park, 11am-12:30pm

Sept. 18: Awards Ceremony & Reception, 5-7pm JHP Gallery

Sept. 19-Nov 1: JHP Gallery Exhibition

More events: cookcountyhistory.og/pagm

Bringing the Best of Americana Music to the North Shore of Lake Superior Friday Nights August 7 -August 21, 2026 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

AUGUST 21st

FISHERMAN’S PICNIC

July 30-Aug. 2 This year marks the 97th annual Fisherman’s Picnic festival in down town Grand Marais, and there’s a lot to look forward to. There’s bingo, live music, food and artisan vendors, the fish toss and loon calling contests, kiddy rides and inflat ables, blacksmithing demos, a trail run, a kid’s tractor pull, a cutest puppy contest, performances from the Grand Marais Play house, a raffle drawing with a $10,000 grand prize, and of course, the fishburger stand. Don’t miss the fireworks over the harbor at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, and the parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday. grandmara islions.com

CLE FAIR

Aug. 5-9 The annual CLE Fair in Thunder Bay features all kinds of fun activities, in cluding Midway rides, games and con cessions, kiddie rides, live entertainment, vendor booths, and more. This year’s en tertainment includes the Undercover Leg ends of Rock, hypnotist Corrie J, Hotel Cal ifornia, Alli Walker, Song Song Blue, and Glass Tiger. There will also be a fireworks show on Aug. 9 at 11 p.m. The fair will be held at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition from noon to midnight, daily. More infor mation, including admission and ride wrist band prices, can be found online. cle.on.ca

DOCKSIDE SESSIONS

Starts Aug. 5 The inaugural Dockside Sessions is a free outdoor concert series hosted by the North Shore Music Associ

ation, North House Folk School (NHFS), and WTIP North Shore Community Ra dio. Concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the first three Wednesdays in August

at the NHFS Commons overlooking the Grand Marais harbor. The concerts will be held on a timber frame stage built by NHFS students during a July course. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for an eve ning of outstanding live music. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will move indoors to Up Yonder. The lineup features Chastity Brown on Aug. 5, Molly Dean on Aug. 12, and Bad Bad Hats on Aug. 19. northshoremusicassociation.com

LAKE COUNTY FAIR

Aug. 6-9 The Lake County Fair in Two Harbors provides four days of non stop fun, from barrel races and a human trac tor pull, to a blindfolded lawnmower race,

Grand Portage Rendezvous Days will take place Aug. 7-9. This year’s theme is Games and Entertainment of the Fur Trade Era. | SUBMITTED

The CLE Fair in Thunder Bay features rides, games, food, live entertainment, and more. | SUBMITTED

SCAN

live music, carnival rides, and a watermel on eating contest. There will also be kid’s games and activities, daily prize drawings, livestock competitions, a junior livestock auction, food vendors and commercial booths, a beer garden, a hay bale toss and frying pan toss contest, a pie contest and auction, a golden egg hunt, MWA pro fessional wrestling, free bingo, an exotic petting zoo, lumberjack shows, and more. thelakecountyfair.com

LIVE FROM THE ROCK FOLK FESTIVAL

Aug. 7-9 Held at Pull a Log Park in Red Rock, Ontario, the annual Live from the Rock Folk Festival is a music and arts festi val that is run almost 100% by volunteers. The festival offers world class music on day time workshop style stages, as well as an evening concert lineup on the main festival stage. This year’s performers include Abigail Lapell, Brothers Wilde, Cassidy Houston, Luke Warm and the Cold Ones, Isaac Mat thews, Shy Anne Hovorka, Onion Honey, DIVKA, and more. There will be food and drink vendors, an artisan village, campfire jams, community led workshops, onsite

camping, yoga, and more. The kids will have fun too in the Family Zone, featuring a play ground and splashpad, artwork and crafts, face painting, and a children’s parade. Tick ets can be purchased online or at the gate. livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

RENDEZVOUS DAYS & POWWOW

Aug. 7-9 Reenactors from across the U.S. and Canada come together during the annual Rendezvous Days, held at Grand Portage National Monument. This year’s theme is Games and Entertainment of the Fur Trade Era. In conjunction with Ren dezvous Days, the annual Grand Portage Powwow, sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Ojibwe, is an American Indian cultural gathering focused on dance, song, and family cele bration. Visitors and tribal members alike are invited to watch and participate in the ceremonial powwow. This fun filled week end will also include artisan vendors, craft demonstrations, hands on workshops and special guests, a walk/run, bingo, a turkey shoot, raffle drawings, and more. Admis sion is free. visitcookcounty.com/events

Held in Red Rock, the Paju Mountain Run climbs 715 feet up the Paju Mountain and back down again. | SUBMITTED

| KEEGAN RICHARD

PAJU MOUNTAIN RUN/WALK

Aug. 8, Saturday Held in Red Rock, the 43rd annual Paju Mountain Run is a 12km route that loops around the community before climbing 715 feet up the Paju Mountain and back down again. The event includes both competitive and non competitive categories. The walking group starts at 8:30 a.m. and the runners start at 9 a.m. A buffet style community lunch begins at 11 a.m., followed by an awards ceremo ny at 11:30 a.m. Registration is required. facebook.com/pajumountainrun

TORI FINNISH MARKETPLACE & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aug. 8, Saturday Held as a fundraiser for the Finland MN Historical Society, the Tori Finnish Marketplace and Music Festival in Finland offers fun for the whole fam ily. Enjoy live entertainment, great food, local art and craft vendors, blacksmith demos, a flea market, museum and site tours, make and take crafts, a silent auc tion and cash raffle, kid’s activities, and more. This year’s performers are THUG, The Northern Stars, and Bare Bones Band. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Finland Heritage Site. Ad mission is free, but donations are appreci ated. There will also be a pancake break fast on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 8 11 a.m. facebook.com/finlandmnhistoricalsociety

FAT GUYS ANNUAL CAR SHOW

Aug. 8, Saturday Hosted by Fat Guys Auto Parts in Thunder Bay, the Fat Guys Annu al Car Show truly stops traffic. One of the biggest and best car shows in northwest ern Ontario, there will be classic cars, rat rods, hot rods, muscle cars, sport/turner

vehicles, and trucks, and those entered in the car show have a chance to win bags of cash. This year, in lieu of a registration fee, Fat Guys Car Show is doing a 50/50 raf fle to raise money for George Jeffrey Chil dren’s Foundation. Tickets are $5 each and if all 4,000 tickets are sold, the grand prize will be $10,000. Other highlights include local food and drink vendors, live music, a hot dog eating contest, and free face paint ing for the kids. The event will take place at Fat Guys Auto Parts and the surrounding neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ad mission is free. fatguyscarshow.com

LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL

Aug. 14, Friday Visit Terrace Bay, Ontario, for the 14th annual Lighthouse Festival, held from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Aug. 14. Set against the iconic backdrop of the Terrace Bay Lighthouse, this free festival brings to gether locals and visitors alike. Activities in clude an artisan market and sidewalk sales, live entertainment, a beer garden, food and drink vendors, free bingo, cornhole and basketball challenges, a children’s area with inflatables and a monster water slide, a free movie night in the park, and more. visitterracebay.ca

HERITAGE FEST

Aug. 14-15 The 3rd annual Heritage Fest in Ely is a community festival celebrat ing and preserving the Iron Range’s eth nic heritage. The festival begins with a film premiere party from 5 8 p.m. Friday at Ely’s Historic State Theatre, where at tendees can watch four short films about Iron Range history and Ely’s mining heri tage. Concessions will be available, and historic displays will be featured in the lobby. The festival continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ely’s Historic Pi oneer Mine with live music, a bake sale,

free museum tours, food vendors, refresh ments (including beer and wine), historic displays, history walk and talk tours, and youth activities including games, scaven ger hunts, bounce houses, art projects, and more. Admission to both events is free. facebook.com/heritagefestpioneermine

PICKUP TRUCK OPERA

Aug. 14-15 Mixed Precipitation, in part nership with North Shore Music Associa tion, is bringing its acclaimed Pickup Truck Opera back to Cook County this summer. This year’s production, Tales of Hoffmann, is a playful outdoor adaptation that blends

Ely’s Heritage Fest will feature live music, historic displays, a bake sale, kids' games, and more. | SUBMITTED

Order by mail, phone, or online or find it at your favorite store. See our website for store locations.

PO Box 188, Ely, MN 55731

FASHIONED PIE SOCIAL Sunday, September 6, Noon - 4 pm

Free admission all day. If you would like to volunteer or donate a pie call 218-388-9915

Suggested donation of $6 per slice of pie, ice cream - donated by Lake Superior Creamery, and beverage.

