Great Outdoors

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…

Oceans Alive Exhibit Opens

DULUTH, Minn.– A new exhibit made a splash Friday morning at the Great Lakes Aquarium. The Oceans Alive made its debut. The goal with this new exhibit is to represent how our oceans, climate, and local habitats are all connected. The project combines both freshwater, and saltwater enclosures in one area. They are welcoming a giant Pacific octopus, along with…

Richard I. Bong Center Honors Veterans on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day

The center raised the flags to remember the lives lost, while also supporting current veterans

SUPERIOR, Wis. — June 6th marks the 80th Anniversary D-Day, a turning point in World War 2 for the Allies. The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior honored the lives lost in the invasion. Veterans, friends, and family gathered to raise the American and Prisoner of War flags Thursday morning. Members of American Legion 435 then played Taps…

Jay Cooke State Park’s Swinging Bridge Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

CARLTON, Minn. — The Swinging Bridge at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The bridge has been a landmark for people to explore the outdoors and make memories throughout the years. Park staff spoke on Wednesday about the history of the well-known bridge. There have been five versions over time. Its last rebuild was after…

Public Hearing Draws Big Crowd For Enbridge Line 5 Relocation

ASHLAND, Wis. — The room was packed at the Line 5 public hearing Tuesday with the crowd overflowing into two adjacent rooms. Each person was able to speak for three minutes. Before the hearing started, supporters and opponents of the relocation effort weighed in. Sharon Vlari opposes the relocation and said it puts the cart before the horse. “They do…

First Responder Training For Worst-Case Scenarios In The Wilderness

DULUTH, Minn. — An important training took place at the College of St. Scholastica Monday, preparing those who spend a lot of time outdoors for worst-case scenarios. Longleaf Wilderness Medicine is hosting an 80-hour first responder course preparing people for back-country travel. Those who participated are emergency medical providers, guides, and recreators that wanted additional knowledge. On Monday they focused…

Mountain Bikers Hit the Trails for Opening Weekend at Spirit Mountain

The bike park has a variety of trails catering to both expert and beginner riders.

DULUTH, Minn. — Over the past few years, mountain biking has seen a significant growth in popularity in the northland. As new trail systems have been implemented, bikers fill the woods with the sound of zooming tires. “It’s cool to see not only the ridership grow but also the network grow,” said Jon Regenold, Director of Resort Services, Spirit Mountain. At…

Volunteers Join Together to Clean Up Wisconsin Point Just in Time for Memorial Day

Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve set out to clean up the sandbar on Saturday

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Superiorites weren’t just outside to enjoy the weather. On Saturday, twenty volunteers met up at Wisconsin Point to help make a difference. Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve held their fourth annual Wisconsin Point Spring Beach Cleanup this weekend. Volunteers split off into groups all across the sandbar, working together to pick up litter and mark down…

Skate Park Finally on Roll to Finish Line

Gary-New Duluth project has been years in the making, thinking and funding--and now building.

For people living, working and waiting in the western half of Duluth, it is a dream that is close to coming true. Ground has been broken, and earth is moving for a skate park in Gary-New Duluth. Countless people have worked for years to make that dream become a reality–both physically and financially. Now it’s so close you can almost…

Ice Is Gone, Rivers Are Flowing For Whitewater Rafting Season

The ice is gone, the temps are rising and the rivers are ready for rafting. Minnesota Whitewater Rafting are ready to get people out on the St. Louis River this Memorial Day weekend and the rest of the summer for wild adventures on the rapids. “You’re gonna to get wet. That’s the biggest thing. People always ask, is someone gonna…

Federal Hearing Held in Hayward, Wisconsin for Improving Federal Land Access

HAYWARD, Wis. — Monday the city of Hayward was the location for a federal hearing on “Improving Access and Opportunities for Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation on America’s Federal Lands.” Testimonies were heard from witnesses from Wisconsin and Minnesota, they say reduced access to federal land is decreasing the amount of people recreating in outdoor activities like hunting. Hunting and…

Minnesota Fishing Opener Reels in Mixed Results

This weekend was the official fishing opener in Minnesota and while the bait shops were busy, the fish weren't biting

