Great Outdoors

Minnesota Nursing Homes Get Lifeline From State

DULUTH, MINN — On the last day of the Minnesota legislative session, the leaders of both parties got together and worked out an agreement to provide $300 million to help nursing homes across the state.  State Representative Natalie Zeleznikar, talked with FOX 21 about the agreement that likely saved many nursing homes. The first-term representative knows the issues, she’d been…

Bowfest 2023 Underway This Week

SUPERIOR, Wis.–It may be hot this week, but that is not going to keep people away from Mont du Lac Resort’s biggest event. The grounds and ranges are being prepared for Bowfest 2023. Thousands of bow enthusiasts will be lining up targets, meeting with vendors, or walking through the woods to test their skills in a variety of shooting situations….

Solar Storm Thursday Expected To Make Northern Lights Visible In 17 States

A solar storm forecast for Thursday is expected to give skygazers in 17 American states a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights, the colorful sky show that happens when solar wind hits the atmosphere. Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are most often seen in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, but an 11-year solar cycle that’s expected to peak in…

Bikes and Riders Swarm Spirit Mountain

Bike enthusiasts and spectators gather at Spirit Mountain Chalet on Grand Avenue.

Lake Superior often gets all the attention in Duluth, but this weekend it’s the dry land of Spirit Mountain where things are happening. It is the Bike Duluth Festival that happens every year. Close to one thousand bikes and their riders will be flying down the hill, and over and around all kinds of terrain. There are a lot of…

Boats Wrapped in Red, White and Blue

Annual boat parade on Caribou Lake a long-standing tradition.

Fourth of July is not just celebrated on land. It’s also celebrated by sea–or at least by lake. Caribou Lake to be exact. Tuesday it wasn’t waves of grain, but waves generated by every boat and pontoon imaginable. There was no shortage of red, white and blue as residents decked out their vessels to honor the nation’s beginning. Each year…

Minnesota Search for 3 Missing Fishermen

One man fell in, two others tried to rescue him.

RED WING, Minn. (AP) — Officials in Minnesota are searching Tuesday for three men who are missing from a fishing boat in the Mississippi River. The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office said that around 7:30 p.m. Monday, a 911 call reported that a man fell into the river while fishing near the town of Red Wing, at a point where the…

Smarts and Caution Urged When Lighting Fireworks

There are ways to make it safer for everyone around you.

With many area burning restrictions lifted or eased in recent days, it is expected that more people will be wanting to light fireworks on their own. Those who deal with fireworks and those who deal with the aftermath of injuries are reminding people to be careful. Despite the lack of rain early this summer, sales have been pretty steady at…

Spaghetti and Other Motivations Fuel Grandma’s Runners

Memories, health and family are among the reasons people run.

Something that always goes well before twenty-six miles of running, is twenty-six miles of spaghetti noodles. Visitors could start slurping their noodles and sauce at the DECC beginning at eleven Friday morning. There are many traditions associated with Grandma’s, and the pasta feed is just one of them.  Meaghan Burns and her husband from Lino Lakes will be running. This…

Fox Along the North Shore: Cascade River State Park

LUTSEN, Minn. — Now that summer weather is here and the kids are out of school, the North Shore is starting to see more visitors.  We recently stopped at Cascade River State Park and met a few people from across the country. “It’s amazing.  Absolutely breathtaking. Beautiful. I haven’t seen anything like it,” said park visitor Benjamin Boucherle. The reputation…

Fox Along the North Shore: Minnesota State Parks

NORTH SHORE, Minn — During the spring, there are many waterfalls that pop up along the North Shore that are otherwise non-existent the rest of the year. Now that the spring melt has come to an end, these pop-up falls are disappearing, leaving behind waterfalls found mainly along rivers flowing through state parks. There are seven state parks located along…

Duluth’s “Other” Train Back on Tracks in July

L.S.&M. Railroad Excursion Soon Back to Showcasing Beauty of St. Louis River Surroundings

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad will soon be back on the tracks. It looks a little quiet right now, but things will definitely be picking up as they get ready to reopen in July. During a three-year pause, they’ve been working on everything from improving the tracks to refurbishing authentic rail cars. They have a ninety-minute round-trip that goes…

Fox Along the North Shore: Tettegouche State Park

SILVER BAY, Minn. — After a long winter with several areas seeing record snowfall, there was plenty of snow to keep the waterfalls roaring this spring.  With the spring melt over, rivers are now relying on other sources to fuel the waterfalls. We recently ventured up to Tettegouche State Park where some of the last remaining snow in the Northland…

Trapping Begins for Spongy Moths in Northeastern MN

Formerly called "gypsy" moths, 100,000 trapped last season.

NORTHEASTERN, Minn. –As temperatures warm up and summer gets underway, it also brings some big problems. The trapping of spongy moths has begun in Minnesota. Formerly known as gypsy moths, they have been wreaking havoc on trees for years. Northeastern Minnesota will be included in the area where traps will be set. The Department of Agriculture says that last year…

Fox Along the North Shore: Get to Know Your Camera While Getting to Know Nature

DULUTH, Minn. — In this week’s Fox Along the North Shore: Waterfalls and More, we take another look through the cameras lens with photographer Joe Polecheck on what makes the biggest impact on your waterfall pictures. He and Ken Slama also discuss other important things to keep in mind when heading out the door. Categories: Fox Along the North Shore,…

Whitewater Rafting Businesses Starting Their Summer Seasons

CARLTON/SCANLON, Minn. — Now that flooding has settled, and river levels have lowered whitewater rafting companies are ready to go for the seasons. Swiftwater Adventures in Carlton started their season beginning of May. The owner says conditions have been on the higher end of flows but are still safe for those wanting to get out on the water. And anybody…

Some Area Trails Slowly Opening

Trail users urged to be careful and avoid damaging wet trails.