This day also features the annual Chik-Wauk “sidewalk”sale, music by Jim Miller, homemade pies, great conversation, and a silent auction. This will be a fun way to wrap up the summer and say “So long till next year,” to our friends and neighbors. All proceeds help with the daily operational costs of Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center Campus.

classical opera with ‘90s grunge and pop music from art ists like Nirvana, Hole, and The Offspring. It’s a fun, fam ily friendly experience performed right from the back of a pickup truck. Performances are scheduled for Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hovland Town Hall, and Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais Rec Park. Pickup Truck Opera will also perform Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at White side Park in Ely, and Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Finland Heri tage Site in Finland. All performances are donation based, and reservations are encouraged. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket. mixedprecipitation.org

TWO HARBORS ART FAIR

Aug. 14-16 The 32nd annual Two Harbors Art Fair will take place over three days outside the Earthwood Inn in Two Harbors. Thirty artists will showcase a wide variety of work, including fiber art, jewelry, mixed media, ceramics, paintings, woodwork, photography, and glass art. Folk mu sician Thea Ennen will perform Saturday and Sunday. Fes tival hours are 3 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. facebook. com/twoharborsunderthespreadingwalnuttreeartfestival

BLUEBERRY BLAST FESTIVAL

Aug. 15-16 The 25th annual Blueberry Blast Festival takes place in downtown Nipigon next to Paddle to the Sea Park. This is a free, fun filled family event with guided blueberry picking tours, food and craft vendors, live mu sic, a blueberry pancake breakfast, a photo booth, dai ly attendance draws, a silent auction, a celebrity dunk tank, and more. This year’s performers are The Doghead Mountain Boys, James Boraski, Shy Anne Hovorka, The

GGTA NORTH SHORE BIKE RIDE

Aug. 15, Saturday The 26th annual Gitchi Gami Trail As sociation North Shore Bike Ride will take place on Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. The recreational ride will offer 55 mile, 34 mile, and 28 mile route options, as well as an 8 mile fam ily ride on the trail, all starting at Gooseberry Falls State Park near Two Harbors. Refreshments will be provided at rest stops and post ride. The 8 mile ride will also pro vide treats and special events for families. All adult riders will receive T shirts, and younger riders will receive water bottles. All riders must sign waivers and wear helmets. Registration is required; kids ride free with a paid adult. ggta.org

BLUES IN THE BALLPARK

Aug. 21-22 Head to Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay for the inaugural Blues in the Ballpark, a revival of the long running Thunder Bay Blues Festival in a new, more intimate and laid back venue. Enjoy authentic blues music from 11 touring bands from across Canada, the U.S., and Finland. This year’s lineup includes Tom Lavin & The Leg endary Powder Blues, Texas Headhunters, Erja Lyytinen, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, Nikki Hill, David Gogo, and Jeff Rogers. Grand Slam Sports & Entertainment will

Beatitudes Choir, Jim ‘n’ I, Maple Sting, and The Dorion Band. The festival will run from noon to 5 p.m. daily. facebook.com/nipigonblueberryblast

Pickup Truck Opera is back in the Northland, and this year’s production is Tales of Hoffmann. | SUBMITTED

| PAUL SUNDBERG

offer concessions, including a special event menu and alcoholic beverages. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sat urday. The event will conclude at roughly 11 p.m. each night. Tickets are available online or at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium box office. tbca.com

LAKE SUPERIOR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Aug. 21-22 Head to Barker’s Island in Su perior for the annual Lake Superior Drag on Boat Festival. Watch or participate

in the races, feast on fantastic food, and take part in the Glow by the Bay 5k Run/ Walk. There will also be live entertainment, a free kids’ fun run, a cornhole tourna ment, a tug of war competition, a beer garden, food trucks, activities for kids, and more. Race registration is required. facebook.com/lakesuperiordragonboats

WAWA SALMON DERBY

Aug. 21-23 The 44th annual Wawa Salmon Derby in Wawa, Ontario, will take place on Lake Superior. Known as “Wawa’s Supe rior Sporting Event,” the contest includes multiple categories with prizes, a parade of lights, pancake breakfasts, a fish fry, and activities for the whole family. The winner of the largest salmon wins $4,000 in cash. There is also a five day pre fishing contest held Aug. 15 19. Derby headquarters are located at Buck’s Marina. Registration fee required. wawasalmonderby.com

NEW EXHIBIT: GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

Aug. 22, Saturday The Gunflint Trail His torical Society and the Anishinaabe Exhibit

Task Force are pleased to announce a new permanent exhibit at the Chik Wauk Muse um and Nature Center on the Gunflint Trail: Zagaandagaa Anishinaabeg, People of the Thick Coniferous Forest. The exhibit will feature a new mural by artist Sam Zimmer man, an interactive area map, and the story of Chief Blackstone’s Final Walk, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder. Visitors will also find a wall highlighting local Anishinaabe artists and their connection to the Gunflint Trail area, along with a cozy space where they can listen to stories about past Anishinaabe Border Lakes residents as shared by their descendants. A grand opening celebration will take place from 2 4 p.m. on Aug. 22. gunflinthistory.org

ANISHINAABE KEESHIGUN

Aug. 22-23 Celebrate First Nations culture at Fort William Historical Park in Thun der Bay. Enjoy a free weekend filled with entertainment, hands on activities, and demonstrations that highlight Anishinaabe culture, traditions, language, and technolo gy. This year’s event will also include a pow wow highlighting regional dancers and

drum groups, as well as a community feast. The community feast will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and is open to all visitors. An ishinaabe Keeshigun will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. fwhp.ca

HARBOURFEST

Aug. 27, Thursday Harbourfest is a street wide celebration of summer in Thunder Bay’s Waterfront District BIA, featuring live music and entertainment, local vendors, food and drinks, dog contests, and fami ly friendly activities. The annual festival runs from 4 11 p.m. and offers residents and visitors an opportunity to explore downtown, connect with the communi ty, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Waterfront District. facebook.com/water frontdistrict.bia

CARE PARTNERS ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUNDRAISER

Aug. 30, Sunday Enjoy some ice cream with the annual Care Partners Ice Cream Social Fundraiser, held from 2 4 p.m. at Sydney’s Frozen Custard in Grand Marais. Donate to support Care Partners and en joy some delicious frozen custard, plus the opportunity to relax, connect with friends and neighbors, and help Care Partners pro vide support and companionship for those on the journey of aging and end of life in Cook County. There will also be live music from the North Shore Swing Band and a quilt raffle. carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar is one of 11 acts performing at the inaugural Blues in the Ballpark festival. | SUBMITTED

Celebrate First Nations culture at Anishinaabe Keeshigun, held Aug. 22-23 at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay. | SUBMITTED

| KARL EVERETT

AUGUST

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru Aug. 9

Borderlands: Group Exhibition Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Biggest Blueberry Contest Gunflint Trail, visitcookcounty.com

Thru Aug. 22

DefSup 38th Anniversary Members

Exhibition Definitely Superior Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, definitelysuperior.com

Thru Aug. 29

Summer Exhibition: Play Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Thru Sept. 13

2026 Northern Ontario Juried Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Sept. 29

Looking Back While Looking Forward: Cecilia Rolando Ely Area Community Hub, northernlakesarts.org

Thru Oct. 4

Quinn Hopkins: Hyper Woodland Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Oct. 11

Small Scale: Tall Tale Exhibit Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

July 30-Aug. 2

Fisherman’s Picnic Downtown Grand Marais, grandmaraislions.com

July 30-Aug. 8

Witch Zeitgeist Teatro, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

July 31-Aug. 2

Dragfest Terrace Bay, Ontario, visitterracebay.ca

Aug. 1, Saturday

Meet & Greet with Eliza Wheeler: A Cozy Summer Day 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com Larsmont CC Annual Fun Day & Picnic 11 a.m. Little Red Schoolhouse, Larsmont, larsmont.org

Zarja Fest 11 a.m. Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm, northernlakesarts.org

Local Art Silent Auction Noon, Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, Facebook Event

Presentation with Author Dale Mulfinger: Architect Edwin Lundie 1 p.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Book Signing with Meg Gorzycki: Remember the Main 1 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Live Blacksmith Demonstration 1 p.m. Bally Blacksmith & Metal Shop, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Mean Girls 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

All Pints North 3:30 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, mncraftbrew.org

Rocky Wall Benefit House Concert: Jeff Dayton & Friends 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

As You Like It 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Fisherman’s Picnic Fireworks 9:45 p.m. Grand Marais Harbor, grandmaraislions.com

Aug. 1-2

South Core Roar 10 a.m. Fort William Business District, Thunder Bay, southcoreroar.com

Aug. 1-29

RISING: Arrowhead Artist Exhibition

(Reception Aug. 1 at 3 p.m.) Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Aug. 1-31

Photography & Art at the Rock: Ryan Cairl (Artist Onsite Aug. 22 & Aug. 29 at 10 a.m.)

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Aug. 2, Sunday

Harvey Gregory Prusheck Day 11 a.m. Ely City Hall, ely.org/events

International Yacht Race: Grand Marais to Thunder Bay 11 a.m. Grand Marais Harbor, tbyc.on.ca

Fisherman’s Picnic Parade 1 p.m. Downtown Grand Marais, grandmaraislions.com

Aug. 3, Monday

Chamber Golf Outing 10:30 a.m. Lakeview

National Golf Course, Two Harbors, lakecounty chamber.com

ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. McQuade Small Craft Harbor, Duluth, alslib.info

Aug. 3-Oct. 2

Ish Meets a Mermaid Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

Send Flowers Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

Aug. 4, Tuesday

Music in the Park: Jeff Reinartz Noon, Grand Marais Harbor Waterfront, visitcookcounty.com/events

Summertime Movie Matinees: The Fantastic Four & Superman 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

National Night Out 4 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, facebook.com/elypolicedept

Community Sing 7 p.m. Ely Folk School, Ely, elyfolkschool.org

Aug. 5, Wednesday

Community Potluck 11:30 a.m. Ely Community Center, ely.org/events

Free Outdoor Concert: Chastity Brown 7:30 p.m. North House Commons, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

Aug. 5-9

CLE Fair Noon, CLE, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

Aug. 6, Thursday

Disability Rights Celebration 11 a.m.

Superior High School, Superior, facebook.com/indigowi

Fiber Art: Demonstrations of a Sustainable Art Form 11:30 a.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

Music on the Ship: Flight of Stares 7 p.m.

