With miles of spectacular lake views, untamed wilderness, and friendly community services, Lake Superior’s North Shore Scenic Drive is one of Minnesota’s premier bicycling destinations. The Duluth Lakewalk and the Gitchi-Gami State Trail offer smooth, paved biking routes through thick, emerald forests, sweet wild rivers, and friendly communities with stunning viewpoints of Lake Superior along the way.
Nestled along the shoreline of Lake Superior in downtown Duluth, the Duluth Lakewalk is a 4.2-mile, non-motorized pathway reserved for walking, biking, jogging, and inline skating. As you pedal this wide, paved trail along the shoreline, take in the deep indigo views of Lake Superior and watch foreign and domestic vessels sail its wide expanse. Stop by the Bayfront Festival Park, where you can often hear music playing on summer nights, or visit Duluth’s iconic Aerial Lift Bridge along the way. Originally built in 1905, this unusual bridge still allows large ships through the narrow neck of the Duluth Harbor by lifting itself above a ship’s high masts.
Located along the North Shore of Lake Superior, the Gitchi-Gami State Trail offers miles and miles of forests and cascading waterfalls, while providing many access points to the beaches of Lake Superior. The North Shore Scenic Drive provides access to the Gitchi-Gami Trail at the Silver Creek Wayside Rest, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Trail Center, Beaver Bay, Schroeder, Tofte, and Grand Marais Trailhead. Currently, 21 of its proposed 86 miles are paved and open to the public for non-motorized use. When complete, the trail will connect five state parks, several communities, four of Minnesota's Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs), and numerous historic sites from the towns of Two Harbors to Grand Marais. The majority of the trail is expected to be completed by 2011.
Begin your biking adventure on the longest completed segment at Gooseberry Falls State Park. Take a break from bike riding and stretch your legs on a short walk to Gooseberry Falls, or listen to their thunderous roar as you pedal through the park to the pebble beaches of Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Stop and take in the sound of the crashing waves along the shore or skip rocks across the shining waters. Then catch the brilliant, colorful tones of evergreen and wildflowers as you ride the newly paved trail to nearby friendly communities. Stop for lunch, go shopping, or simply enjoy the sweet ambiance of the small towns along the way. You will find restaurants, lodging, outfitters, as well as antique and gift shops in the towns along the byway.
With more shoreline vistas than any other roadway in Minnesota, the road biking trails near North Shore Scenic Drive are a must-do cycling destination.
Winter Cruising along the North Shore of Lake Superior
North Shore Scenic Drive Overview