The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department said some of its trails will be opening on Saturday at noon. Thirteen of the local trails will be opening, but another eight remain closed. The Lake Superior Hiking Trail is also officially opening in some areas. A big concern is over muddy areas that could damage trails if used too soon. The department…

Fox Along the North Shore; Waterfalls and More

Area photographer helps Meteorologist Ken Slama get started behind the lens.

This week for Fox Along the North Shore: Waterfalls and More, Fox21 Meteorologist Ken Slama was at the falls and river at Lester Park with photographer Joe Polecheck. They talked about tips and advice on how to photograph waterfalls. There are dozens of waterfalls to choose from. Starting in Duluth and heading all the way to the northeastern tip of…

Fox Along the North Shore: Geological History of the Waterfalls

DULUTH, Minn — Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, there are numerous waterfalls, each with their own beauty and awe. Despite their unique appearance, they share a common history in how they were formed starting over a billion years ago. “So, we had about 1.1 billion years ago there was a major event. It’s now known as the mid-continent…

Fox Along the North Shore: Gooseberry Falls

TWO HARBORS, Minn — There are eight state parks spread out along the scenic North Shore. One landmark in particular started to gain popularity among tourists during the 1920s. Then, in 1937, Gooseberry Falls became the first designated state park along the North Shore. Nearly 100 years later, Gooseberry Falls remains a popular stop along the shore as we wake…

2022-2023 Duluth Winter Officially Snowiest on Record

DULUTH, Minn. — At 5 A.M. this morning, the National Weather Service measured 2.0″ of snow, bringing our total snowfall for this winter to 137.1″. This breaks the previous record of 135.4″ set during the winter of 1995-96. This all started back on October 14 when we received the first snowfall of the season, getting 2.0″.  December brought 44.9″ of…

City Of Duluth Parks And Recreation Announces Trail Closures

DULUTH, Minn. — The spring thaw has caused trail conditions to be vulnerable to damage if walked or ridden on during this time. Because of that the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation has announced they are closing all natural surface trails for the time being. Trails closed include the Duluth Traverse, Superior Hiking Trail, and other dirt trails in…

Voyageurs National Park Maintenance Team Receives Award Post 2022 Flood

INT’L FALLS, Minn. — Following a summer of massive flooding on the outskirts of International Falls, the Voyageur National Park maintenance team has been recognized for their contributions to protect and preserve park grounds and beyond. The park, located just outside of International Falls overcame a range of challenges amidst a record-setting flood. This leading the Midwest Regional Office of…

St. Louis County Gets $890k In Federal Government Awards To Reduce Wildfire Risk

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. — St. Louis County has landed nearly $900,000 in Federal Government awards to help reduce wildfire risks. The county’s proposal is one of the 100 projects selected nationwide to receive a portion of the $197 million through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. This new funding will broaden the county’s Firewise Program. This will be to…

Bayfield County Trails Closing For Season

WASHBURN, Wis. — Trails are closing for the season in Bayfield County starting Friday night. According to the Bayfield County Forestry & Parks Department, Bayfield County snowmobile and ATV/UTV trails will close for season on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. For ATV/UTV trails as conditions allow, they will re-open sometime in early May. For the updated trail conditions, click here….

Northern Lights Light Up Northland Sky

Photo courtesy Kyle Ziebarth DULUTH, Minn –If you were up late last night, chances are you were witness to a spectacular display of the northern lights that lit up the skies across the Northland including the Twin Ports.  Last night and this morning we received several photos from our viewers with some saying it was one of the most spectacular…

Play & Learn For Family, Friend, And Neighbor Care Providers At Hartley Nature Center

DULUTH, Minn. — With technology taking over our daily lives, many could say it’s important to get outside and appreciate nature. That’s why Hartley Nature Center is teaming up with the Duluth Public Library to put on an educational event for childcare providers. The program, which is led by a nature educator, involves reading, singing, and playing with the little…

Minnesota State Parks Are Free These Days In 2023

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Fees to visit Minnesota state parks and recreation areas will be waived on four different dates this year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Thursday revealed the four Free Park Days that vehicle permit fees will be waived at all 75 state parks and recreation areas: Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) Saturday, June 10 Saturday, Sept. 9 Friday,…

Minnesota Department Of Agriculture Teaching People How To Find Emerald Ash Borer

TWO HARBORS, Minn. — A type of beetle known as the Emerald Ash Borer was first identified in Two Harbors last spring. The species can be a huge problem as they can kill trees. Tuesday experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were teaching people outside of Seagren’s Home Hardware how to find trees becoming sick from beetles. They hope…

Amateur Weather Observers Help Communities in Measurable Ways

DULUTH, Minn — In 1997, Fort Collins, Colorado saw 14.5 inches of rain in a span of 31 hours leading to flash flooding and several deaths.  A year later, Colorado State University started the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS.  It was created to hopefully prevent another similar tragedy. In the decades since, CoCoRaHS has grown into…