William A. Irvin, Duluth, decc.org

High Horse & Kat Wallace with Ponyfolk 7 p.m. Nordic Center of Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Two Harbors City Band 7:30 p.m. Paul Gauche Memorial Band Shell, Two Harbors, facebook.com/thetwoharborscityband

Aug. 6-9

Lake County Fair Two Harbors, thelakecountyfair.com

Spirit Valley Days West Duluth, spiritvalleydays.com

Aug. 7, Friday

Forensic Psychologist & True Crime Author Frank F. Weber 2 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

Theory of a Deadman & Sevendust 7 p.m. Decc Arena, Duluth, decc.org

As You Like It 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Jerry Seinfeld 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Free Concert: Erik Koskinen Band 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 7-8

Summit North Trail Runs Spirit Mountain, Duluth, summitnorthtrailruns.com

City on the Hill Music Festival 2 p.m. (Noon on Sat.) Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, cityonthehillmusicfest.com

Aug. 7-9

Live From the Rock Folk Festival Red Rock, Ontario, livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

Rendezvous Days & Powwow Grand Portage, visitcookcounty.com/events

Duluth Trails Fest Spirit Mountain, Duluth, duluthtrailsfest.com

Hadestown: Teen Edition Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Annual Ely Watercross Races Longbranch, Winton, facebook.com/elywatercross

Aug. 7-31

Artist of the Month: Deborah Birkelund (Reception Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche Aug. 8, Saturday

Paju Mountain Run/Walk 8:30 a.m. Red Rock, Ontario, facebook.com/pajumountainrun

Michael “Hoss” Ellchook Teddy Bear Ride 8:30 a.m. OPSEU Region 7 Office Parking Lot, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Tori Finnish Marketplace & Music Festival

10 a.m. Finland Heritage Site, Finland, facebook.com/finlandmnhistoricalsociety

Zulu Challenge 10 a.m. Boulevard Lake, Thunder Bay, zuluchallenge.com

Starbeam Community Craft & Bake Sale 10 a.m. Ely Community Center, ely.org/events

Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community Arts, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com

GES Makerspace 10 a.m.

Great Expectations School, Grand Marais, facebook.com/greatexpectationsschool

Fat Guys Annual Car Show 11 a.m. Fat Guys Auto Parts, Thunder Bay, fatguyscarshow.com

Rocky Wall Benefit House Concert: Erik Koskinen Band 8 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 9, Sunday

Pancake Breakfast 8 a.m.

Finland Heritage Site, Finland, facebook.com/finlandmnhistoricalsociety

As You Like It 2 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Mark Zimmer: Traveling the BWCAW 2 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Aug. 10, Monday

Cup O’Joe Craft Group 10 a.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth GTHS Membership Meeting 1 p.m. Seagull Community Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Abigail Lapell with Faith Russell 7 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/crockstbay

Dark Sky Caravan 7 p.m. Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium, Duluth, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 11, Tuesday

Gunflint Gathering 6 p.m. Poplar Haus, Gunflint Trail, savetheboundarywaters.org

Killswitch Engage 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 12, Wednesday

Trivia Night 6 p.m. Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth, lszoo.org

Pickup Truck Opera: Tales of Hoffmann 7 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, mixedprecipitation.org

Free Outdoor Concert: Molly Dean 7:30 p.m. North House Commons, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 13, Thursday

Birthday Bash! Celebrating 25 Years 4 p.m. Northwoods Partners, Ely, ely.org/events

Duluth Block Party 4:30 p.m.

4325 Grand Avenue, Duluth, lschc.org

Art Night Out: Send Flowers 5:30 p.m.

Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

Music on the Ship: Breanne Marie & The Front Porch Sinners 7 p.m. William A. Irvin, Duluth, decc.org

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 14, Friday

Lighthouse Festival 1 p.m. Terrace Bay, Ontario, visitterracebay.ca

Kraftskiva Potluck 5 p.m. Ely Folk School, Ely, elyfolkschool.org

Pickup Truck Opera: Tales of Hoffmann 6:30 p.m. Hovland Town Hall, mixedprecipitation.org

Dark Sky Caravan 7 p.m. Schapp Community Center, Gunflint Trail, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Free Concert: Turn, Turn, Turn 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 14-15

Heritage Fest Ely, facebook.com/heritagefestpioneermine

Kareem Green 8 p.m. Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Aug. 14-16

Honk! Jr. Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Two Harbors Art Fair 10 a.m. (3 p.m. Fri.) Outside at Earthwood Inn, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsunderthespreading walnuttreeartfestival

Bayfront Blues Festival 11 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bayfrontblues.com Murillo Fair 10 a.m. (5 p.m. Fri.) Murillo Fairgrounds, Ontario, facebook.com/murillofair

Fire! Reflections Dance Company Summer Showcase 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Vermilion Campus, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Aug. 14-Sept. 13

Marcia Roepke Exhibition (Reception Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Aug. 15, Saturday

GGTA North Shore Bike Ride 9 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, ggta.org

Westfort Street Fair 9 a.m. Downtown Westfort Village, Thunder Bay, westfort.ca Meet & Greet with Deborah Marcero: The Great Escape 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Hovland Volunteer Fire Department’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations 1 p.m. Hovland Firehall, Facebook: Hovland Fire Department

Pickup Truck Opera: Tales of Hoffmann 3 p.m. Sweethearts Bluff at Rec Park, Grand Marais, mixedprecipitation.org

Summer Matsuri 4:30 p.m. West Thunder Community Centre, Thunder Bay, Facebook: Lakehead Japanese Cultural Association

Dark Sky Caravan 6:30 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Rocky Wall Benefit House Concert: Turn, Turn, Turn 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 15-16

Excalibur Con Decc, Duluth, excaliburcon.com

Xterra Sleeping Giant Thunder Bay, xterraplanet.com

Nipigon Blueberry Blast Festival Noon, Nipigon, Ontario, facebook.com/nipigonblueberryblast

Aug. 16, Sunday

Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon & 8k 7 a.m. Kakabeka Legion, Kakabeka Falls, runkbfalls.com

Kyle Johnson: Moths 2 p.m. Chik Wauk

Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Pickup Truck Opera: Tales of Hoffmann 3 p.m. Finland Heritage Site, Finland, mixedprecipitation.org

Music in the Park: Michele Miller 3 p.m. Grand Marais Harbor Waterfront, visitcookcounty.com/events

Aug. 19, Wednesday

Kids, Cops, & Cars 11 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, decc.org

Depot at Dusk Concert Series

7 p.m. Two Harbors Depot Museum, lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org

Free Outdoor Concert: Bad Bad Hats 7:30 p.m. North House Commons, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

Aug. 21, Friday

Big Dumb Drawing Workshop 2 p.m.

Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Free Concert: The Scarlet Goodbye 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 21-22

Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival

Barker’s Island, Superior, facebook.com/lakesuperiordragonboats

Flock ArtFest Noon (10 a.m. Sat.) Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, decc.org

Blues in the Ballpark 3:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sat.) Port Arthur Stadium, Thunder Bay, tbca.com

Aug. 21-23

Wawa Salmon Derby Wawa, Ontario, wawasalmonderby.com

Fishing Contest Grand Portage, grandportage.com

Sawtooth Stage Race Cook County, superiorcycling.org

Great North Tattoo Fest 11 a.m. (1 p.m. Fri.) Decc, Duluth, duluthtattoofestival.com

Aug. 22, Saturday

Little Trout Bay Fish Derby 8 a.m. Little Trout Bay Conservation Area, Neebing, lakeheadca.com

GES Makerspace 10 a.m.

Great Expectations School, Grand Marais, facebook.com/greatexpectationsschool

New Exhibit Celebration: Zagaandagaa-

Anishinaabeg 2 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Rocky Wall Benefit House Concert: The Scarlet Goodbye 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Funniest Person in the Twin Ports Contest: Round One 7 p.m. Caddy Shack Indoor Golf & Pub, Duluth, caddyshackduluth.com

Aug. 22-23

Anishinaabe Keeshigun 11 a.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Aug. 23, Sunday

Supporter Appreciation Open House 11 a.m.

Dorthy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Sammi Shimota: Moose 2 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Music in the Park: Jim Miller 3 p.m. Grand Marais Harbor Waterfront, visitcookcounty.com/events

Alabama 7 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

Aug. 24, Monday

Unity in Our Community 4 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, decc.org

ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. McQuade Small Craft Harbor, Duluth, alslib.info

Aug. 26, Wednesday

Northern Lights Foundation Charity Softball Game 5 p.m. Wade Stadium, Duluth, northernlightsfoundation.org

Aug. 27, Thursday

Harbourfest 4 p.m.

Waterfront District BIA, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/waterfrontdistrict.bia

Art Night Out: Ish Meets a Mermaid 5:30 p.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthart.org

Live on the Waterfront Summer SendOff: Summer Soundwave 6 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/live Justin Willman 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Aug. 28, Friday

LLO Science on Deck 11 a.m. Twin Ports Harbor, Duluth, bit.ly/scienceondeck

Full Moon Poetry with Ryan Vine 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Aug. 28-29

The Tribute Fest Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, thetributefest.com

Tumblestone Music & Art Festival Gorham, Ontario, tumblestone.org

WEEKLY EVENTS

Mondays

Free Nature Presentations 1 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Waverley Park Concert Series 6:30 p.m. Waverley Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thecoalitionforwaverleypark

Monday Night Cruise-In 6:30 p.m. Dawson Diner, Thunder Bay, Facebook: Lacc807

Live Music 8 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Tuesdays

Kids Day: Free Admission (Thru Aug. 18) 11 a.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Ely Farmers Market 4 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, Facebook: Ely Farmers Market

Locals Night with Live Music 5 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Free Tai Chi in the Park 7 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, pengyou taiji.ca

Wednesdays

Game Day 1 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Duluth Farmers Market 2 p.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Free Concerts on the Pier 5 p.m. Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, glensheen.d.umn.edu

Live on the Waterfront 6 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/live

Live Music 8 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Thursdays

Free Tai Chi in the Park 7:30 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, pengyou taiji.ca

Sawmill Tours 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Hedstrom Lumber Co., Grand Marais, hedstromlumber.com

Thursday Art Night 3 p.m. Joy & Co., Grand Marais, facebook.com/joyandcompanymn

Grand Marais Farmers Market 4:30 p.m.

