Cascade Vacation Rentals Blog | A Guide to all things North Shore

1 01, 2020

Agate Bay Railroad Tracks
Agate Bay Railroad Tracks

Agate Bay Railroad Tracks

Martha Finley2021-02-25T21:59:54+00:00Activities & Attractions, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

If you’re walking along the shore of Agate Bay in Two Harbors near the lighthouse, you might stumble upon something strange, the Agate Bay Railroad Tracks that begin at the edge of the water and lead into the harbor. It’s a strange sight that will immediately make you wonder about the history of the tracks and why they lead into the water. No, there is not an underwater train that you can ride. Instead, this set of railroad tracks once served the booming commercial fishing village of Agate Bay, and now it sits eerily disappearing into the depths of Lake [...]

1 01, 2020

Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain

Lookout Mountain

Martha Finley2021-02-25T22:00:17+00:00Activities & Attractions, Lutsen|

Located in Cascade River State Park is one of Minnesota’s many unique features. Halfway between Schroeder and Grand Marais, Cascade Park is usually just a pit stop since the cascades are an easy stroll from the parking lot. But as you continue, you will be amazed at what you find. The trail to Lookout Mountain winds around the mountain giving you picturesque views of Lake Superior and the surrounding forest. The hike begins out of the parking lot along Highway 61 (if your back is to Lake Superior, the trail you'll want to take is on the left side of [...]

1 01, 2020

Oberg Loop
Oberg Loop

Oberg Loop

Martha Finley2021-07-28T16:11:42+00:00Activities & Attractions, Schroeder/Tofte|

Do you want to hike a trail that has spectacular views of the area at any time of the year? Look no further! The Oberg Loop is a spur trail of the Superior Hiking Trail between Tofte and Lutsen. It offers hikers incredible views of Lake Superior, Oberg Lake, and the Sawtooth Mountains. The loop is approximately 2.3 miles in length. Many visitors have said that they prefer to hike the trail counter-clockwise. By doing so, hikers will first see an overlook of LeVeaux Mountain to the west. Continuing further, the trail offers excellent overlooks of Lake Superior. On clear days, [...]

1 01, 2020

Towering Pines Canopy Tour
Towering Pines Canopy Tour

Towering Pines Canopy Tour

Martha Finley2021-08-09T16:36:20+00:00Activities & Attractions, Gunflint Trail/BWCA|

Towering Pines Canopy Tour on the Gunflint Trail - Zip Line Adventure Park Looking for an adventure on your next trip to northern Minnesota? Want to do something a little out of the ordinary? Fly high with the thrill-seeking Towering Pines Canopy Tour located on the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area! The Towering Pines Canopy Tour takes "eagle-eye view" to a new level. The tour features eight high-speed zip lines that take you through the boreal forest canopy. It also features spectacular views of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as your backdrop. Cruise among and even onto [...]

1 01, 2020

Kelsey Beach
Kelsey Beach

Kelsey Beach

Martha Finley2021-02-25T22:02:54+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaches, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Just north of Two Harbors, across the street from the legendary Betty’s Pies (which we highly recommend) is a small, dark cobblestone beach named Kelsey Beach. The beach is made up of fascinating forms of stilled lava and parts of it are covered with small cobblestones. It is rumored that Kelsey Beach has some sort of mystical power. Visitors often say that the beach is a sanctuary that fills them with peace and tranquility each time they visit. Nearby, the Stewart River flows under a concrete arch bridge that was built in 1924. The river is named after the settler, [...]

1 01, 2020

Gitchi Gami State Trail
Gitchi Gami State Trail

Gitchi Gami State Trail

Martha Finley2021-08-09T17:38:09+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, Grand Marais, Lutsen, Schroeder/Tofte, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

When the Gitchi Gami State Trail is completed, it will have 89 miles of paved recreational trail for anyone to enjoy. It will range from Two Harbors all the way to Grand Marais and be open to a variety of recreational uses like biking, jogging, walking, and inline skating. It will be a beautiful way for people to explore the North Shore and still get exercise while doing so! As of now, 29 miles are complete, including some segments from Silver Bay to Beaver Bay and some found between Tofte and Lutsen. This year (2021) another section was completed connecting [...]

1 01, 2020

Crystal Beach
Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach

Martha Finley2021-10-05T17:26:50+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaches, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland|

The name of this beach speaks for itself. Flowing out of the surrounding hills, Crystal Beach is full of multicolored stones and the beach is truly majestic. White northern trees surround the area and the sea caves seem to hide hidden treasure or secrets. This may be the reason why the founders of 3M chose this location to mine for minerals. 3M spent a year mining what they thought was corundum—a stone they thought they could use to fashion their own type of sandpaper. Finally, in the winter of 1903-04, they shipped a ton of the ore to Duluth, only [...]

1 01, 2020

Black Beach
Black Beach

Black Beach

Martha Finley2021-02-25T22:13:18+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaches, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland|

The fascinating Black Beach is found in a secluded area near Silver Bay, MN. Since the shore of the beach is a unique black color, visiting this beach is said to be a very strange experience and is one of a kind on the North Shore. In other words, it's a must see! The strange black coloration is not natural. It came as a result of the taconite tailings that were dumped into the lake by local miners years ago. Taconite is a low-grade iron-ore that is refined, then baked, creating taconite pellets that are easily transported. Decades ago, the [...]

1 01, 2020

Waterfalls of Minnesota’s North Shore
Waterfalls of Minnesota’s North Shore

Waterfalls of Minnesota’s North Shore

Martha Finley2021-08-09T14:50:53+00:00Nature, Waterfalls|

Eve and Gary Wallinga are St. Cloud residents who have a healthy obsession with water. This works out well for the artistic couple who love to visit Lake Superior and Minnesota’s North Shore. Showcasing their fascination with the area and its many incredible waterfalls, Eve and Gary published a book on exactly that topic; Waterfalls of Minnesota’s North Shore: A Guide for Sightseers, Hikers, and Romantics The book is titled Waterfalls of Minnesota’s North Shore: A Guide for Sightseers, Hikers, and Romantics. Published by the Northern Wilds Media company based in Grand Marais, the book is a favorite on the [...]

1 01, 2020

Pilings at Split Rock River
Pilings at Split Rock River

Pilings at Split Rock River

Martha Finley2021-08-09T14:47:24+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaches, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Have you ever driven northeast on Highway 61 between Two Harbors and Silver Bay and wondered about the history of the pilings that stick out of the water at the mouth of the Split Rock River? If so, you’re not alone (and you’re also in luck)! The pilings at Split Rock River date back from the late 19th and early 20th century. This was when the Split Rock Lumber Company, a subsidiary of the Merrill and Ring Lumber Company, logged the area. The company logged Norway, red and white pine. The company built a railroad 10 miles long to carry [...]