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North Shore Scenic Drive

Road Trip

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flickr/Jesse Thorstad
148.3 miles: 2 hours, 45 minutes
North Shore Drive offers two things that are rarities in the Midwest: a backdrop of mountains (the rugged, glacier-carved Sawtooths) and utterly unspoiled wilderness. From Duluth's Canal Park, SR 61 traces the Lake Superior shoreline past spectacular cliffs and vast forests of pine, aspen and birch. Hit the road spring through fall; severe winters make driving dicey.
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148.3 miles: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Pullouts along SR 61 let you stop and admire the wild beaches edging Superior's shoreline, catch a summer sunset or gasp at blazing fall foliage colors. Split Rock Lighthouse, a North Shore landmark, stands atop a sheer cliff 150 feet above steel-blue waters. Palisade Head (milepost 57) is a dramatic rock formation where bird-watchers scan the skies for hawks and bald eagles.