Community Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmaraisfarmersmarket

Finland Farmers Market 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandfarmersmarket.com

Beer Garden & Live Music 5 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Date Night with Live Music 6 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Aug. 28-30

Embarrass Region Fair Timber Hall & Fairgrounds, Embarrass, embarrassrfa.org

Aug. 29, Saturday

Paddle the Pads 8 a.m. Chambers Grove, Duluth, tu.myeventscenter.com

Hartley Adventure Challenge 10 a.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, hartleynature.org

Kids Day & Demo Day 10 a.m. HealthSource Chiropractic, Duluth, visitduluth.com/events

Salute to Soldiers 1 p.m. Elite Sports Complex, Duluth, visitduluth.com/events

Aug. 29-30

Model Train Weekend Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/founderspioneervillage Aug. 30, Sunday

Nipigon Market Collective 10 a.m. Nipigon Community Centre, nipigonmarketcollective.ca Care Partners Ice Cream Social Fundraiser 2 p.m. Sydney’s Frozen Custard, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Aug. 31, Monday

St. Joseph’s Golf Classic 9 a.m. Whitewater Golf Club, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Summer in the Parking Lot: Live Music (Thru Aug. 20) The Superior Inn, Thunder Bay, smmds.ca

Open Mic Comedy 7:30 p.m. Campfire Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Fridays

Victory Chorus 10 a.m. Community Partners, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth Guided Nature Hike 1 p.m. Chik Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Live Music: Barbara Jean & Mike Lewis 4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Community Gaming Night 7 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, friendsoffinland.org

Harbor History Walking Tours 7 p.m. History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org Live Music 8 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Free Movies in the Park At Sunset, Leif Erikson Park, Duluth, downtownduluth.com

Renegade Late Night Improv 10 p.m. Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE

Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Duluth Farmers Market 8 a.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Cook County Market 10 a.m. The Hub Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market 10 a.m. Seagren’s Home Hardware, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket

Children’s Story Hour 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Saturday Artist Alleyway Art Market 2 p.m. Lincoln Park Craft District, Duluth, minnesconsingallery.com

What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely, wolf.org

Sundays

Twin Ports Community Market 9 a.m. Barker’s Island, Superior, Facebook: Twin Ports Community Market

Clover Valley Farm Trail Noon, Two Harbors and Duluth, clovervalleyfarmtrail.com

Sundays in the Park Concerts 1:30 p.m. Chippewa Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/chippewa.park

Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

The North Shore Dish A Spicy Lesson in Flavor

By Virginia George

Have you ever opened a jar of horseradish and given it a little sniff, only to find yourself reeling backward with your sinuses on fire? Surely I’m not alone in this experience. And I’ve found myself reenacting the above-described drama even when I know I’m sniffing horseradish. The confidence it takes to think you can get away with just a tiny sniff of a jar of horseradish without setting your sinuses on fire…

Well, I clearly have a thing for horseradish. It has grown on me as an adult, and being the nerdy mom I am—with equally nerdy kids—we’ve spent a fair amount of time talking about why horseradish heat doesn’t hit the same as jalapeño heat. In short, jalapeños and other peppers are spicy because of a compound called capsaicin. Interestingly, this is the same compound found in pepper spray, and it activates our pain receptors. The spice you feel when you bite into a jalapeño is actually pain. Birds, however, aren’t susceptible to this reaction and can eat spicy peppers with no ill effect.

Black pepper gets its kick from piperine, but horseradish has yet another compound that makes it spicy—allyl isothiocyanate. Allyl isothiocyanate is found in a few different cruciferous vegetables, including horseradish, wasabi, mustard, and radishes. Like capsaicin, allyl isothiocyanate reacts with our pain receptors, but it also stimulates the receptors that detect heat. As a result, eating horseradish or wasabi tricks your brain into sensing both heat and pain, and this volatile compound has a greater impact on your sinuses than on the tongue.

You might ask yourself why this is relevant. Well, I’m not sure that it is—unless you’ve ever wondered why different kinds of spicy foods each hit a little differently. Personally, I enjoy various types of spice for flavor, not for the pure “fun” of being in pain. You won’t catch me participating in any spicy chip or nut challenges, but I do enjoy a good horseradish spread or chipotle mayo. Here are a few restaurants that make strategic use of spice in their menus.

Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais

The Gun Flint Tavern makes use of chipotle flavors in many of its dishes. Chipotle peppers are ripe jalapeños that have been smoked until dry, developing a deep, smoky flavor with moderate heat. Chipotle mayo makes a great topping for burgers and sandwiches, like the Cuban sandwich with grilled barbacoa pork, Swiss cheese, pickles,

tomatoes, jalapeño bacon, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a side of guacamole. | GUN FLINT TAVERN

and chipotle mayo on a ciabatta bun. The Southwest burger features mixed cheese blended with sun-dried tomato, jalapeño bacon, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a side of guacamole. Diners can choose from a grass-fed beef burger, chicken breast, or a wild rice bean burger, all served on a brioche bun.

Of course, the Gun Flint Tavern has plenty of non-spicy menu items that are just as flavorful. The Bangers & Mash features kielbasa sausage served with an onion and sauerkraut blend and mashed potatoes. The menu also includes ribs, walleye, soups, and salads.

Gun Flint Tavern has multiple on-site venues operating in different spaces. The Tavern is the main restaurant and offers the broadest hours. The Raven is the cocktail bar, currently open Friday and Saturday evenings, while The Nest is the rooftop bar, featuring live music and extended evening hours. Regardless of the experience you’re looking for, the Gun Flint Tavern is sure to have you covered.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, Thunder Bay

One of the most common uses for horseradish is with prime rib. Because prime rib is rich and hearty, the pungency of horseradish helps balance its flavor. The Keg Steakhouse is known for one of the best prime ribs in Thunder Bay, served with horseradish, red wine herb au jus, frizzled onions, and a choice of potatoes or vegetables. For a lighter option, try the prime rib sliders, which feature freshly shaved prime rib, horseradish Dijon, and red wine herb au jus.

Since opening in 1971, The Keg has focused on hospitality and creating a consistent, upscale dining experience. It prides itself on serving fresh, high-quality steaks, aged for tenderness and grilled to your liking. You can choose from a bacon-wrapped filet mignon, a bone-in rib steak with sautéed mushrooms, or a peppercorn New York. The Keg also serves sirloin and snow crab and sirloin and lobster tail dinners.

If steak isn’t your thing, The Keg offers other options, including mushroom truffle

chicken, served with sautéed cremini and shiitake mushrooms in a truffle cream sauce, or a pistachio salmon, topped with crushed pistachios and maple butter. The restaurant also offers a fixed-price group dining menu to simplify planning, along with a kids’ menu that even includes ice cream.

I find the science and art of cooking so fascinating, whether it’s understanding why different kinds of spice affect us in different ways or why certain ingredients are regularly paired together. Most of the time, those combinations aren’t happenstance but rather thoughtful choices designed to appeal to all the senses—texture, flavor, and aroma all matter.

Whether you’re a fan of spicy foods or not, I hope you’ll take a culinary adventure and discover new flavor combinations. You just might find an unexpected appreciation for those pain receptors in your mouth and sinuses. And if you do, I’m sure the Gun Flint Tavern and The Keg Steakhouse & Bar would love to have you.

Try the Southwest burger at the Gun Flint Tavern in Grand Marais, featuring mixed cheese blended with sun-dried

PREPARED FOR ADVENTURE: Enjoy the Northwoods Safely

Our local parks, trails, and lakes are one of the best parts of life in the Northwoods North Shore Health receives more visits this time of year related to recreation in the Northwoods

Before you head out: Pack electrolytes, plenty of water, and high energy snacks Don’t forget essential medications Plan your route and check park advisories before you go. Remember: temperatures inland can be much warmer than on the lake Be ready for sudden weather changes

A little preparation goes a long way toward a safe and enjoyable adventure Our team is here for you when you need us From your friends at North Shore Health, wishing you a safe and memorable season outdoors

515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-3040 / NorthShoreHealthgm.org COMMUNITY ACCESS TO COMPASSIONATE CARE

Find the complete list of 2026 winners at northernwilds.com/restaurant-awards

In February, voting opened for the 2026 Northern Wilds Readers’ Choice Restaurant Awards, marking the return of the competition after a several-year hiatus. Readers cast their votes across 32 categories, from Best Pizza to Fine Dining, with the winners announced in June. Here are two of the winning restaurants proudly displaying their awards. Keep an eye out for more winner spotlights in the months ahead!

Walking Meditation

By Hartley Newell-Acero

When you think about meditation, what image springs to mind? Is it a person sitting with legs crossed, hands on knees, eyes closed, mind clear, and peaceful? That’s probably the most common portrayal of meditation, but in reality, that’s only one way it can look. In fact, many types of activity can be meditative and provide the same kinds of benefits that stillness can.

Consider walking. In our productivity-based culture, walking is occasionally thought of as a method of transportation and often seen as a physical means to a medical end: increased cardiovascular fitness, lower rates of cancer, decreased blood glucose, etc. It can do all of this and more. But what would happen if, for 15 minutes, we shifted our focus from what we could get out of walking to… just walking?

What we might first find is a little unsettledness. Most of us aren’t used to purposefully slowing our physical or mental pace. We are always on and constantly plugged in. Choosing to detach from busyness, and the tools that support it, can feel unusual. But that’s OK; we’ve all encountered the unusual before. We don’t have to run to it or away from it—we can simply notice it. As our newly untethered thoughts flit around, seeking a comfortable distraction to perch upon, we may feel anxious or bored. That’s OK, too. It doesn’t have to mean anything more than that we’re momentarily anxious or bored.

