Great Outdoors

4th Annual Holiday Decor Sale at Boulder Lake ELC

DULUTH, Minn.– Boulder Lake is also taking advantage of holiday sales by using materials on their property. For 4 years now, Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center has sold homemade wreathes, porch pots, and even kits to make your very own wreath. This is the largest fundraiser for that Boulder Lake hosts every year. They use freshly harvested material to create…

Superior Meats Processing Deer for 2024 Season

SUPERIOR, Wis.– After hunting is over, the question of what to do with your deer harvest often comes to mind. Superior Meats is excited to cater to the hunters and help them produce venison products. Some of those products, you wouldn’t initially expect. “Make it into whatever you’re looking for. Whether it be bratwurst, summer sausage, bacon. We do a…

2024 Deer Hunting Season Begins in Wisconsin

  SUPERIOR, Wis.– Deer hunting is a beloved Midwest tradition that brings families together year after year. “My husband, son and I hunt together. You know, they’re not quite in the area, that’s real important too. You know, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Pat Kukull, owner of Superior Shooter Supply. Many enthusiastic hunters, counting down the days until…

Wildcat Sanctuary Unveils “Catio Town”

SANDSTONE, Minn.–Can you imagine living in a jungle, a Barbie Dreamhouse, or even in the set of the hit tv show “Friends”? At the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, rescued hybrid cats get to live in these fun rooms. The Wildcat Sanctuary is known for their tigers and lions but today, they’re celebrating a new home for their hybrid cats. “We…

Duluth’s Brighton Beach Reopens

DULUTH, Minn. — After years of construction, Duluthians will be glad to hear that Brighton Beach is finally reopening. You might recall when Brighton Beach closed back in August of 2021. The beach endured years of erosion, leading to lengthy repairs. But now, they’re finally ready to welcome back the public. “What I will say, and I hope you will…

Great Lakes Outdoor Summit Takes Place at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — An event for outdoor recreation enthusiasts took place at the DECC on Friday. The Duluth Area Outdoor Alliance hosted the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit. The summit draws in people from across the Upper Midwest, allowing for businesses, advocates and other organizations to connect, build community and learn more about the great outdoors. The summit had 12 engagement…

KYN: Superior Goats Help Combat Pesky Plants

SUPERIOR, Wis.– Superior Goats got their start this past summer. Owner Selinda Van Horn got a call to action, when she realized just how difficult plant removal can be. “We’ve been using the goats to clear our own property. And so, we thought well, there are other owners that could benefit this. And there are areas where you can’t get…

Minnesota Bigfoot Conference In Grand Rapids This Weekend

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — An event surrounding a big hairy mythical creature is taking place this weekend in Grand Rapids. The 5th annual Minnesota Bigfoot Conference is all about spreading awareness of the education and protection of the creature. It is put on by the Minnesota Bigfoot Research Team who have been working together for 24 years now. The event…

Burned Down Papa Charlie’s At Lutsen Mountains Begins Rebuild

LUSTEN, Minn.– More than a year after fire gutted a beloved restaurant and bar at Lutsen Mountains, construction to rebuild is about to begin. It was the morning of June 24, 2023, when those massive flames took over Papa Charlie’s. Rendering of new Papa Charlie’s Nobody was injured, but the building was deemed a complete loss.  While the lot where…

Island Lake Resident Discovers Freshwater Jellyfish

ISLAND LAKE, Minn. — Being at the cabin in Northern Minnesota, you can expect all sorts of wildlife. You can find, deer, fish, racoons and eagles. But what about freshwater jellyfish? This rare sighting is one that Island Lake cabin owner Stephanie Nixon did not expect. What started as a calm day at the cabin, turned into something more exciting….

Opportunity For Free Bicycle Basics Classes

DULUTH, Minn. — The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota is visiting Duluth, offering up free bike riding lessons to promote safe rides. The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota or, BikeMN visited Duluth to offer free classes for folks interested in getting refreshed on bike skills. The goal is to eventually pass along that information to kids learning how to ride. They covered…

Hawk Weekend Takes Flight at Hawk Ridge

  DULUTH, Minn.– This well-known birding spot is kicking off their most popular weekend of the year! Hawk weekend is catering to the bird enthusiasts in the Northland by celebrating one of the busiest migration weeks.  Specifically, the arrival of broad-winged hawks will be highlighted this weekend. Hawk Ridge has been participating in research and education programs for over 50…

