Great Outdoors: Spirit Mountain Still Rockin’ Into Spring
DULUTH, Minn. — It may be the official spring in the Northland, but that’s not stopping the fun on the slopes at Spirit Mountain. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors
Great Outdoors: Midwest Masters Ski Races
Skiers hit the slopes at Spirit Mountain for the final race of the season
DULUTH, Minn. – The Ski racing season came to a close as Spirit Mountain hosted the Midwest Masters Ski Races last Saturday. Fox 21 Photojournalist Graham Hakala talked to skiers and organizers at the event who say they find their passion on the hills. 56 racers took to the slopes during the competition. The Midwest Masters is a U.S. Alpine…
Snowmobiling Reaches Peak in Sawyer County
Hayward Power Sports Rents Affordable Sleds As Season Winds Down
HAYWARD, Wis. — Right now is the time to hop on the sleds and hit the trails in Sawyer and Washburn counties! They are at peak after the near 10″ of fresh snow fell from the last storm, blanketing their 600 miles of trails. “Tourists are still coming in but it’s slowing down. So locals get to take over the…
Great Outdoors: The American Birkebeiner
HAYWARD, Wis. – In this edition of Great Outdoors we look back at a successful Birkie in Hayward and meet the people who make it such a popular race. Categories: Features, Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News, Wisconsin
Great Outdoors: Duluth Boat Sports Travel and RV Show
The DECC hosts 52nd annual Duluth Boat Sports Travel and RV Show
DULUTH, Minn. – We’re heading indoors to explore the latest and greatest in outdoor recreation equipment. It was all at the DECC this past weekend. Categories: Features, Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Birkie Preparations Underway
Full installation of the infamous American Birkebeiner International Bridge will begin next week.
DULUTH, Minn.- Northern Wisconsin is preparing for the American Birkebeiner. Racers are anxious for trail condition updates and nearly 25 hundred volunteers are working to make it happen. “I think it’s beyond anybody’s wildest dreams, certainly we know the impact for Hayward, we know the impact for Cable,” executive director Ben Popp said. “We also know what it means to…
Great Outdoors: Cold Front February Kickoff
DULUTH, Minn. — Sometimes it’s the fun things we can do in the North that can allow us to brave the winter chill. “To get through Duluth winters you have to find fun things to do outside,” said Amy Broadmoor, an eager attendee at this year’s Cold Front February. “This is for sure a fun thing to do outside.” Winter…
Great Outdoors: Hayward Fly Fishing Company
HAYWARD, Wis. — Larry Mann and his wife Wendy moved to Hayward in the early 2000s “Her mom was in failing health a little bit,” Mann recalls. “We came back to help her thinking it would be maybe a short-term thing. Here we are 20 years later back in Wendy’s hometown.” And in 2004, seeing a demand for it, he…
Great Outdoors: The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Photojournalist Graham Hakala recaps the progress of the race.
Categories: Great Outdoors, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors: Hockey ‘Rink Rats’ Enjoy Cold
Great Outdoors: Hockey 'Rink Rats' Enjoy Cold
Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors: Snowshoeing at Glensheen Mansion
DULUTH, Minn. – Moonlight Snowshoes at Glensheen was hugely popular last year, and it is back this year. Visitors to the historic estate tour the grounds after dark and experience the Glensheen and Congdon story. There is a bonfire afterwards with s’mores afterword. The snowshoe hikes at Glensheen are happening every Wednesday in January. It’s free. You just need to…
Great Outdoors: Mont du Lac Winter Season
SUPERIOR, Wis. -Mont du Lac resort in Superior is among many places staying open despite these cold temperatures. Weather in the teens and 20s is ideal for winter sports, but the big chill is not keeping everyone inside. If you’re bold enough to go out for winter activities. Mont du Lac Resort is keeping everything running just for you even…
Great Outdoors: Bentleyville Tour of Lights 2017 Finale
Attraction Saw Bigger Crowds Than 2016
Exciting news for Bentleyville Tour of Lights 2017, attendance was way up compared to last year. Nathan Bentley tells us that in 2016, 292,000 people visited Bentleyville in Duluth’s Bayfront Park. In 2017, that number is about 330,000 people. Bentley says it takes a lot of people to make the holiday attraction come together each year, and they are now…
Great Outdoors: Chester Bowl
Chester Bowl’s winter fun has kicked off with fantastic conditions this past weekend. Last year, 5,000 hours of volunteering went into the setup and teaching kids the slopes. Here’s this week’s Great Outdoors. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News, Weather in the News
Great Outdoors: Visit Cook County, Lutsen Mountains
Visit Cook County Executive Director Linda Jurek Explains Why Now is Such a Vital Time to Venture North