If we keep going, we may find our focus shifting again, this time to our surroundings. If we’re walking in nature, we may become aware of the sound of the breeze in the trees, the angle of the light, and the temperature of the air on our skin. If we’re walking indoors, perhaps we hear the hum of a fan, traffic, or people talking. Maybe we sense the feeling of our footsteps as they contact the floor. But wherever we are, by walking with this attention, we are now more fully “there.”

Our physical movements can generate an awareness of the bodily sensations that come with being active. How do our muscles feel when they contract and relax? Perhaps we consciously choose to change our breathing, easing it into becoming a little slower and deeper. Or maybe we don’t change it and simply pay attention to how many steps it takes for our lungs to fill with air and how many it takes for them to empty. What does it feel like to breathe this way? What about our heartbeat? How is it responding to our gentle movement and more relaxed breathing?

It can be helpful to provide ourselves with some kind of internal

metronome. This provides a rhythm for our minds and bodies to sync with. This rhythm can come from counting our steps or breaths, coordinating the two, repeating a sentence or affirmation that’s comforting, or reciting a peaceful poem or song.

Thich Nhat Hanh, revered Zen teacher and poet, suggested that on the inhale we can say, “I have arrived,” and on the exhale, “I am home.” For him, “home” referred to being at home in the present moment, where we can be aware of the wonders of our lives and grateful for this beautiful planet where we live. What sentences, affirmations, poems, or lyrics would feel supportive to you?

This type of walking isn’t designed to get us from Point A to Point B; it’s a slower, intentional type of wandering. We may find our minds wandering, too. The white-water churn of our ob-

ligations and overwhelm might be tumultuous at first, but if we allow that to run itself out, we’ll often find that our thoughts slow down and start to meander, too. This can be a delightful space of unexpected connections and surprising insights. It can also be a place where worries suddenly appear. That’s understandable—sometimes they are reflexively pulled into the vacuum of quiet. But we don’t have to hold on to them just because they’ve shown up. There can be benefits in choosing to set them aside, all the while knowing that we can always pick them back up later—or not, whichever we choose.

Walking meditation creates an opportunity for our minds and bodies to reconnect. When this happens, we can sense more fully, think more clearly, appreciate more deeply, and feel greater connection to, and compassion for, ourselves and others.

Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery

Artist of the Month: Sue Rauchenfels “Borderlands” Featuring Betsy Bowen, Jeanne Hedstrom, Stephan Hoglund, and Heidi Sobonja, thru 8/9

Painting Pictures with Words, Telling Stories with Paint Featuring Marcia Roepke 8/14-9/13

Northern Trails

The Switch to Hunting Season

By Gord Ellis

People sometimes ask me whether I prefer to hunt or fish. This is a nearly impossible question to answer. There are so many aspects of both pursuits that are wonderful and satisfying. Yet, if forced to choose, I’d likely go with angling. Everything about it, from the wide choice of rods and reels, to the endless lures and flies, fascinates me. Then there are the various types of fish and all the cool places they live. Fishing is the thing that fires me up most of the year.

However, as the days get cooler and the nights grow longer, I feel a gradual shift begin to occur. My mind slowly turns to hunting.

That doesn’t mean the angling completely stops in the fall. Quite the contrary. There is great fishing for walleye in September and October, and who doesn’t appreciate empty boat launches and boat-free lakes? Also, trolling for fall muskie is about as close to hunting as you can get with a rod and reel. There is something primal about catching a giant muskellunge that has crushed a 10- or 12-inch lure.

However, hunting speaks to this writer in a different way than angling. It’s hard to describe or put into words. Basically, some primeval clock goes off and tells my brain that “it’s time to gather food.” I can no more ignore the call to hunt than I can ignore the need for supper. Hunting and survival are absolutely tied together in basic human wiring. Not everyone has the same wiring, that is for sure. But this is how I am wired.

As summer wanes, I begin thinking about things to do in preparation for the hunt. For instance, a lot of time and brainpower goes into stand placement. Although I often put trail cameras up in the spring, they don’t get many visits during the summer. I am usually too busy guiding or travelling. It can be several weeks between checkups. Yet, as September gets closer, checking the trail cameras begins in earnest. Monitoring bear, deer, and moose movements becomes a daily obsession.

Modern trail cameras can send images right to your cellphone, which often leads to some serious tech neck as dozens of pictures are scanned. The first image received of a big buck or bull—often with velvet still on its rack—is usually reason for celebration. The bucks that are clearly regulars gain nicknames. Over the years, “Twin Towers,” “Double Drop Tine,” and “Daggers” have been mega-sized bucks that kept me up at night. As much fun as it is to look at trail camera pictures, my very favourite thing is blind and stand preparation.

Scouting for a hunting spot is both exhil-

arating and challenging. You look for sign, seek out game trails, and watch for fresh tracks. Once you find a place for a blind or tree stand, you often need to clear brush and twigs for shooting lanes and general visibility. Although this can be a tedious job, it’s exciting to envision a huge buck or bull making its way through a newly cut opening. Ground blinds are camouflaged with grass and twigs so they blend into the woods. I generally try to put them up early enough in the fall that the animals accept them as part of the forest furniture.

Perhaps the most critical part of early-season hunting preparation is practice shooting. Many people leave target shooting and sighting until very late in the game. I’ve been guilty of this as well. It needs to happen well before any hunt begins.

Archery moose, bear, and deer hunts generally start first. Shooting any bow, whether it be compound, traditional, or crossbow, requires a lot of practice. It’s critical to put the arrow exactly where you want it every time. Making a clean kill with an arrow generally requires a lung or heart shot. This is doable as long as you practice it often. The best archers I know shoot nearly year-round.

Small game and waterfowl seasons begin in early to mid-September. This is when the shotguns come out. By early October, most of the long-gun seasons for large game are underway. Once again, shooting your rifle or shotgun is one of the very best ways to

help ensure a successful and ethical hunt. Not shooting could mean missing the moose, deer, or bear of a lifetime, which is a very upsetting experience. Practice and proficiency with your firearm will go a long way. Being confident in your shooting also helps your mental space in the field.

When the harvest has happened, whether it be a ruffed grouse or a bull moose, I’d encourage you to think about the moment. Hunting is something humans have been doing for eons. When a moose falls in 2026, there is a direct line back to our ancestors. The tools may be different now, but tak-

ing an animal’s life so we can live has not changed. Take a moment to honour the animal and experience the moment.

Hunting is a rite of passage before the snow and cold come. I’ve also come to really appreciate the work involved in handling and butchering a moose or deer. Gathering meat is the reason 99% of humans hunt. There really is something about harvesting a large animal that creates a bond with both your fellow hunters and the natural world.

Fall is in the air. It’s just about hunting time in the northwest woods.

This photo captures a successful moose hunt. | GORD ELLIS

Preparing a stand or watch is a key part of a successful hunt. | GORD ELLIS

NORTHERN SKY

AUGUST

2026 By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

This year, August serves a smorgas bord of celestial delights in both the morning and evening skies.

In the west, Venus is still bright, though steadily sinking into the sun set. On the 16th, its beauty will be enhanced by a young crescent moon shining next to it.

During the first half of the month, the Andromeda Galaxy—the Milky Way’s closest large neighbor galaxy— will be near the northeastern horizon at nightfall and perhaps easier to find than when it’s high in the sky. Look for a faint smear of light to the lower right of the W shaped constellation Cassio peia and to the left of the Great Square of Pegasus, which will also be near the horizon. Binoculars will help. The An dromeda Galaxy is approximately 2.5 million light years away and belongs to the constellation of the same name.

In the morning sky, the iconic winter constellations are sweeping westward

past Mars. The red planet begins the month between Orion and the brilliant star Capella, in Auriga, the charioteer, and ends it near the Gemini twin stars, Castor and Pollux. A waning moon joins Mars on the 9th. On the 10th, the moon forms a nearly isosceles tri angle with Castor and Pollux.

This year no moon will interfere with the annual Perseid meteor show er, which should peak in the predawn hours of the 13th. Perseid meteors are fast, often colorful and known for leaving persistent trails.

On the night of the 27th to 28th, the full moon glides through Earth’s um bra, or dark inner shadow, in a deep lunar eclipse. The moon makes first contact with the umbra at 9:34 p.m. on the 27th; reaches maximum eclipse at 11:13 p.m., when about 94% of the moon will be engulfed in the umbra; and ends with the moon’s exit from the umbra at 12:52 a.m. on the 28th.

The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. For more information on Duluth, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: If you’re looking for a real adventure, try fishing Siskiwit Lake on Isle Royale. The lake won’t be easy to get to, but you’ll likely have it all to yourself. Even if you get skunked, it will be a memorable adventure.

ACCESS: To fish Siskiwit Lake, you have to get to Isle Royale. You can do that with a private boat or via the Voyageur II ferry out of Grand Portage. For an added fee, you can transport a canoe on the ferry. Whether you take the ferry or a private boat, go to Malone Bay, where a dock awaits. From there, it’s a 0.3-mile portage to Siskiwit Lake over the Ishpeming Trail. There’s a campground at Malone Bay, with five lean-to shelters avail able on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also two reservable group campsites. You’ll need a $7 National Park permit for each day in the park.

VITALS: Siskiwit Lake is the largest lake within Isle Royale, at 4,150 acres, with a maximum depth of 142 feet. The lake is cold, deep, and clear, with water clari ty of 30 feet or more. At 7 miles in length, it has a reputation for getting rough in a hurry on windy days. No fishing li cense is required to fish the inland lakes of Isle

Royale, but no motors are allowed, and only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Fishing information is limited, so here

SISKIWIT LAKE

waters around the island. Fishing for brookies is strictly catch-and-release, with the season running from the last Saturday in April

NORTHERN PIKE: Northern pike season runs from May 15 to Oct. 31. There’s no minimum size limit, but pike over 30 inches can’t be kept. The daily limit is two pike.

YELLOW PERCH: Perch are present here in some of the shallow bays. The season runs from April 16 to Oct. 31. There’s no size limit on perch. The limit is 25 fish.