5th Graders Head Outside For Forestry Day

DULUTH, Minn. — 5th graders got the chance to learn all about the outdoors for National Forestry Day. Students learned about tree identification, safe hiking practices, and more. Twelve schools were in attendance across three local parks. We caught up with the groups at Upper Spirit Mountain. The other locations were Lester and Chester Parks. Each park was set up…

Lake Superior Reserve Launches First Buoy

SUPERIOR, Wis. — An exciting new addition to the Lake Superior family made its way to the waters. At Wisconsin Point, Lake Superior Reserve deployed their first buoy into the water. The device is solar powered, and they’re eager to introduce this new research opportunity to the Northland. The team positioned the buoy to monitor where the St Louis River,…

Volunteers Help Maintain Superior Hiking Trail

DULUTH, Minn. — The Superior Hiking Trail caters to outdoor enthusiasts, and casual hikers alike. That being said, the trail doesn’t magically maintain itself. A group of dedicated volunteers hit the trails Tuesday to help maintain the Superior Hiking Trail. Lots of work goes into keeping the area up to code, as well as sustainable. Creating rock staircases, and replacing…

State Lottery Outdoors Funds Vote Renewal

DULUTH, Minn.–Local outdoor-based companies are urging voters this November to take them into consideration. Renewal of lottery funds for outdoor conservation will be on the ballot for every Minnesotan. For thirty years now, a portion of state lottery gets funded for preservation of outdoor spaces. Overtime, it has provided over one billion dollars for the Great Outdoors. Officials say, if…

Billings Park Unveils New Woodstock Bay

SUPERIOR, Wis.– A once polluted Woodstock Bay in the St. Louis River is now restored for swimming and outdoor recreation. The new bay features the only boat launch within the 44-00-acre Superior Municipal Forest. This 1.4-million-dollar project encourages visiting the wetlands in the urban setting. Woodstock Bay is home to unique scenic outlooks, a pavilion, and a canoe landing. Superior…

Bear Season Opens in Wisconsin

Hunting season for Black Bears begins in Wisconsin

  WISCONSIN– Black bear hunting season got underway in Wisconsin Wednesday. Hunters need to enter a lottery to get a license. Despite the extra steps, DNR officials are seeing an interest in bear hunting steadily increase, while other hunts, such as during deer season, seem to be declining. “When people compare it to deer hunting, they quickly, I think, realize…

Trail Fest Returns for Second Year at Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — The cool start to the weekend gave a relaxed fall-feel for the second annual Hartley Nature Center’s Trails Fest. Trails Fest celebrates all things outdoor recreation. They connect the community to local partners with the gear to try out on the trails at Hartley Park. Ski Hut provided mountain bikes for families, with a group bike ride…

Woodstock Bay Reopens as Superior’s Newest Waterfront

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Sunday’s warm weather brought many out to Superior’s remodeled Woodstock Bay. In a Facebook post, Superior’s Mayor Jim Paine welcomed the community to check the former gravel and dirt boat landing on Friday. Woodstock Bay now provides walking trails, a pavilion, a restroom, a bike repair station, and a place to dock kayaks. Since reopening, plenty of…

Duluth Park & Recreational Staff Recognized for Engaging Youth Bike Program

DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth youth bike program was recently recognized for their efforts of getting kids outdoors and enjoying the local parks and trails system. Duluth Parks and Recreation was awarded the Award of Excellence by the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association. The parks and recreation staff started a youth and community bike program last year and have already…

Kids Discover Fossils at the Minnesota Discovery Center

  CHISHOLM, Minn.– Kids experienced a day full of discoveries while hunting for fossils. “Paleo- Camp” gave kids the opportunity to find fossils that are around 90 million years old. Using a variety of tools, the campers combed through the Hill Annex State Park to make discoveries of their own. They were able to find things like snails, and shark…

A Behind the Scenes Look At Train Track Inspections

DULUTH, Minn.– Being out on the railroad, there is so much to take in. Unexpected landscapes, and behind the scenes projects. The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad gives people the opportunity to experience the outdoors from a new perspective. All thanks to the help of volunteers. Before all of this happens, there are countless safety measures put in place. “The…

St. Louis River Alliance Clearing Way for Endangered Piping Plovers

Heavy rain washed wood debris ashore, blocking the shorebirds from their potential new home and nesting grounds

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Volunteers and workers from the St. Louis River Alliance teamed up to remove debris from the Piping Plover habitat on Wisconsin Point. The sun was beating down on the sand along Wisconsin Point, but that didn’t deter the crew working to clear the Piping Plover Site. They chopped and burned logs and wooden debris that washed ashore,…

