Black Beach
This picture is owned by Cindy Carlsson
Although long known to local residents and a few in-the-know tourists, the beaches (there are three) that make up Silver Bay, Minnesota’s new Black Beach Park have long been privately owned and fenced in an attempt to thwart visitors. Times change though, and now the area is open to the public. The beach is a delight, with three dark crescents of dark sand, crystal clear coves, a bit of driftwood, and a tall jumble of lichen encrusted rock – all of it backed by thickly forested hillsides or the lake itself. Basically a photographer’s paradise! The beach is located at E Lakeview Drive Water Plant Rd, Silver Bay, MN 55614. For more information, click here.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls is one of Minnesota’s most popular state parks due to its easy access to several scenic waterfalls! This park provides 70 non-electric camping sites that are available year-round. There are 18 miles of hiking trails, including 8 miles of mountain bike trails. The trails connect to the Superior Hiking Trail. There are popular picnic and swimming spots found throughout the park. Gooseberry Falls is located at 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616. For more information, click here.
Minnehaha Falls Regional Park
One of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks, attracting more than 850,000 visitors annually. Minnehaha Falls and the land surrounding it became one of the first state parks in the United States when it was purchased by the state of Minnesota in 1889. The park has a playground, picnic area, bike path and an outstanding disc golf course. Minnehaha Falls Regional Park is located at 4801 S Minnehaha Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417. For more information, click here.
Palisade Head
The Cut
Just an hour north of Duluth, Palisade Head is a go-to spot for artists, rock climbers and sight-seers in Northern Minnesota. The massive rock formation rises 932 feet above the North Shore of Lake Superior. The view from the top is both spectacular and spine-tingling. The cliff edge, which runs southwest to northeast, is rugged. The park offers one of Minnesota’s best views! Palisade Head is located on Highway 61 just three miles northeast of the town Silver Bay. Look for milepost 57 and the small sign on the highway pointing toward the peak. For more information, click here.
Iona’s Beach
Iona’s Beach is a hidden gem. Instead of silky, golden sand, this stretch of shore is covered in smooth pink rocks that, if you know when to listen, sing. The unusual musical concert isn’t the only thing intriguing about the beach. Even when Lake Superior is calm and the air is silent, the place still feels magical. The pink rocks, which formed from fallen pieces of a nearby rhyolite cliff, are an eye-catching sight on their own. The stones, worn and weathered by years of erosion, are all wonderfully smooth to the touch. This beach is a Scientific & Natural Area, which means it is not allowed to collect rocks, plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. Iona’s Beach is located at 3548 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616. For more information, click here.