CISCO: Ciscoes are present in Siskiwit Lake, but fishing for them is strictly catch-and-release. The season runs from April 16 through Oct. 31. There’s no size limit on cisco. View

Hole Maps at:

Bine Doodem Totem Bird Clan Totem

By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman

I spend a lot of time outside babaamose (walking) among the trees, listening to bineshiinyag (birds) sing to each other. One of my favorite activities during the aabawaa (warm weather) months is to lie in the mashkosiwan (grass), eyes closed, feeling the biidaanimad (wind blow) as it carries the notes of birdsong.

This earlier piece of mine was inspired by birds singing to one another and was the first to feature the beginnings of my style working with beading patterns.

While I am ajijaak doodem (crane clan), I love all of my bird relatives. I wanted to design a piece inspired by the form of the Northwest Coast totem poles while featuring some of my favorite bird relatives of the North Shore. This piece features the maang (loon) as the base of the pole, followed by the ajijaak (crane), then the gaagaagii (raven), with the gookooko’oo (owl’s) outstretched wings spanning the top, and then crowned by the powerful migizi (eagle). I chose not to include a giizhig (sky) or aki (land) background, as I wanted the viewer to focus entirely on the birds represented.

Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.

Following the Fish

A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore

By Michael Risku

Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026, $34.95

Following the Fish explores the history of commercial fishing along Minnesota’s North Shore, from Indigenous fishers and the fur trade to the rise and decline of the region’s fishing industry. Along with well researched stories of the people and communities who depended on Lake Superior, the book features historic photo graphs, maps, and graphics that bring the past to life. It’s a great read for anyone interested in North Shore history, Lake Superior, or life on the water.— Breana Johnson

Pearl’s Garden

By Carolyn Olson

Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026, $18.95

A young girl’s determination to grow an urban backyard vegetable garden blossoms into a heartwarm ing story about family, perseverance, and sharing. In ers follow Pearl as she nurtures her plants through summer, inspiring those around her to lend a hand and enjoy the harvest together. Warm, colorful illustrations complement the story’s message, making it a delightful read for children of all ages.—

Remember the Main

The Gay Bar That Started a Movement in the Northland

By Meg Gorzycki

Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026, $29.95

A gay bar in Superior became far more than a place to gather—it grew into a lifeline for the LGBTQ community in the Twin Ports during a pivotal period in history. Opened by Bob Jansen in 1983, the Main Club became a hub for activ ism, support, and belonging during a transfor mative era for LGBTQ rights. Remember the Main weaves together oral history, biography, and social critique into a compelling account of the people who built that community. It’s an engaging read for anyone interested in LGBTQ history in the Northland.— Breana Johnson

Strange Tales

The 1907 Canadian Invasion of Isle Royale

By Elle AndraWarner

News that Isle Royale on Lake Superior had been “seized” by Canadians made headlines across the United States in August 1907.

The Chicago Tribune proclaimed, “Gasoline Launch Seizes U.S. Isle: Canadian Officer Leads Band of Patriots on Voyage of Conquest,” while the New York Times headline read, “British Flag Up on U.S. Island: Captain Young Raises It Over Isle Royale...” Some media saw it differently, including Idaho’s Lewiston Evening Teller, which reported “Mere School Boys Trick.” Rhode Island’s The Morning Tribune wrote “Isle Royale Invasion a Joke,” and U.S. Customs officers offered entertainment to the Canadians. The Evening Star of Washington, D.C., wrote the invasion was “nothing more than a canark” by “some young Canadians who went over to the islands in a new launch flying the Union Jack.”

Although the island, known as Minong, is the ancestral land of the Grand Portage Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe), various countries claimed Isle Royale at different times over the years. Back in 1671, France named the island in honour of King Louis XIV. After 1763, it became British territory until Benjamin Franklin secured it for the U.S. in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and established the United States as an independent nation. In 1842, the Ojibwa formerly ceded Isle Royale to the U.S. government, and on April 3, 1940, Isle Royale National Park was established.

Although Isle Royale is part of the state of Michigan, it’s closer to the shores of Ontario and Minnesota (15-20 miles/24-32 km) than to Michigan, which is 56 miles (90 km) away. From a geographical perspective, the 45-mile-long (72 km) island looks like it should belong to Canada. Even today, Canadians still remark that Isle Royale should be Canadian, not American. But other than a quiet grumble, Canadians haven’t taken any action to right this supposed wrong— except in 1907.

That’s when a small group of Canadian friends, led by Captain Samuel Crawford Young (1865-1936) of the 96th Lake Superior Regiment, left in a naphtha launch, crossed Lake Superior from what is now Thunder Bay to the northeastern part of Isle Royale, planted a British Union Jack flag, and claimed the island for Canada, despite having no actual government authority to do so.

some media portrayed. Rather, he was a prominent 42-year-old businessman in Fort William (now part of the city of Thunder Bay); a successful insurance and real estate titan; an avid city promoter; an advocate for tourism and immigration; and an optimist known as a “man of both ideas and actions.”

Was Young’s run to Isle Royale taken seriously? Not really. On Aug. 6, the New York Times reported, “No further attention will be paid by the State Department to opéra bouffe [19 th-century French term for satirical comic opera] efforts… to involve this country in a diplomatic controversy with Canada.” The Chicago Tribune’s front page declared, “Isle Royale Not Seized: Old Glory Still Waves,” noting the Canadian “filibusters” had given up. No charges were laid, and while some applauded Young, others laughed at the fiasco, suggesting he and his group had been “in the cups” (drinking).

it’s sheer speculation to suggest a connection between real estate titan Young and the British company that owned most of Isle Royale, but it adds an intriguing twist to an already fascinating footnote in the island’s history.

About 18 months after the “invasion,” the New York Times reported on March 9, 1909, that “Isle Royale in Lake Superior has just been purchased by American interests from an English syndicate... The largest island in fresh water in the world has reverted to American ownership through the diplomacy of business and without probably the knowledge of Washington.” The paper noted that Isle Royale Land Corporation had owned almost the entire island, with two small exceptions. The attorney for the new owner, United States Steel Corporation, was Duluth’s Oscar Larson, who went on to become America’s first Finnish-born congressman.

Young later told reporters he did it for the “purpose of opening correspondence between Ottawa and Washington,” which he felt would demonstrate the “great injustice to Canada by the agreement that gave Isle Royale to United States.” He argued the island was north of the 49 th parallel—the international boundary—and therefore rightfully belonged to Canada.

But who was Captain Samuel C. Young? Well, he certainly wasn’t the “school boy”

Perhaps it is a coincidence that when Young planted the British flag on Isle Royale in 1907, most of the island was owned by a British company, Isle Royale Land Corporation (IRLC). The company had carried out mineral exploration, established a mining community, and unsuccessfully tried to operate a mining subsidiary, the Wendigo Copper Company. In 1892, Wendigo ceased mining, and IRLC began selling its land for recreation and tourism. Perhaps

As for Captain Young, he served as a three-term mayor of Fort William beginning in 1911, became his regiment’s lieutenant colonel, and served overseas in France during the First World War. Later, he returned to his real estate career and, in 1934, was appointed city police magistrate. He died in Fort William in 1936 at age 70.

Today, Isle Royale National Park is part of Michigan, even though it’s closer to the shores of Ontario and Minnesota.

| NELSON DECKER

Later in life, Captain Samuel C. Young served three terms as mayor of Fort William, beginning in 1911.

| PUBLIC DOMAIN

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Custom 3BR/3BA log home with unmatched scenery on a private, wooded 2+ acres and 202’ of coveted Lake Superior shoreline.

MLS 6125851 • $1,295,000

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128 Wesley Ln

41 S Bearskin Road

185 Sag Lake Trail

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Beautiful 3+bedroom, 3-bath home on 5 private acres with open living spaces, finished lower level, and heated outbuilding with studio, bath, workshop, or guest quarters.

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Peaceful North Shore living on nearly 10 acres with Lake Superior views, gardens, adjacent public land, and quick access to Grand Marais.

Enjoy Lake Superior views from this renovated 2BR/1BA home near downtown Grand Marais, featuring a new deck, roomy garage, and storage shed.

3BR/3BA home on 8 acres just a minute from town yet has an abundance of privacy! Black topped driveway, 3 car heated garage, and a beautiful landscaped yard.

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1BR/1BA West Bearskin Lake cabin with woodstove, expansive deck, big views, excellent fishing, BWCA access, nearby boat launch, and easy dock storage.

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Bluefin Bay – Unit 30

45 S Bearskin Lk Rd Greenwood Lk Isl new 14 W 4th Ave

home site for this outstanding lot on the 5th fairway of the River Nine at Superior National. This vacant parcel is naturally oriented to capture outstanding views while the Sawtooth Mountains serve as your backdrop.

This beautiful Lutsen home is neatly tucked on a private and peaceful nearly five acre estate with seasonal views of Lake Superior yet is convenient to “all things Lutsen and Cook County” This 4 bedroom 3 bath and attached 2 car garage with a work area is move in ready for full-time living or or continued vacation rental.

NEW! GUNFLINT LAKE CABIN

Custom-built 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom cabin on Gunflint Lake carries a long history. Part of the original 1920s cabin still exists in the bedroom walls, and the antique fireplace remains. Custom stairs, thoughtful details, and plenty of natural light give the interior character. Updated kitchen has granite counters, ready for meals after a day on the water. More than 300ft of shoreline provides easy access to the lake. A grandfathered boathouse sits as close to the lake as you can get. Direct access to the BWCAW through Magnetic and North Lake.

MLS#6126835 $650,000

Red Pine Realty

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This well maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath home sits on 17+ acres overlooking Lake Superior! Home features a wood burning fireplace, open concept kitchen with ample storage, laundry room with utility sink that doubles as a mud room. A 4-season porch where you might find yourself sipping a hot beverage and watching the seasons change. 2-stall garage has an attached studio.