Minnesota Power and MNL Introduces New Mowing Method

  DULUTH, Minn.– As time goes on, we learn more and more about sustainable living. Minnesota Power partnered up with Minnesota Native Landscapes to try out sheep grazing. The Jean Duluth Solar spans 8.5 acres. And it is filled with precious native plants, pollinator plants, as well as other vegetation. “As you can see, the vegetation is quite high.” pointed…

Citizen Stops Near Drowning on Caribou Lake

CARIBOU LAKE, Minn. — According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, a 64-year-old Esko man was rescued by a “good Samaritan” on Caribou Lake Saturday evening. While riding a jetski, the watercraft flipped and the man began to struggle to stay above water. Another jet ski rider saw him and pulled him to shore. The man then lost conciousness….

Rose Fest 2024 Celebrates Duluth’s Summer Blooms

Visitors enjoyed the gardens and learned more about roses from the Lake Superior Rose Society

DULUTH, Minn. — Saturday was Rose Fest at Duluth’s Rose Garden and people from all over came to celebrate. The free event featured guided tours, classes on selecting, growing, and arranging roses, and even a treasure hunt for kids. The Leif Erikson Rose Garden is maintained by the City of Duluth and the Lake Superior Rose Society, a volunteer organization…

Duluth Climbers Coalition Welcome Inexperienced Climbers to ‘Flock to the Rock’

DULUTH, Minn. — While Duluth offers a wide array of hiking trails to get outside UMD students and members of the Duluth Climbers Coalition offer another way to traverse some of Duluth’s rockiest trails. On Saturday, the climbers coalition offered community members out to Ely’s Peak to scale alongside the cliffside for their annual Flock to the Rock event. The…

Bent Paddle Brewing Hosts Boundary Waters Fundraiser

DULUTH, Minn.– Folks paddled on down for this Boundary Waters fundraiser Friday Afternoon. There was a good turnout for the 2nd annual Paddlin’ For The Boundary Waters fundraiser in Duluth. Bent Paddle Brewing welcomed local food vendors, and businesses.  During the party, Dave Simonett’s band ‘Dead Man Winter’ put on a concert for guests. There was also a chance to…

Sanclemente, Gomez Take Home Grandma’s Marathon Wheelchair Titles.

Weather forces several to cancel

DULUTH, Minn.- Before this year’s Grandma’s Marathon runners crossed the finish line, competitors in the wheelchair division earned their place in the spotlight. Luis Francisco Sanclemente of Colombia won the men’s wheelchair division, finishing with a personal best time of 1:22:07. It was 2:05 away from the course record, set by Aaron Pike in 2022. Sanclemente finished just 17 seconds…

Barno Wins 6th Grandma’s Marathon, Mazuronak Sets Women’s Record

Kenya's Barno Grandma's only six-time men's champion

DULUTH, Minn- A repeat champion and a newcomer-turned-record holder are this year’s winners in the 48th annual Grandma’s Marathon. Elisha Barno of Kenya has successfully defended his title in the men’s race, finishing at 2:10:54. This marks his 6th Grandma’s Marathon victory, which is more than anyone else in the race’s 48 years. His finishing time ranks third fastest among…

Course Records Shattered in Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Ramakangoana, Frisbie earn fastest times

DULUTH, Minn.- Both of the fastest times for the men’s and women’s races in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon’s history were broken on Saturday. For the men, Tebello Ramakangoana of Lesotho finished in 1:00:17, breaking Meb Keflezighi’s 2013 record of 1:01:22 by over a minute. Tsegay Weldlibanos earned second place with a time of 1:02:04. In the women’s race, Annie…

Flood Aftermath in the Iron Range

The Iron Range was hit with heavy rainfall Tuesday, resulting in many basements and roadways being flooded.

HIBBING, Minn. — One day after a large storm brought severe rainfall to the Iron Range, parts of Hibbing are left with multiple roadways still flooded over. There were also many reports of basements flooded in Hibbing and surrounding areas. “The little bit in the basement just kind of got it wet, we had to move and basically clean it…

Lake Superior Zoo Kicks Off Pollinator Week

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo is celebrating a special week. A week celebrating an important part of nature. Pollinators are responsible for keeping the ecosystem alive and thriving. The Lake Superior Zoo kicked off the week with pollinator day, where they highlighted the keystone species. “Coming to the zoo, you can learn about pollinators and learn about native and…