North Shore, Lake Superior

[klr650goldwing]

We are spending a week on the North Shore this coming summer. Now that we are in the deep-freeze it is a good time to plan.

If you have been up there what would you recommend that we see/do etc. Where to camp etc. We have a 5th wheel and need about 37 feet for that not counting the truck.

We plan to visit Isle Royale, but we don't know much more than that.

Thanks,

Greg

[rexlion]

I agree, from Two Harbors and Grand Marais you will have short drives up and down the coast to enjoy all the sights. The state parks have nice trails along the rivers and waterfalls. Split Rock Light SP charges an extra daily fee on top of the annual SP permit, otherwise I think the annual will get you in all the others. Be sure to stop at Palisade Head, the view high above Superior is, well, superior! 😉 At Grand Marais, take a stroll out to Artist's Point (a beautiful spot to walk off those pizza calories). Plan a day to drive up the Gunflint Trail.

My rig is tiny compared to yours, so I am not observant about site sizes to fit your rig. But as you drive around on your day trips, you may come across some spots that would work. Look at www.campsitephotos.com for state park campsite photos. I took a quick look and some of the sites at Tettegouche look plenty big to me.

[Lauren]

We stayed at Penmarallter Campsite near Two Harbors for a few nights to do the wonderful sights in that area. Nice place but he comes and pumps you out as / if needed for a small fee. Nice place and great people. Having run Grandmas Marathon and Edmund Fitzgerald 50K several times I wanted to get back to that area - so we visited "Daloot" from there. Turns out the start line for the marathon is nearly right in front of their place! I think there is a park in Two Harbors as well.

[atreis]

IMO, the Lake Superior coast between Terrace Bay and Pancake Bay PP (NE and E coast of Lake Superior) is some of the most beautiful country anywhere. There are several very nice Provincial Parks and a National Park within that range as camping options, and plenty of hiking and kayaking opportunities.

[EsoxLucius]

A hike up Eagle Mountain is always an experience.

[LowRyter]

Camp in Grand Marias and Duluth Harbor.

Visit / Camp Gunflint Trail.

[Water-Bug]

Google "Lake Superior Circle Tour". There is an actual website with tons of info.

[John_M1]

We spend the summers in Grand Marais, so I know what area you mean when you talk about the North Shore. There are several nice state parks along Hwy 61, but we've never camped in one so I don't know what their accommodations for a rig your size would be. Those parks have beautiful scenery and are well worth a visit for hiking and sight-seeing even if you don't camp. For RV camping, there really isn't too much in the way of choices. The municipal campground in Two Harbors (called Burlington Bay) is right on the lake and is nice. Likewise, the municipal campground in Grand Marais is right on the lake and within walking distance to town (it's basically in town). The RV park at the Casino in Grand Portage is more of an open field, but it is close to the Grand Portage National Monument; well worth a visit.
These parks can be VERY busy at peak times of the summer, and remember this is RVing, not really camping. If you want to CAMP, there are lots of small Forest Service campsites back in the woods, or even the Boundary Waters, but your 5er won't fit in most of those.
Things to do?
Hike, bike ride, fish (both little lakes and Superior), kayak, canoe, photography, tour Split Rock and Grand Portage, take a boat to Isle Royale, drink coffee at the Java Moose, eat donuts at the Worlds Best Donuts, or pizza at Sven and Ole's.
Remember though, this is the North Shore. On a really hot day it might get to 85 degrees, and that's pretty rare. Bring warm clothes.

Sorry I kinda got rambling on here 🙂

[Dick_B]

Search this forum for `Lake Superior' then search the results for `north shore' for 29 previous posts.

[dbbls]

Lots of light houses to see, State parks and great scenery.

[klr650goldwing]

We have studied Isle Royale aome and realize it is basically a one-day visit. We know we can't camp there. We want to spend the rest of the week South of Canada and North of Duluth. Our request is from people who have been in that area: what did you like there etc.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

[Matt_Colie]

Greg,

I suggest that you do more research. Isle Royale is only a US island because the British cartographer was a drunk and drew the maps wrong. (documented fact). It is accessed by boat from Houghton Michigan and Grand Portage Minnesota. It is a no-cars place. Most of camping is rustic and surface water is problematic.

The north shore of Lake Superior is largely in Canada. So, you had best be ready to deal with that. From Thunder Bay to Sault Saint Marie is a lot of not very much. It is very pretty from my side, but have not been on the shore there in a very long time.

Matt

[michigansandzil]

Sorry. Misread post.