COOK COUNTY, Minn. – Staff at Lutsen Mountains are busy preparing for a non-stop holiday season of fun right now. From maintenance on the mountains, to answering phones at Caribou Highlands Lodge and Resort, it’s all hands on deck before thousands ring in the new year. Officials with Caribou Highlands say Christmas and New Year’s is a popular time for…
Great Outdoors: Dog Parks
A New Dog Park Opened Tuesday in Gary-New Duluth
DULUTH, Minn. – There’s a new dog park at the Gary-New Duluth Community Center. There are now four dog parks across Duluth. “Not everybody wants to walk five miles, not everybody wants to walk around the block, but they love coming to the dog park and hanging out and meeting other people and then watching the dogs’ interaction, it’s a…
Great Outdoors: Wisconsin Firearm Deer Season Opening Saturday
WISCONSIN – Rifle deer hunting season opens this Saturday and hunters across the state are gearing up. “I love being outdoors,” said Dale Kuhlman of Custom Archery and Outdoors in Superior. “I love being in the woods. Scenery, sounds, smells, and when you see animals, it’s just that much more of a bonus.” Deer season is huge in Wisconsin. “Everybody…
Wisconsin Adopts New Bill Eliminating Hunting Age Restriction
The state's gun deer season runs until Nov. 26.
SUPERIOR, Wis. – It doesn’t matter if you’re six or 60. If you live in Wisconsin, you can hunt in Wisconsin without an age restriction. On Saturday, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill that eliminates the minimum age requirement. Hunters previously had to be at least 10-years-old to hunt with an adult. Parents will now determine at what age…
Snow Is Flying At Mont du Lac Ski Resort
This Weeks Great Outdoors
Just last year on this date, temperatures were soaring 20 to 30 degrees above normal. For the ski hills making snow was weeks away. In this week’s great outdoors we head to Mont du Lac Ski Resort in superior where the snow is already flying. “The last two years, everybody had a tough time getting open before Christmas,” says…
Great Outdoors: North Country Trail
The Longest Trail In The Nation Runs Right Through The Northland
NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL, Minn. & Wisc. — The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the Nation! It was created back in 1980 and it passes through 12 National Forests. Did you know that this historic trail winds right through our backyard, Northland? 4,600 miles it spans from Vermont to North Dakota, while passing through both Minnesota and Wisconsin….
City Snow Plow Training Underway
The city is prepping workers for the winter months during snow plow training.
DULUTH, Minn.- On Tuesday city workers in Duluth prepared for the upcoming snow during a training session at Spirit Mountain. The course gives workers an opportunity to operate the machinery, before work will be in full swing during winter in the Northland. City employees are practicing maneuvering graters and plows for snow removal. “What we do here is we get them…
Great Outdoors: Bird Watching at Hawk Ridge
Research Done at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory Is Important to Understanding the Ecosystem
DULUTH, Minn. – Birds are migrating to their winter homes in Central and South America, and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth is a fantastic place to watch them fly overhead. In this weeks’s Great Outdoors, we take you to Hawk Ridge where a lot of work is being done to study migratory birds. “Birds are everywhere and so I…
Great Outdoors: Ru-Ridge Produce and Corn Maze
CARLTON, Minn. — Angela Line loves her life out in the country. Her farm in Carlton has now become fun for more than just her family. “We’ve wanted to do this for many many years,” Line says. “We quit milking a few years ago – a year and a half ago. So we needed to diversify.” Just in time for…
Great Outdoors – DWP Trail Undergoing Repairs
Old Railroad Corridor Isn't Officially Open for Public Use
DULUTH, Minn. – The DWP trail provides beautiful views along West Duluth’s hillside, but the old railroad bed isn’t officially open for public use. The DWP, a city owned abandoned railroad corridor, runs ten miles along Duluth’s hillside. “This trail is beautiful and I say that and, if you put this on the news, people are going to show up,…
Great Outdoors: North Shore Inline Marathon
In this week’s Great Outdoors, we head to the North Shore Inline Marathon! Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors – Medical Students Hike to Destress
Getting Outside for a Walk Can Bring Much Needed Relaxation
DULUTH, Minn. – Getting outside for a walk can be a great way to relieve stress after a long day. We take a look at how some medical students are using nature to get some much needed relaxation. “Something I do for destressing is just walking outside and enjoying nature,” says Christopher Wiger, a first year medical student at UMD….
