Lake Superior is incredibly vast, and with its distinction as the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area—31,700 square miles—this inland sea lives up to its name. Superior’s coastline borders on three U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario, and its characteristics are as varied as its size. The lake’s North Shore, stretching more than 150 miles from the port city of Duluth, Minnesota, to the U.S.-Canada border and beyond, lays claim to some of the most stunning and accessible scenery in the American Midwest.
Minnesota State Highway 61 parallels the North Shore and provides access to seven state parks, all of which boast raging rivers and streams, cascading waterfalls and miles of hiking trails. Most parks also contain an abundance of rugged Lake Superior shoreline, varying from sandy and cobblestone-filled beaches to 180-foot cliffs. Camping is available in all but Grand Portage State Park at the Canadian border. Several small towns punctuate the shore and offer additional opportunities for camping, lodging and recreation.
