Lake Superior's North Shore: Thunder Bay to Duluth

Highway 61 and Ontario's Highway 61 trace the rugged northwest shore of Lake Superior between Thunder Bay and Duluth, roughly 300 km of cliffs, rivers and boreal forest. This itinerary crosses the Canada–U.S. border at the Pigeon River, so bring a passport or other accepted travel document and check current border requirements before you leave. Superior's water stays cold all summer and weather can change fast, so pack layers even in July.

1. Day 1 · Thunder BayStart at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, about 30 minutes west of the city, where the Kaministiquia River drops roughly 40 metres over shale cliffs. In the afternoon drive out to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park on the Sibley Peninsula: the formation's silhouette is best seen from the Thunder Bay waterfront at sunset, and the park's trails lead to some of the highest cliffs in Ontario. Stay in Thunder Bay for dinner by the marina.
2. Day 2 · Border to the North ShoreHead southwest and cross into Minnesota at the Pigeon River. Stop at Grand Portage, where the national monument tells the story of the Anishinaabe and the fur trade at the start of the historic nine-mile portage. Continue down Highway 61 through Grand Marais, an artsy harbour town with a lighthouse breakwall walk, and spend the night along the shore.
3. Day 3 · Falls, cliffs and DuluthWork your way south through the Minnesota state parks: Tettegouche and nearby Palisade Head for sheer cliff views over the lake, Split Rock Lighthouse on its clifftop, and Gooseberry Falls for an easy walk along cascading water. Finish in Duluth at Canal Park, under the Aerial Lift Bridge, where you can watch lake freighters come in from Lake Superior.