Gökotta (Swedish for "dawn picnic")

Duluth has 178 miles of beautiful wooded trails. Even in the winter, the city grooms trails for fat tire bikes. Less than a mile from here is an access to Hartley Nature center with beautifully groomed bike trails. For a complete map of trails check out Trailforks, Duluth. One particular trail called "Duluth Traverse" covers 41 miles of the city from one end to the other.

Besides Lake Superior, there are several other popular boating lakes within a half hour of downtown Duluth, Pike Lake, Island Lake and Fish Lake all have boat launches and are great places to spend an afternoon.

The list below was designed for summer anglers but with the right equipment and ice conditions, the sky is the limit for the ice fishing enthusiast! Shore fishing spots Here's a list of suggested places to fish from shore, courtesy of Scott VanValkenburg at Fisherman's Corner in Pike Lake and Ted Sellers at Northwest Outlet in Superior. Written By: news@duluthnewstribune.com | Jun 20th 2010 - 12am. Here's a list of suggested places to fish from shore, courtesy of Scott VanValkenburg at Fisherman's Corner in Pike Lake and Ted Sellers at Northwest Outlet in Superior. Island Lake bridge -- On St. Louis County Highway 4 where it crosses the narrows on Island Lake. Walleyes, northern pike, crappies, the occasional muskie Island Lake dam -- Follow Lavaque Road north to where it dead-ends at the dam. The Cloquet River flows out below the dam. Fish above or below. Slip-bobbers and live bait. Walleyes, northern pike, catfish, smallmouth bass, the occasional muskie. Finlander Bay of Island Lake -- This is the body of water on your right as you drive north on Lavaque Road from the Fredenberg Minno-ette. Walleyes and more. Slip-bobbers and live bait. Fish Lake bridge -- Where Lavaque Road passes over the narrows of Fish Lake near Eagle's Nest Resort. Walleyes and crappies in spring. Fish Lake dam -- Follow the Fish Lake Dam Road past Hi-Banks Resort to the boat launch. Fish from the dam on Fish Lake or below the dam where the Beaver River flows out. Walleyes, crappies, northern pike. Chambers Grove, St. Louis River, Duluth -- A city park along the river, just above the Minnesota Highway 23 bridge at Fond du Lac. Walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass, the occasional sturgeon (which you must release). Boy Scout Landing fishing pier, St. Louis River, Duluth -- Adjacent to the boat landing where Commonwealth Avenue dead-ends at the river in Gary-New Duluth. Walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass and more. Water Street, Fond du Lac neighborhood, St. Louis River -- Take 131st Avenue West toward the river and follow it to the road that runs alongside the river. Good in spring for walleyes. Use a Lindy Rig with a minnow or night crawler. Munger Landing, St. Louis River -- Take Grand Avenue to Clyde Avenue and follow it to the boat landing and fishing pier. Walleyes, smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappies. Caribou Lake north of Duluth -- Try fishing from the dock at the boat landing off the Birch Point Road (reach it from Munger Shaw Road). Kids can catch bluegills here. McQuade Small Craft Harbor -- On Scenic Minnesota Highway 61 at McQuade Road. The breakwall was designed with areas custom-made for shorecasting. Use a long rod, 6-pound-test line. Throw Kastmasters or other spoons for trout and salmon. Twin Ponds -- Just east of Enger Park on Skyline Parkway. Stocked with brook trout, intended for kids. SUPERIOR AND BEYOND Arrowhead Pier, St. Louis River -- Follow Belknap Avenue west to the parking lot near the pier (what's left of the former Arrowhead Bridge). Walleyes, catfish, northern pike, almost anything. Billings Park, St. Louis River -- Follow 21st Street west until it ends and follow a short road down to the boat launch. There's a paved trail along shore that goes around First Point. Barker's Island -- Fish from the docks at the public landing or from shore on the harbor side. Walleyes, northern pike, muskies.

There are at least 150 miles of unpaved hiking trails in Duluth. Balsam Ridge is just a few minutes walk from the Hartley Trails which is also part of the Superior Hiking Trail. We also have a short 20 minute loop that starts at the back edge of our property and takes you through a beautiful cedar forest, past a steep rock wall, over towards a beaver pond and back home again.