DULUTH, Minn. — Fishers at Island Lake Reservoir, Wild Rice Lake Reservoir, Pike Lake, and the St. Louis River told Fox21 Local News they weren’t catching much. One fisherman even said this was the worst he’d done on opening weekend in recent history. It depends who you talk to,” said Fredenberg Minno-ette owner Jason Manning. “The nice weather will get…

Chalstrom’s Bait and Tackle Shop Busy Ahead of Fishing Opener

DULUTH, Minn. — Chalstrom’s was a popular spot for bait and tackle this week as anglers get ready for the Minnesota Fishing Opener. In the land of 10,000 lakes, the fishing opener is an unofficial holiday for Minnesotans. Chalstrom’s has just about everything one needs before hitting the water, including bait, lures, and of course snacks. Chalstrom’s says the week…

Lowell And Marshall Elementary Students Plant Over A Thousand Trees

DULUTH, Minn. — Some elementary students in Duluth made quite the impact on Friday. Kids were able to show off their green thumbs when they took on quite the project. Thanks to the efforts from both Lowell and Marshall schools, third through fifth graders planted over one thousand trees. This was led by UMD graduate Gavin Buersken. The end goal…

The Number Of Fish On US Overfishing List Reaches An All-Time Low, Mackerel And Snapper Recover

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The number of fish on the government’s overfishing list sunk to a new low last year in a sign of healthy U.S. fisheries, federal officials said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an updated analysis of American fisheries late last week via its annual “Status of the Stocks” report, which provides an assessment of the…

‘Everyone Can Bird’ Event Series Makes Birdwatching Accessible for All

Birders met up at Chamber Grove Park for an accessible birdwatching event -- catching a firsthand glimpse of the spring migration

DULUTH, Minn. — Sunday morning, dozens of people flocked to Chamber Grove Park for the Everyone Can Bird event. The morning was designed with accessibility in mind, making sure birders of all abilities could enjoy. The event had an American Sign Language interpreter on hand, as well as a track chair — an all-terrain wheelchair for hiking. Interested birders of…

City of Superior Reminds Boaters to Purchase Launch Passes for the Wisconsin Fishing Opener

SUPERIOR, Wis.– With the Wisconsin fishing opener happening this weekend, the City of Superior is reminding people to purchase a boat launch pass for certain landings in the city. The City of Superior maintains multiple boat landings for public use. The city owned landings require either annual or day launch passes. Including one of the most popular launches in the…

Drowning of Three Teenage Brothers and Hero Remembered

57 years ago, Coast Guard member died trying to save three brothers.

Tuesday was quiet and peaceful on the waters of Lake Superior. But fifty-seven years ago, the winds were vicious and the swells high. Four would die. The annual ceremony to remember those who drowned took place Tuesday at the Duluth pier. It marks the 57th anniversary of the tragic drowning that took the lives of the three Halverson family teenage…

Longtime Hartley Nature Center Leader Moves to Next Adventure

Tom O'Rourke taking his passion for environment and nature to his next challenge.

Duluth’s Hartley Nature Center is a city treasure. And now the person who has helped lead it for over a decade is moving on to his next adventure. “Hartley is such a community gem, you know, and the staff are so amazing. The board, the supporters,” said outgoing Executive Director, Tom O’Rourke. “You know any time you tell people that…

Duluth Pack Giving Back to the Outdoors with Arbor Day Campaign

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Pack has started up their annual campaign all about giving back to the great outdoors. It is the 7th annual Arbor Day Campaign, “Buy A Pack, We Give Back.” The business partners with the Minnesota DNR to plant tree saplings. They plant one sapling for every single one of Duluth Pack manufactured items sold. To date…

‘Growing Duluth’ Offers Classes, Guidance For Plant Lovers

No Matter Your Skill Level, Growing Duluth Wants to Help You Grow

DULUTH, Minn. — Since opening last September, Growing Duluth has been growing their business to include house plants, produce, gardening supplies, cannabis seeds, and more. Co-owner Louise Kolthoff says Growing Duluth wants to make people confident in what they’re growing and be a resource for plant lovers new and old. The store offers a variety classes for different interests and…

Treating Contamination to Start at Thomson Reservoir

Dioxins in the bottom sediment have been a concern since the 1980's.

