Dog-Friendly Day-Trips from Duluth

July 10, 2015 2:12 PM

Where are some a good places within a few hours' drive of Duluth, MN, for my husband, my pooch, and me to visit?

We're looking to get out of Duluth, go explore, have some fun. We also want to be able to take our dog, both because she is delightful and also because we don't want to leave her alone. Mostly, we just want to be able to go some place new and interesting. We're interested in outdoorsy places that allow hiking, but we're both lazy and out of shape so we don't want anything particularly strenuous. We're not interested in fishing. We're both pretty new to this area of the country, and we want to see some more of this beautiful state while the weather lasts.

We're looking for a day trip or a single overnight stay--nothing fancy, nothing too expensive, but something fun for human and pup alike. Any suggestions?

posted by meese to Travel & Transportation around Duluth, MN (9 answers total)

Minnesota has some absolutely spectacular state parks along Superior's north shore, as well as the Superior National Trail, and if those aren't sufficiently dog friendly you'll find fewer restrictions in the Superior National Forest lands in the same area (but generally not along the Lake.)

Seriously, it's an outdoor recreation wonderland up there.. You won't be short of choices. However, if you are planning an overnight stay, make your plans well in advance. When I last traveled through that part of the state it was my experience that the camping and lodging options available are very popular with Twin Cities residents seeking a relief from summer heat and some time along the north shore. Even on short notice, however, it wasn't hard to find rustic camping options in the less-popular national forest facilities.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:25 PM on July 10, 2015

There are insanely good choices every direction you go. Savanna Portage State Park is to the SE and has great hiking. So does the Joyce Estate in the Chippewa National Forest. Or you can head up the north shore. Gooseberry Falls is a great one. Or you can head towards the Boundary Waters; try out Bearhead Lake State Park to get an idea of what that area looks like without having to deal with an entry permit into the BWCA itself. Go into Wisconsin and you've got the Apostle Islands within easy reach.

You basically can't go wrong just heading out on any road and looking for a state park, really. And you don't even have to leave town to get some decent hiking with the pup: Congdon Park has trails along waterfalls and that's in city limits.
posted by norm at 2:35 PM on July 10, 2015

Ely is fun to explore for the day. August is perfect up there. Other than that.. as mentioned, Gooseberry Falls is easy hiking and lots of fun. Two Harbors. Doing little bits of the Superior Hiking Trail at a time is fun too.
posted by starman at 4:30 PM on July 10, 2015

Seconding Ely, Two Harbors, and Gooseberry Falls. Castle Danger also has some nice places, in addition to a badass name. If you go to Two Harbors, head a little further up the shore. Skip Betty's Pies, which has declined in quality in recent years. Instead, go to the Rustic Inn and get pie there. If you're into skipping rocks, head up to Flood Bay; that's also a decent place to look for agates. If you're ever in Ely without your dog, you should definitely check out the International Wolf Center. If you're looking for a reasonably close camping getaway on a quiet lake (too small for jetskis!) on the Cloquet River, you should stay at Indian Lake in Brimson. The Brimson Farmer's Market is actually worth a visit, although I guess I haven't been in a few years. It's small, but a really excellent example of how, even when they're all in their separate cabins and not terribly close to each other, a real sense of community arises and exists. Also, stock up on your stamps while you're there. The Brimson post office is right by the farmer's market, and they regularly have to fight to keep it open. Back when my Grandma still went up there every summer, she'd buy all her stamps for the year at the Brimson post office.

Sorry for the ramble; I haven't been up north in a few years and am really, really missing it lately. You're definitely in a really beautiful corner of the world.
posted by naturalog at 9:33 PM on July 10, 2015

Two Harbors also has the Depot Museum, which is actually just two old locomotives (one of which my grandfather and great-grandfather worked on!) outside with some historical information. And on your way up to Ely, stop at the White Pine Trail on Highway 2. It's a short little loop of a trail, but the trees are beautiful.

This weekend is Two Harbors Heritage Days; unfortunately, you've missed the opportunity to see the Norwegians and the Swedes face off in the Lutefisk Toss, but there's always next year!
posted by naturalog at 9:44 PM on July 10, 2015

Bayfield, Wisconsin and the Apostle Islands. Well preserved historic town with good restaurants, very interesting Madeline Island a short ferry ride away, settled by the French long before other Europeans occupied the mainland. From Duluth take the relaxing lakeshore road, Route 13, through Cornucopia and the Ojibwe (Chippewa) town of Red Cliff.
posted by mono blanco at 9:30 PM on July 11, 2015

We're looking for a day trip or a single overnight stay--nothing fancy, nothing too expensive, but something fun for human and pup alike. Any suggestions?

Having grown up in Duluth, with dogs my whole life, I'm sort of gobsmacked that this is even a question. Also, the only season that Northern Minnesota sucks is early spring when everything is wet and muddy. Maybe mid summer when the bugs are at their worst. It's a great area to live if you like the outdoors.

There are good suggestions above. I'll add - Head for the Gunflint trail. I've recommended the Gunflint Lodge twice this week, so maybe its their lucky day. I've been there, and it is amazing. Dogs welcome, even more so on dog weekends. There are others in the area that are friendly as well. Amazing country and lots to explore, and more history than you might suspect - French traders have been in business there since the 1500s.

The only other place in the US where I have seen more dogs is Colorado. Duluth and surrounding area is amazing good land for dogs. Mind the ticks, though. Lyme disease is no joke.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:09 PM on July 12, 2015

Response by poster: Having grown up in Duluth, with dogs my whole life, I'm sort of gobsmacked that this is even a question.

Let me be very clear, if there are any dog-lovers reading this question in hopes of learning about Duluth: Duluth, most definitely, is an incredibly dog-friendly city! There's so much to do in and around Duluth with a dog. Pup, hubs, and I have definitely spent a lot of time together, enjoying everything Duluth has to offer. We're just itching a bit to start exploring further outside Duluth's borders and didn't know where to start. :-)

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions! I think Bayfield may be the first place we go to, but everything suggested here looks great.
posted by meese at 1:46 PM on July 20, 2015

So, just did the Temperance River State Park a couple days ago -- really cool. Lots of cool waterfalls, rock formations, and trails. Fun with the dog. (And a good place with malts right nearby for afterward)
posted by starman at 1:35 PM on August 7, 2015