It's not a complete year of North Shore skiing for me until I've been out on the winding, wild trails of Gooseberry State Park near Two Harbors. Here's why I keep coming back and why you might, also. … read more

Biskey Ponds, in Fredenberg Township north of Duluth, has 10k of classically groomed ski trails rated easy to moderate. The trails have been laid out expertly, with gentle curves and downhills just steep enough to be fun. … read more

The Hartley Park ski trails have been used and loved by generations of Nordic skiers. A recent park makeover improved signage with new detailed maps at every intersection. … read more

I continue to make progress on my big "summer" goal of hiking all the way to Two Harbors. Five day hikes in, I had made it to Normanna Road, on the northeast outskirts of Duluth. Obviously, this has now become a "summer and fall" goal. After hiking on everything from city sidewalks to snowmobile trails, after hiking through everything from farmfields to graveyards, after hiking with everything from baby strollers to ATVs, I was thrilled to be on a real hiking trail. This section of the SHT is nine miles long. On this hike from Duluth to Two Harbors, this was … read more

The 3-mile Dry Lake Trail just north of Ely packs lots scenery per mile and has the additional bonus of few hikers on the trail. It's a lovely and easy day hike. … read more

I really wanted to like this hike. Unless you're a committed thru-hiker or a local neighbor looking for a walk, don't bother with this newly-opened section of the Superior Hiking Trail just outside of Duluth. … read more

As reports came in of wild blueberries all over the Gunflint Trail and the North Shore, I stayed home waiting for news from somewhere else...the South Shore. This weekend, we went to Blue Vista Farm in Bayfield and picked about two gallons of big, beautiful blueberries. … read more

I completed the fourth leg of my hike to Two Harbors. Daphne the poodle and my father, the two of them nearly inseparable the whole way, hiked with me from Prindle Road to Lismore Road on the Superior Hiking Trail. … read more

I've never walked in the English countryside but today was darn close. We hiked...er, perambulated...2.5 miles through lovely farm fields on the North Shore State Trail. … read more

My summer hike from Duluth to Two Harbors continued today, two-plus weeks after it started. Today was the shortest stretch of all, from Hartley Park to Martin Road. … read more