There was good news Wednesday in the effort to start dealing with contaminated sediment in the Thomson Reservoir. Federal and state lawmakers made the announcement in Carlton. It is the start of a $35 million project–with most of the funding coming from the EPA through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Small pellets of granulated, activated carbon will be poured out over…

Solar Eclipse a Gray, Cloudy Washout in the Northland

No sun rays--only rain drops hit the eyes of those gathered at UMD planetarium.

If there was a place not to have a solar eclipse viewing party Monday, it was in the Northland. But that did not stop the hopeful at UMD. Many stood in the rain, looking up at the sky, only to have raindrops on their faces instead of the sun in their eyes. “Right now, just clouds, clouds and clouds,” said…

Duluth Parks & Recreation Groom Ski Trails for Final Hurrah of the Season

If you're thinking about getting some last-minute cross country skiing in, now's the time!

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Parks and Recreation had teams out earlier today at ski trails around the area, grooming the snow. According to the City of Duluth website, five trails had crews working on them. Magney Snively, Piedmont, Chester, Hartley, and Lester Trails were listed as “fair,” meaning minimal bare or icy spots. Some trails were only packed for skate…

Students Enjoy Snow Day in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Kids are enjoying the snows day in Duluth. Students from Duluth East High School gathered at a park near the Holy Rosary campus, that’s part of Stella Maris Academy. They said they watched a few movies inside at home but wanted to enjoy this surprising weather. So, they brought some younger siblings out and made snowmen and…

Winter Not Letting Go Just Yet

DULUTH, Minn. — It was just two weeks ago that we were enjoying 60-degree weather, and on Monday morning, Duluthians woke up to another round of 7-10 inches of snow across the city. It was a reminder of what winter is typically like having to get outside and clear sidewalks and driveways. After only having to get the shovels out…

Some Have to Work on Snow Days

DULUTH, Minn. — Isaac Kasper oversees maintenance operations on UMD’s campus. He was up at 6 a.m. Monday morning. Just last week, he and his team were preparing for Spring. Now they’re back to shoveling snow. “We were cleaning up planting beds, mulching, picking up brush and leaves and doing spring type work last week. Putting seed and soil down…

Snow Is Just a Bonus For Amsoil Snocross Finals

Popular event on track for first weekend in April

This winter many outdoors lovers had to delay, change or cancel their plans. But one event was determined to go on, and the coming snow will just be frosting on the cake. For years the competitive snowmobile Snocross season kicked off in Duluth over Thanksgiving weekend. This spring, after a several year hiatus, the Snocross will be back–but this time…

Cross Country Ski National Championships Take Place at Spirit Mountain

DULUTH, Minn. — Much of the Northland has been waiting all winter for the upcoming big snow but its timing may not be a coincidence. Some of the best cross-country skiers in the nation are converging at Spirit Mountain. It’s the SuperTour Final and National Championships. Things kicked off Thursday with the first of four races over the next six…

Snowmobile Trails in the Area Will Not Open Despite Predicted Snow

Open water, wet areas, or swamps could be left underneath snow, making riding a safety concern.

Regardless of how much snow is predicted this weekend and early next week snowmobile trails in the area will not open. Bayfield County in Wisconsin announcing that the snowmobile season was officially over on March 11th. That’s when all trails closed, and gates were locked. They also mention that swamps and wet areas will not be frozen enough to ride…

Historic Paintings on Tour for Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday

DULUTH, Minn. — Historic paintings are on tour in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday. The Superior National Forest is hosting the 19 paintings at their Supervisor’s Office in Duluth. Smokey Bear’s story came about after a young bear cub was caught in a forest fire; he was saved but badly burned so, they ended up naming him Smokey. The…

Knowing Your Neighbors: Damage Boardshop

DULUTH, Minn. — The hill that Duluth is built on provides a natural landscape for a variety of downhill sports. Once local shop that has been around for nearly 20 years has been watching and helping two sports in particular grow in popularity. “We carry snowboards, the snowboarding boots, bindings, jackets, snow pants, goggles, helmets, mittens, beanies, you name it,”…