Great Outdoors: Lakeside Community Walk/Run
Group Meets Every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
DULUTH, Minn. – Walking or running along Duluth’s lakewalk can be a great way to get outside, but it can sometimes be lonely going by yourself. In this week’s Great Outdoors, we tell you about a group who walks and runs as a community. “Sometimes the biggest challenge of getting out and being active is just having a time and…
Great Outdoors: 4-H Fishing
DULUTH, Minn. – Throughout the year, 4-H offers a variety of community learning programs designed to help kids explore something new. In this week’s Great Outdoors, FOX 21’s Matt Van Winkle takes us to the St. Louis River for the club’s first hooked-on-fishing event. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Digging Deeper with Northern Harvest CSA Farm
With CSA Farms Growing in Popularity in Recent Years, Local Crops are Selling Out for the Season
WRENSHALL, Minn. – The Northland is receiving ample amounts of rain this season, causing some local farmers to wish for higher ground. CSA farming is much more than freshly picked produce on your table. “You’re never going to master nature; you’re never going to master Mother Nature,” said Farmer Rick Dalen, Northern Harvest Farm. It’s almost time for books and…
Great Outdoors: Off Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
Categories: Features, Great Outdoors
Great Outdoors: Northland Paddlers Alliance
In this week’s Great Outdoors, we meet up with the Northland Paddlers Alliance. The group is working with UMD to offer community paddling nights to give families a unique opportunity to try paddle boarding and canoeing. FOX 21 photojournalist Graham Hakala reports. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors: 4H Horse Competitors
SUPERIOR, Wis. – In this week’s Great Outdoors, we meet up with 4H horse competitors in Superior who are sharing their passion and skills along the way. Categories: Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Inside the Boundary Waters
Meteorologist Brittney Merlot Takes Us Deep Into The Vast Wilderness To Prepare For All Types Of Weather.
The vast wilderness of the Boundary Waters is in our backyard with thousands of visitors a year. It has the highest point in Minnesota and some of the oldest rock on Earth. But what about the weather when you head into the wilderness? How can you prepare? Our very own Meteorologist Brittney Merlot recently spent a lot of time in…
Great Outdoors: Lake Superior Sea Kayaking
Guided Trips All Around the Lake Offer Many Chances to Give Sea Kayaking a Try
BAYFIELD, Wis. – What better way to get outside than paddling in a boat just inches above the world’s biggest freshwater lake? In this week’s Great Outdoors, we take you sea kayaking on Lake Superior. “Kayaking is just a really neat adventure with getting to actually use your own body to propel yourself across the water,” says sea kayaker Molly…
Great Outdoors: Grilling on the 4th of July
Many local businesses spent lots of time preparing for the big rush of the holiday
From burgers and brats to pork and chicken kabobs, grills across the country were filled with a variety of food for the 4th of July. FOX 21’s Matt Van Winkle shows us how some local businesses prepared for the holiday. Categories: Business, Great Outdoors, News
Island Lake Gearing Up For Big Holiday Weekend
This Weeks Great Outdoors
ISLAND LAKE, Minn. – In this week’s Great Outdoors we head to Island Lake where they’re gearing up for a busy 4th of July weekend. Summer is officially here so a few things come to mind like cabins, lakes, your grill, family and friends and of course your favorite beverages. Island Lake sits just 20 miles north of Duluth. With…
Great Outdoors: Minnesota Wildfire Academy
The week-long course is designed to give future firefighters an introduction to the basic practices of combating wildfire situations
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Last week more than 700 students from all across the country came together for the 17th annual Wildfire Academy in Grand Rapids. For Dan Kibat, the academy at Itasca Community College has been about taking in as much information as he can before he starts his first job with the Conservation Corps in Grand Rapids. “Being…
Great Outdoors: Roger Peterson Little League Tournament
26 teams from across the region came together in Duluth to take part in the annual West Duluth tournament
DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of youth baseball players from across the Northland were in Duluth this past weekend for Western Duluth Little League’s annual Roger Peterson Baseball Tournament. In tonight’s Great Outdoors, Fox 21’s Matt Van Winkle shows us to the sights and sounds from the diamonds. Categories: Community, Great Outdoors, News, News – Latest News