Duluth now offers the new Magney Snively-Ely's Peak Equestrian Trail and Ski Loop along western Duluth's portion of Skyline Boulevard. A decade in the works, it's the first "destination"' horse trail in Duluth and riding enthusiasts hope it will be the first phase of a trail network that will link with a pro-speed horse camp at the Buffalo House and on to existing horse trails in Jay Cooke State ParkHorses have for years been allowed in a few places in Duluth, such as on the gravel portion of West Skyline and on Amity Creek trail. But the new trail is the first to offer a loop experience in such a scenic setting. The 3.7 mile new section is long enough to make it worthwhile for riders to trailer their horse and visit Duluth. (taken from an article in the Duluth News Tribune)

Oh yes. Lots of it. There is a sweet video on Duluthoutdoors..com that gives you an idea what it's like to paddle on Lake Superior. It's AWESOME!!

The biggest water right at your backdoor, Duluth offers all the wonders of real windsurfing, massive shorebreak, head-on ramps, and rolling gigantic swells. Lake Superior stays cold through summer so bring a drysuit. The bay offers great sailing as well

Duluth offers a variety of seasonal climbing opportunities within the city limits. Casket Quarry is a premier site for ice and mixed climbing. Duluth’s premier rock climbing crag is Ely’s Peak, a prominent knob of archaic basalt that looms fortress-like over the St. Louis River valley. Vertical cracks and angular face holds define the climbing here. Routes are typically 40 to 60 feet in length, but there are exceptions nearly twice as long. Duluth is peppered with small outcrops of glacially scoured basalt and gabbro that have long facilitated urban cragging. The rocks with the longest histories are Whoopee Wall and Point of Rocks, but with the development of places like First Street Boulder, Foxx Rocks, and others, climbers have cultivated an energetic local bouldering scene. More detailed information about these crags can be found at Climb Duluth!

There are more snow sports than you can shake a stick at in Duluth, MN, so I'll just run through the top 11 outdoor winter adventures in Duluth (in no particular order)1. Nordic skiing (EVERYwhere. It's everywhere in Duluth. Trust me) 2.Fat tire biking 3. Ice Climbing 4.Snowshoeing 5.Dogsledding 6.Ski and Snowboarding (Spirit Mountain and Chester Bowl) 7.Surfing Lake Superior 8. Skijoring 9.Ice Cross Downhill 10.Ice Fishing and last but NOT least 11. Ice Hockey!

Duluth is well known for its extreme surfers. Winter or summer, if there are waves breaking, there will be surfers taking advantage of the opportunity. Lake Superior Surf Club For surfing forecasts, photos and more, check out the Lake Superior Surf Club. Where to Surf 1. Park Point (Just across the Lift Bridge)
2. Stoney Point (Just over 15 miles up MN-61

