Dwight and my brother-in-law went off for a hike, while I contented myself with gentler horizons. We’re in a ski area, so I took a gondola to the top of Moose Mountain. I’ve hiked up this mountain and to points beyond many times, but today I satisfied myself with a seat in the cafe at the top, admiring the view.
Category: Superior Hiking Trail
A beautiful fall ride on the Gitchi-Gami
I felt my age until I got on my bicycle on this beautiful fall day. While Dwight hiked the hills, I explored a short section of the Gitchi-Gami in the opposite direction from yesterday, staying a little closer to Lake Superior this time.
Deep hollow river
Dropped Dwight off at the Sawbill Trail trailhead for the Superior Hiking Trail. Went for a short ride on the Gitchi-Gami Trail, which goes right past where we’re staying. Here, I’m looking down at the Temperance River, so named because there is no sandbar (“no bar”) where it flows into Lake Superior. I’ll go with the Ojibwe name: Kawimbash, meaning “deep hollow river.”
Back at Bluefin Bay
We’re back at Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior’s North Shore for maybe the twentieth time. The unit has a kitchen, but we usually eat breakfast and dinner at the resort’s restaurants. Tomorrow, I’ll go for a bike ride on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail while Dwight hikes the Superior Hiking Trail.
North Shore 2026
More journeys ≫
Lake Superior prep
Tomorrow we’re heading up the North Shore of Lake Superior, so today we’re laying out stuff for packing on the guest bed. No matter how long the trip (one week, four weeks, or indefinite), we’ve settled into a pattern: one set of clothing on, plus four changes. Having access to laundry facilities and modern fabrics make all the difference.
Unscratched
Matchbooks are an uncommon sight these days. These were on the mantelpiece in our unit at Bluefin Bay to light the log fire. We never did light the fire. Maybe next time.
Superior view
The sun was rising over Lake Superior as we walked to Coho Cafe to fuel up for today’s hike.
Straight-through hike via Poplar River viewpoint
Our brother-in-law joined us for today’s hike. By dropping a car at our Lutsen finish point, we were able to hike straight-through instead of doing a loop. This section of the Superior Hiking Trail first took us along Lake Agnes, a body of water largely created by a beaver dam. From there, we headed uphill to great viewpoints, including one of my favorite views, shown here, looking toward the Poplar River.
Two-river loop
Hiked a loop: Cross River on the ascent, a wooded ridge trail with glimpses of Lake Superior, then Temperance River on the descent.