Lake Superior great circle tour

+1 Duluth and Grand Marais

We personally have watched the big ships come in and go out here for 74 years now and it's never boring and brings crowds also watching every time!

Full speed ahead or full speed astern, heard full ahead or full astern also. Most people do not realize how huge many of the lake freighters are. Like 1,000 feet long or as long as the big cruise ships and the loaded with Taconite (enriched iron ore) large lake freighters weigh a lot more than a cruise ship loaded with passengers. We get lots of lake freighters coming and going from where with live every year. Many boggle the mind watching them maneuver the curves staying in the deep channel in the harbor and river. At times they look almost close enough to touch going by but I know my arms aren't that long! The river has currents that push the ship and then there's the wind blowing the on the ship's long side surface. Not like driving a vehicle down a road and easily staying in your lane. Bow thrusters in the more modern ships have made controlling so much more precise.

Mvpmich wrote:
Any reason you are skipping the Soo Locks?

Seem 'em before. Although not quite as narrow (almost), huge freighters are in and out of the channel here at home. Seen 'em stuck in turns, stuck in ice, stuck on sand, belching black smoke into the air as the ramp the diesel to full speed or whatever it's called.

Mvpmich,

NO! It's the starting point in my example and not an in-transit stopping off point during the circle tour. Also there are 2 Soo's, one in Canada and the other is in the USA and the original "not much in Canada to see" was in regards to when in Canada.

Of course, the Soo Locks (the world's busiest) are a must to see or even take the tour boat thru the locks if a person has never experienced boating thru a lock system and/or is a land lubber.

Most of the Provincial parks are great!!!

Mid Aug to mid Sept, took nearly a month going around last fall, wonderful trip and GREAT scenery.

GordonThree wrote:
Every time I visit the UP during the green months, there's been lots of mosquitoes, and they're on you fast... not much you can do but bath in bug spray and enjoy the beauty of the area.

Near as all this is to me, I don't have much other information... take it for granted I suppose. I'm considering a circle tour of the UP, something like this:



Subscribed to hear from folks more knowledgeable :)

Any reason you are skipping the Soo Locks?

There are so many that I couldn't list begin to them all and it certainly depends on what amenities you want in a CG. Batchawanna Bay/Pancake Bay CG is about the first one going north after leaving the Soo area. CG's at Wawa. Several Provincial park CG's on the Canadian side on Hwy 17 and gobs of private CG's. So many and so variable in what they have. You aren't buying the site and only renting the CG site for a day usually. You have to do your own research to find the ones you like. As a general rule, there's not a lot of difference in CG's when staying only a day or two because you have your own little home on wheels right with you! Not many people want the real high class CG site in a exclusive resort when they see the daily cost charged. Suddenly, money does talk and fights leaving your wallet when it's a 1 or 2 night stay only. Make your own decisions!

GordonThree wrote:
Every time I visit the UP during the green months, there's been lots of mosquitoes, and they're on you fast... not much you can do but bath in bug spray and enjoy the beauty of the area.

Near as all this is to me, I don't have much other information... take it for granted I suppose. I'm considering a circle tour of the UP, something like this:



Subscribed to hear from folks more knowledgeable :)

Munising to Grand Marais should be along H-58. It is paved. I took my 37' motorhome on that drive.