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NEW! BIRCH DRIVE HOME

Just 10 minutes from Grand Marais, this 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home blends thoughtful craftsmanship with the kind of breathing space that’s hard to come by. Built by a respected local contractor, the residence spreads across 3,024 sqft of comfortable, well-planned living on 5.3 acres. Custom kitchen features granite countertops and quality details. A large stone fireplace radiates warmth and character.

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NEW! WOODSY

PRIVACY

– LINDAL CEDAR HOME IN GRAND MARAIS

Curb appeal draws you in to this lovely landscaped property. Warmth and charm flow from the cedar beamed ceilings and paneling. Heated tile floors, stone fireplace, huge windows, 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, "chefs kitchen" with quartz countertops and new appliances. Office with fireplace and walk-out to the deck. Main floor master suite, walk-in closet and bath. Upper bedroom suite, new bath. Lower level has full 1 bedroom apartment with kitchenette. Entire property has had major updates and upgrades and feels like new.

MLS#6126791 $1,279,000

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NEW! 120 ACRES ON CASPERS HILL

Adjacent to Superior National Forest on the West and Judge Magney State Park on the East. 120 acre blocks of land are hard to come by! This one has a view of Lake Superior from the high point on the west side. There is an Artesian well on the western 40 acre parcel. Lots of space to dream and build!

MLS#6126716 $300,000

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NEW! GRAND MARAIS HOME

Unique opportunity in the heart of Grand Marais - this home can be used as a roomy single family home, shared living or a duplex! Main level features a kitchen with space to entertain and a main floor bedroom suite with the walkout level offering the possibility of shared space or a separate rental unit. Two car garage and 3 off street parking spots, plus a beautiful yard with a creek!

MLS#6126129 $500,000

NEW! HOVLAND CABIN

Turn-key and off-grid, this comfortable retreat is ready for your next adventure. Designed for convenience, it’s an ideal base camp for hunting, snowmobiling, ATV riding, hiking, or simply escaping to the outdoors. Perfect for families, friends, or larger groups seeking year-round recreations. Motivated sellers invite you to make it yours.

NEW! PREPPED HARE LAKE LOT

Imagine waking to the quiet lap of water against 400+ feet of Hare Lake shoreline. This 11.5 acre lot sits at the end of the road, surrounded by USFS lands. Groundwork has been done with a building pad, driveway, dock, outhouse, and shed already in place. Power and cell service reach the property, and a road association maintains access year-round.

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NEW! 40 ACRES ON CASCADE RIVER

Experience 40 acres of North Shore wilderness with 650 feet of Cascade River frontage. Mature birch, red pine, and spruce surround potential building sites, while the river divides the accessible and untouched landscapes. HOA access includes a private trail to a secluded waterfall and swimming hole. Nature thrives here.

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DEVIL TRACK LAKE CABIN

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M-F 9AM-5PM, SAT 10AM-4PM

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DEERYARD LAKE COTTAGE

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Timber framed camping cabin on 22 acres deep in the woods. Deeded access to Lost Lake. One room structure with plenty of space to set up areas for sleeping, cooking and relaxing. LP gas fireplace. Current owner has outfitted the cabin with generator, propane and battery powered conveniences. Carry-in water, carry-out waste. Life is simple here.

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TOM LAKE CABIN

About as close as you can get to the lake without getting your feet wet! Cabin has been completely rebuilt in the last few years including a new family room addition. Other major improvements include rebuilding the foundation, adding a lake draw water system, new septic service, new roof, kitchen, windows and flooring throughout the home. Enjoy year-round relaxation and views from the 4-season porch. The shoreline faces northwest - perfect for summer sunsets!

MLS#6125530 $349,900

COZY LOG CABIN ON 83 ACRES

Well-loved kit log cabin on 83 secluded acres bordering Minnesota State land. Catch glimpses of Lake Superior, hunt grouse, and unwind beside the fire in this cozy off-grid retreat. Diamond willow railings, custom ironwork, and propane amenities create a comfortable, one-of-a-kind Northwoods getaway surrounded by nature.

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NORTHWOODS RETREAT HOME

Escape to your own private Northwoods retreat where privacy and convenience are everything! A short drive from Grand Marais along Lake Superior and you’ll arrive at this well thought out 3-bedroom, 3-bath, custom-built home on 10 acres. Property features A/C, dual fuel heat system, basement storage, attached heated garage, detached heated garage and apartment with a garage.

MLS#6125472 $689,000

FINLAND ACRES & CABIN

6.74 acres just a couple miles from Hwy 61, an opportunity to create your own retreat near Lake Superior. Property features a partially completed 13' x 12' cabin and a shed, giving you a head start to finish the space and expand over time. Power and a drilled well are in place. A driveway is established with private gated entry. Property sits off a maintained road for year-round use.

MLS#6124627 $153,900

REMOTE CABIN ON 40 ACRES

Get away from it all and experience the adventure of remote living while still having some of the comforts of home. Enjoy the panoramic view from one of the highest points in the area. Almost 40 acres of your own to explore with a secret lake full of brook trout about a 1/4 mile away. Simple one room living means more time to relax and enjoy this beautiful area!

MLS#6125529 $140,000

RUSTIC CABIN WITH ACREAGE

Outdoor paradise on 19.62 acres! Rustic cabin about 100 feet from Judge Magney State Park. Great hunting retreat or dog sled adventure stop. ATV or snowmobile access currently, with legal access in placeto build a driveway. Electricity/broadband coming to the road this year!

MLS#6124300 $95,000

LAKE SUPERIOR SERENITY HOME

Experience the pinnacle of North Shore living with this spectacular 3-bedroom, 4 bath home. Tucked away on a 13.59 acre lot, this property offers privacy, breathtaking views and 400ft of Lake Superior frontage. The main home is designed for comfort with a beautiful stone fireplace, open concept floorplan bathed in natural light, and perfect for entertaining. Fully equipped apartment located above the detached garage.

MLS#6125026 $2,300,000

Red Pine Realty is proud to collaborate with the North Shore Artists League to bring professional regional work into the heart of Grand Marais. Throughout the year, on a rotating basis, the work of a local artist will be on display in our offices. The display is meant to be self guided. Visit us Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM to view the artwork and enjoy a tea, coffee or water. This month’s featured artist is Kris Kieper.

DREAMING OF LAKE SUPERIOR?

NEW! MIND BLOWING LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTY! A Must See to believe how THIS is the COMPLETE Lake Superior package. Lots of Elbow Room to Accommodate the Incredibly Thoughtfully Designed home. It’s Difficult to determine which part of the package is better…the 720’ ft of shoreline? And not ordinary shoreline, this is quintessential Lake Superior ledgerock SPRAWLING shoreline. Dip your toes, launch your kayaks, Sprawling shoreline! Or is it the Home? Focused on a small island to take in the Lake Superior Waves crashing…no TV needed here, the Views will captivate you! The home has too many windows for Artwork! But you’ll appreciate the art of the Fixtures and design throughout the home. All the bells and whistles, don’t miss out on this 4 bedrm, 3 bath home on 16 acres AND 720 ft of shoreline.

MLS#6126382 $3,800,000

NEW! CHATEAU LEVEAUX CONDO ON LAKE SUPERIOR!

Completely remodeled 2-bedroom condo, with sweeping views of Lake Superior! Sit on the Balcony with your coffee and enjoy the sounds of the lake or walk down on the shared shoreline and dip your toes in the water. Enjoy all the North Shore has to offer from your own oasis, with the Gitchee Gumee Bike trail close by and multiple Hiking Trails. Or enjoy the indoor pool and sauna while the gales of November happen outdoors. Chateau has you covered for all the seasons. You can even use as a short-term rental when you are not using it! MLS#6126849 $382,000

Enjoy the warm sunny Days on the North Shore, Fall colors will be here soon! FIND THOSE NEW

SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN

MEETS LAKE SUPERIOR! Stunning

Scandinavian-design North Shore home with expansive Lake Superior water views. Renowned builder Clarence Kemp designed and built the modern addition to the home which combines a modern Scandinavian design with a classic Northwoods cabin and includes two bedrooms, three baths, and a couple kitchens creating ample space for friends and family. Most importantly the home has beautiful panoramic views of Lake Superior with 212ft of shoreline and 7+ acres to wander on! Enjoy the sauna to soothe those sore muscles after spending the day outdoors, or sit in the 4-season porch with a good book. Outside is a simple garage with a bunkroom awaiting your vision. The forest all around is classic Northwoods with wildlife and much to see and explore. Visit today and start enjoying your own adventures along the Big Lake! MLS#6125015 $1,099,000 PRICE REDUCED!

LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO AT BLUEFIN BAY IN TOFTE! This is a rare chance to own one of Bluefin Bay’s beautiful 3-bedroom condos in Tofte, closer to Lake Superior than any other lodging on the North Shore! The unit sits conveniently near the resort restaurant and right across from the indoor pool, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. Enjoy your time on the North Shore in your own condo curled up next to the gas fireplace with a book while listening to the waves hit the shore, and while you are gone let it offset ownership costs with its strong rental history managed by an onsite professional company. Whether you’re playing tennis in the summer, skating on the rink in winter, exploring Tofte Park, or simply strolling the shoreline with no plans at all, this condo puts the very best of the North Shore right at your doorstep. MLS#6124171 $548,800 PRICE REDUCED!

ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE ON THE BAPTISM RIVER IN FINLAND! A few miles outside of Finland Minnesota, 1225 ft of frontage on the West Baptism River flows happily and peacefully through 13+ acres of iconic Northwoods Real Estate with two classic cabins. The main cabin is a log home expertly built and lovingly maintained. The guest cabin is a charming hybrid of log and stick frame building spacious enough to hold a whole crew. Best part is each is year round with two bedrooms and full baths. Lots of room here, paths to walk on your own land, snowshoe, ski. Life flows like the river, effortlessly and pristine. Visit now and enjoy life on the river. MLS# 6124974 $650,000

NEW! LUTSEN TAIT LAKE HAND CRAFTED LOG HOME! Lovingly maintained Senty log home awaits the next owner to love it up! From the Kitchen and Dining Area with log beamed ceilings to the family room with its vaulted ceilings and a striking stone fireplace, this home makes main level living easy! A walk out deck from the family room and dining area makes a good transition for outdoor grilling and lake fun! And this time of year, you will treasure the three-season porch overlooking the lake! Year-round crib dock completes the lakeshore. What more could you want in your dream lake home? Peace and Quiet, and you will get it here because the Tait Lake Association does not allow vacation rentals! This is a mustsee dream lake home in Lutsen!

MLS#6126373

$750,000

NEW! NORTH SHORE ONE OF A KIND! SECLUDED ALPINE CHALET CABIN OVERLOOKING THE BAPTISM RIVER! Enjoy the views of two 90 degree turns in the river from the deck, perfect place to relax. This rustic cabin is ready for your adventures, with 1 bedroom in the loft. The studio building is great for all your creative needs or create a bunkhouse with some updates. Sitting on 2.6 acres with 670ft of shoreline on the River with Tettegouche State Park across the river, you have plenty of room to explore. MLS#TBD $375,000

sprawling deck. The bunkhouse/sauna is located across the deck to accommodate guests or kids. A modern, tidy outhouse. Solar system & generator shed, or wait for the power/fiber schedule for install late this year! MLS#6125581 $329,000 PRICE REDUCED!

NEWER CONSTRUCTION, LOW MAINTENANCE LIVING WITH WATER ACCESS TO TAIT LAKE! Plenty of Elbow Room on this 6 plus acres of hilly terrain and access to Tait Lake via the Association owned canoe and boat launch! This home was recently built with efficient footprint, low maintenance and Lots of Fun in mind. Oh yes, and Viewing the Auroa Borealis is top of the list! A huge wall of windows allows viewing from inside or out! Main level primary en suite, upstairs loft overflow, and a gorgeous Great room with fireplace, open concept to a beautiful and functional kitchen with island! MLS#6126241 $475,000 NEW PRICE! SALE PENDING NEW! REVEL IN THE SOUNDS OF THE BAPTISM RIVER IN FINLAND! MLS#6126297 $290,000

SCHROEDER AREA

CREATE YOUR OWN BASECAMP FOR ALL YOUR ADVENTURES ON THIS 2+ ACRE PARCEL IN SCHROEDER! Room for you to build your dream getaway or just home base for your fishing and hiking trips. Great location close to many inland lakes, hiking trails and snowmobile trails!

MLS#6125444 $84,500 PRICE REDUCED!

TOFTE AREA

EXPERIENCE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME ON THIS PRIME, READ-TO-BUILD LOT IN TOFTE! Ideally situated in one of Minnesota’s most scenic locations on the North Shore, this 2.28 acre property offers potential for Lake Superior views, particularly from a second-story vantage point. Nice and level building site is started, and year-round access with the Association plowing the main road. Fiber and Electric are located just across the road. With this accessible terrain, you can move forward confidently and turn your vision into a reality!

MLS#6125078 $89,000

WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE GETAWAY ON THE NORTH SHORE IN TOFTE! You have plenty of space to build your dream cabin or yearround home on this 2+ acre lot. Views of Lake Superior. Located right in the middle of Tofte, you have access to bike trails and snowmobile trails and tons of inland lakes! Visit today and start your next adventure! MLS# 6121512 $119,000 PRICE REDUCED!

LUTSEN AREA

SUPERIOR NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

BUILD SITE! At dusk and the offseason, the golf course is a hiker’s paradise or tune up the XC skis & snowshoes! Coast downhill to the Gitchi Gami bike trail and up the road is the Superior Hiking Trail! Oh yes, and it’s ON the golf course! Perfect Lutsen spot to build your dream home!

MLS#6125494 $189,900

ACREAGE OVERLOOKING CLARA LAKE IN LUTSEN WITH A THREE CAR GARAGE AND BUILDING SITE CLEARED FOR YOUR DREAM HOME!

MLS#6125603 $195,000

GRAND MARAIS AREA

GRAND MARAIS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS! Three new parcels of land ranging from $65,000 up to $265,000 with an existing workshop building! Another parcel is perfect for a Courtyard Development! Call today for additional information! MLS#6126025, 6126026 & 6126027

RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME ON 120 ACRES OF MANICURED FOREST LANDS AND EXPANSIVE LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS! There’s a rough road accessing the property from Bally Creek Rd, just ten minutes west of downtown Grand Marais! Views from the TOP of Murphy Mountain are astounding, not only overlooking Lake Superior, but looking toward the North as well! Gate on property, shown by appointment only. MLS#6122477 $1,200,000

VACANT LAKESHORE PARCELS!

NEARLY 1500FT OF LAKESHORE ON DEVILFISH LAKE AND WILDERNESS

POND! With these 67 acres of land comes a sweet pond and wetland area for fantastic wildlife viewing!. Go out and enjoy this boreal forest and lakeshore wilderness!

MLS#6122626

$550,000

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED ON DEVILFISH LAKE!

69 acres and 2360 feet of shoreline! Enjoy two islands on as part of this lakeshore parcel! Large enough to build on if you are so inclined, or just paddle the short distance from the mainland build sites to enjoy an island picnic! Come experience the Wilderness on Devilfish Lake!!

MLS#6122624

$600,000

3800+ FEET OF PRIME LAKESHORE ON DEVILFISH LAKE, INCLUDING ISLANDS!

A Rare Opportunity to own MOST of the private land on Devilfish Lake, located up the Arrowhead Trail. This is a fabulous opportunity to own 135+ acres with of prime shoreline on Devilfish Lake! What more could you ask for in your Wilderness Lakeshore Retreat!

MLS#6122627

$950,000

1339 Tom Lake Rd., Hovland

So much more than a Northwoods lake home!

$750,000

12.27 wooded acres with the utmost in privacy, 400’ of lakefront on quiet and secluded Tom Lake. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath main home is filled with tasteful and intentional touches throughout. From the custom diamond willow railings, the custom kitchen and bathroom designs and a layout that creates togetherness yet still has breakaway space to read, work, relax. Grill out on the wraparound deck or sit out there and watch the stars and northern lights! The greenhouse, which doubles as a serene spa with its wood-heated hot tub, allows one to get a jump on our already-too-short of a garden season and is a fun space to hang out and have a soak. The detached guest cabin consists of 1 bedroom and a ¾ bath, a nice large deck, plus a quaint sitting room/sunroom. It’s got some of the best lake views on the property, too! Both homes share a septic system and have electric and wi-fi as well, making hosting (and/ or renting?) extremely convenient. If you need storage, a place for those toys and extra space to park inside and out of the elements, you’ll certainly appreciate the 36x52 insulated, in-floor heated garage powered by a wood boiler. Additionally, the 40x48 pole barn that fits the pontoon, boats, kayaks/canoes, ATVs...you name it!

MLS 6125998

991 Ward Lake Rd., Lutsen $229,900

Lovely off-grid high-functioning cabin w & bunkhouse, magical forest w/ mature cedar groves, 300’ along Murmur Creek & 20 acres of peace & solitude . Lofted bedroom, composting toilet, kitchen space, wood burning stove + more! It’s the sweet little cabin in the woods.

MLS 6125663

P.O. Box 397 Grand Marais, MN 55604

1008 2nd St. N. Stillwater, MN 55082

songbirdrealtymn@gmail.com songbirdrealtymn.com 218-370-8313

71 Benedict Lane, Lutsen $1,100,000

Beyond unique, completely incomparable, this one-of-a-kind log home was skillfully crafted using 200+ year old giant MN native white cedar logs. With 7.11 acres & over 500’ of shoreline, you’ll enjoy total privacy, a true woodland setting and a monumental waterfront experience on the shores of Pike Lake. Extraordinary features inside, too, as one would expect with a property this remarkable.

MLS 6126693

1301 W. Hwy. 61, Grand Marais $875,000

An incredible business opportunity in the heart of the charming city of Grand Marais! Bring your own ideas or continue on with the prior nursery/greenhouse and the rental cabins. Two of the cabins have undergone extensive improvements! The whole property is beautiful with mature trees, calming woods and a sweetcreek on the east side of the property. Blue Moose! Multi-Use/Multi-Zoned.

MLS 6119218

LINDA GARRITY Broker & Owner

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

Each summer, I spend a few days photographing ruby throated hummingbirds. My favorite shots are with out of focus flowers adding color to the background. Male hummingbirds create their brilliant red throat colors, called gorgets, by reflecting specific wavelengths of light. The color is not a pigment but iridescence. It can change from black to brilliant red simply by turning their feathers.— Paul Sundberg

W elcome to Golden Eagle Lodge, a family oriented, year-round resort located on the Gunflint Trail of Northeastern Minnesota, only 30 miles north of Grand Marais. As the only residents on Flour Lake, and nestled in the 3 million acres of the Superior National Forest, you can look forward to the quiet and solitude offered only from a true wilderness setting.

Each season has something special to offer; excellent fishing, canoeing, and hiking in summer and nationally-renowned cross-country skiing in winter. Visit our website to find in detail how each season can help shape your vacation.

We offer fully equipped, modern housekeeping cabins to ensure comfort during your stay in the North Woods. These lakefront cabins each have their own private dock and beautiful lake views as well as high-speed Wi-Fi to keep you connected.

We know much time, effort, and expense is invested in a vacation and we would be honored if you considered us as your vacation destination.