Great Outdoors: Duluth Women Mountain Bike 101
The class was created to help get more women interested in the growing sport
DULUTH, Minn. – As the popularity of mountain biking continues to grow in Duluth, more and more women are starting to get involved with the sport. At Spirit Mountain, a full class is on hand for a “Ladies Only” Mountain Bike 101 class. “We’re just going to go over balance on your bike, braking, shifting a little bit,” said Dee…
Great Outdoors: Bike Rodeo
Kids Learned Bike Safety While Having a Lot of Fun
PROCTOR, Minn. – Biking can be one of the most fun ways to enjoy summer in the Northland for kids and for adults. In this week’s Great Outdoors, we take you to Proctor for their first ever Bike Rodeo. “It’s fun for doing stunts and getting the air in your face and have fresh air,” said Isaac Bogatzki, who was…
Great Outdoors: Minnesota Fishing Opener
Northland Youth Learns The Lure of The Lake
ISLAND LAKE, Minn- It’s the pursuit of the catch, that has so many of Minnesota’s anxious anglers up well before dawn and hitting the water at first light. Youth Angler, Keegan Charnley says, “We had to wake up pretty early to get here, but, well we’ve had a few bites.” For Keegan Charnley and is father Richie, they look forward…
Great Outdoors: An Update on Tick Season, What You Need to Know
DULUTH, Minn. — If you love to hit the trails up north now that it’s spring, listen up. Protect yourself from ticks. “Ticks come out after we get so many days in a row of temperatures above 45 or 50,” explains Dr. Justin Dahl from Happy Trails Animal Hospital in Superior. “So when we kind of have what we had…
Great Outdoors: Mosquito Season is Coming
Get Rid of Standing Water, and Get the Bug Spray Ready
DULUTH, Minn.- The recent cold weather is delaying the hatching of mosquito eggs, but that doesn’t mean they’re not coming. And it doesn’t even mean there will be fewer mosquitoes. “Every time there is a freeze or a frost, it’s going to knock down most of the mosquitoes that are out there,” said Mark Fenlason, Owner of Mosquito Squad. In fact, the…
Great Outdoors: Smelt Fry
Smelt Are Running and Northlanders are Getting Their Seasonal Fix
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s that time of year. Smelt are running through the waters of the Northland. In this week’s Great Outdoors, we explore the smelting tradition and how much people love to eat these small, silver fish. “I love smelt and haven’t had any for a long time.” The smelt are running and Northlanders are casting their nets to…
Great Outdoors: Gearing Up For Camping Season
Great Outdoors: Local Experts Give Camping Tips
Although it’s been rainy and chilly to start the week, Spring is here and many are gearing up for the camping season. Local outdoor experts spoke with FOX 21 to give some tips on having a successful trip. “As soon as the weather begins to warm up and the days get longer you start thinking about camping,” said Greg Pinther,…
Great Outdoors Spring Kayaking
Great Outdoors Spring Kayaking
Great Outdoors: Gearing Up for a Season on the Brule River
Categories: Features, Great Outdoors
Great Outdoors: UMD’s Clean Snowmobile Team Takes 3rd in National Competition
A busted engine was no problem for this experienced group of engineering students
DULUTH, Minn. – Living in the Northland, most people have seen and heard snowmobiles buzzing through the snow during the winter months. Over at UMD, a group of students has been working hard, designing a new, cleaner sled and they’re already seeing the results pay off. “When we first started we were just barely trying to get something to work,”…
Great Outdoors – St. Louis River Offers Many Opportunities to Get Outside
Summit at UW-Superior Addressed How Northlanders Can Improve and Protect River Corridor
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The St. Louis River Summit is happening at UW-Superior. We’ll take a look at how important the St. Louis River is to our region and how Northlanders use it for all kinds of outdoor recreation. “Once I was out kayaking in the St. Louis River on opening day of fishing.” says Deanna Erickson, the Education Coordinator for…
Adaptive Skiing Program Helps Make Skiing Accessible to Everyone
DULUTH, Minn.- Sam Mahoney was a snowboarder 7 years ago, before he sustained a tragic injury that stopped him from pursuing the sport he loved “I never got back on the snow it’s something I always wanted to try,” said Mahoney. But thanks to courage Kenney, Mahoney has the chance to hit the slopes, once again. The Courage Kenney Nordic…