Swimming and summer just naturally go hand-in-hand - especially when you live in an area that's blessed with an abundance of lakes, rivers, and streams like the Northland. Heck - we have the world's largest freshwater lake right at our toes. So - where are the best places to swim in the Twin Ports? Besides the obvious answer of "anywhere", we took a hard look at the multiple spots that are readily available for public swimming in the Duluth-Superior area. Then, we narrowed that list down to ten spots - five in Duluth and five in Superior - that provide the right environment for a pleasant experience in the water. For the most part these spots are free; a couple do require a fee due to their State Park locations. A couple are located just outside of the legal city limits of our metro - but helped to round out the list. So here's the list - in no particular ranked order. Brighton Beach - Duluth A popular spot on the banks of Lake Superior, Brighton Beach is located right about where Highway splits off from "Scenic Highway 61" along the North Shore - just as you leave Duluth. Brighton Beach offers plenty of parking and spots for picnics. One of the primary benefits of this beach is its long, narrow geography; this allows you the opportunity to find a spot to call your own without feeling crowded. Like any swimming spot on Lake Superior, caution is needed - especially if you've never swam in these waters before. The temperature of the lake doesn't fluctuate much which means that it stays pretty cold all year long. In addition, the size of Lake Superior makes the waves and currents act like those found in an ocean; riptides can and do occur. Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum - Duluth The name might sound like an odd place to swim if you're not from the area, but native Northlanders know Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum as a prime spot to take a dip in Lake Superior's icy-cold waters. Located just off the shore in Canal Park, the mausoleum provides a lake-side swimming and diving experience. Most people walk and then swim out to the object, climb up, and dive off. It should be pointed out that swimming off of this object is not officially-sanctioned by the city. Last winter a part of the mausoleum crumbled and sank forever. Park Point Beach - Duluth Quick: Close your eyes and "visualize" Duluth. What do you see? More than likely you conjured up an image of the Aerial Lift Bridge and the area of land located just at the tip of the city. If you were looking to swim at a place that matched that visual, you'd probably pick Park Point Beach. Getting to Park Point Beach is half the fun. Cross the Aerial Lift Bridge and follow along Minnesota Avenue all the way to the end of Minnesota Point. There at the turn-around is a parking lot with access to the beach. "The Deeps" - Duluth A popular yet dangerous swimming hole in Duluth - The Deeps is a cliff-diving spot on Occidental Boulevard just off Superior Street. There's a pedestrian that crosses over that provides the perfect spot to dive in. Extreme caution should be exercised at this swimming area. It seems like every year or so there's another unfortunate accident that happens here. Swimmers are urged not to dive in but rather use the hole as a good spot to cool off. French River - Duluth Another north shore tributary into Lake Superior, the French River provides a great spot for swimmers. Your best bet for parking and access is to turn at Ryan Road off of Highway 61. Behind the French River Lutheran Church is a trail that leads you down to the water. Pattison Park - Superior Follow Tower Avenue south out of town and it turns in to Highway 35. Drive for about 20 minutes or so and you'll encounter Pattison State Park. On the west side of the highway, the park offers a scenic, wooded trail and three wonderful views of the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin and the fourth-tallest west of the Rockies. On the east side, there's a campground and a meticulously-manicured swimming beach. Because this water hole is man-made (a result of damming and water-control) it offers calm, peaceful water that is perfect for young swimmers. Amnicon Falls - Superior Follow U.S. Highway 2 east out of Superior about seven miles and you'll run into the Amnicon Falls State Park. Users will find a campground, trails, and more. The falls provide multiple swimming holes to take advantage of. Some of them are deep and all of them are surrounded by the rocky ledges of the falls. Wisconsin Point - Superior Much like its similar namesake in Duluth, Wisconsin Point on the Superior side provides direct access to the chilly waters of Lake Superior on the lake side. The point is a popular spot for college kids and partiers at night, but during the day it's a popular spot for families. The beach provides plenty of chances to search for rocks and driftwood - but be careful about regulations that prevent you from taking these souvenirs home. To get to Wisconsin Point, follow U.S. Highway 2 and 53 eastward out of Superior. Right at the city limits, take the left turn onto Moccasin Mike Road. Follow the signs. Barkers Island - Superior Originally created as part of a commercial development, Barkers Island provides plenty of recreation opportunities within the city limits. The island itself is located on Highway 53, right alongside the bay between Wisconsin and Minnesota Point. To get to the swimming beach, take the turn off Highway 53 right at the Belknap Street/U.S. Highway 2 intersection. Follow the service road across the small bridge and veer to the right. Off the right-hand side of the road is parking and access to the beach. Lake Nebagamon Public Beach Outside the proper city limits of Superior - but well worth the drive - is Lake Nebagamon. The drive is about 30 minutes, but once you're there you'll fall in love with this thriving Wisconsin small town. The city of Lake Nebagamon is built around the lake that shares its name. Besides the shops and restaurants and other attractions, you'll find a public swimming beach that offers a wonderful swimming experience. So there you have it - the 10 best places to swim in the Twin Ports. But use this list as a starting point; there are plenty of great spots that didn't make the listing and the "best" swimming spots are truly your favorite swimming spots. (Article by Steve Hanko COOL 101.7)

The St Louis River (which flows into Lake Superior) is a great spot for whitewater rafting all summer long. This 2 hour trip takes you through a semi-wilderness area with rugged outcrops, tall pines, abundant wildlife, and challenging rapids. To learn more, visit Swiftwater Adventures.

Duluth is home to two Important Bird Areas (IBA), recognized as globally important habitats for the conservation of bird populations (Hawk Ridge and St Louis River Estuary). At Balsam Ridge we regularly hear various owls throughout the night and numerous birds during the day. Our land is surrounded by hundreds of wooded acres filled with wildlife and the ponds are home to turtles, frogs and fish.

The name "Balsam Ridge Retreat" is just one indicator of the type of forest we are nestled in. Numerous maples cover the east side of the lot and make for great maple syrup in the spring. Oaks, basswood, white pine, white spruce, red pine and poplar are some of the many trees that dot this land..

One of Duluth's 16 designated trout streams is a two minute walk from our mailbox. It's known as the East Branch of the Chester River.

Yes, we are in the city Just down MacFarlane Road is a large beaver pond that the East Chester Creek runs through. Duluth, and as it has been said, "This is country living in the city!" Most folks on our short road have large lots from 2 1/2 to 20 acres giving everyone plenty of elbow room.

As you pull up to the front of our home you'll only see a short parking spot. This isn't the driveway. Look about 275 feet to the east and you'll see the sign for Balsam Ridge Retreat. This is the driveway to use.