DULUTH, Minn. – If you’re looking to beat the winter blues, the staff at Spirit Mountain invites you to check out their new, free ice skating rink that’s now open to the public. “I’m really excited. Spirit Mountain has been around for 48 years, we’ve been around for a long time,” said Ann Glumac, Interim Director at Spirit Mountain. This…
FINLAND, Minn. – Just days after the first snow of the season, and outdoor winter enthusiasts are chomping at the bit to begin doing what they love. “We’re excited, the ice is forming really well for ice fishing so that was great,” said Nicole Chumley, owner of Maple Grove Lodging & Bait Store. From ice fishing to more intense activities…
DULUTH, Minn. — The multi-sport facility on rice lake road hosts different sports from soccer, volleyball, tennis and pickleball. “We kind of adapt to the time of year. Our primary thing is tennis. We do that generally from September through May. Late May-early June,” Duluth Sports Complex Assistant Manager, Nikoli Wiens says. With being shut down most of 2020, complex…
POPLAR, Wis. — Meat processing plants around the Northland are gearing up for the upcoming Minnesota and Wisconsin firearm hunting seasons. “We start with the bear season so that’s pretty fast and furious. Then it cuts back a little for the bow season. We take both from Minnesota and Wisconsin,” Hursh Meat Processing Owner, Robert Hursh says. With bow season…
DULUTH, Minn. – Whether it’s a family tradition or new memories in the making, hunting season provides activity for many Northland residents as autumn unfolds. This year, you may want to think ahead before bagging the big buck. “It’s a lot of good memories and it’s something — you’re outside enjoying the resources we have,” said Matt King, owner of…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – According to Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, annually, tourism brings nearly $76 million and over 1,500 jobs to Itasca County. Now one new attraction featuring the mighty Mississippi River is attracting tourists to the region. “Our advertising is a turtle named Patty, and a snapper named Sandy,” said Lilah Crowe,…
LUTSEN, Minn. – By now, many of the maple leaves have fallen at Lutsen Mountains, making way for the thick birch and aspen forests to glow for a few more weeks. “We spend all summer working on winter projects,” said Jim Vick, director of operations at Lutsen Mountains. Before flakes fly, fall foliage captures a crowd of seismic proportions. “Some…
GRAND MARAIS, Minn. – As summer winds down and fall settles in across the region, local businesses along the North Shore are thankful for a final push before snow begins the fly. “Nice cool weather and beautiful scenery,” said Eric Humphrey, co-owner of Lake Superior Trading Post. If you ask any local along the North Shore, every day is a…
DULUTH, Minn. – Autumn is the perfect time of year to promote the significance of agriculture. That’s exactly what one local farmer and his family continue to do this year as they welcome hundreds to pick their own pumpkins. “It’s getting cold so I’m feeling the fall vibes so we decided to come to pick pumpkins,” said Sabrina Fosness, visiting…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s a midweek break loved and enjoyed by many locals and visitors in the Northland. Concerts on the Pier at Glensheen Mansion have hundreds enjoying the great outdoors this summer. It’s an audio attraction that was forced to be muted back in 2020. “It’s strange because you’re playing to the water, you’re playing to the shore, you’re…
SOUTH RANGE, Wis. – It’s hard to come by from the sky this summer, so folks are flocking to any source of water they can to catch some relief from the heat. “Oh, we love it! If you haven’t been here, check it out,” said Tatiana Patterson, visiting Amnicon Falls State Park from New Berlin, Wisconsin. With over 40 waterfalls…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s a mushroom madness in the great north woods right now. With the foraging season kicking off in May, local mushroom masters say now is a great time to start the hunt. “It kind of started as a freak accident,” said Ariel Bonkoski, a forager from Duluth. It’s not a hobby that fits everyone’s forte. “When I…
DULUTH, Minn. — Nevada Bobs is a full service golf store offering a little something for every golf enthusiast. “Anything golf related we carry and we sell. We also have simulators that we use for custom fitting which is bread our bread and butter of what we do,” Nevada Bob’s Golf Manager, Dan Szymczak says. With everyone working at the…
CARLTON, Minn. – Folks are flocking to Jay Cooke State Park this spring. Park rangers say midweek is the best time to visit right now if you’re looking to beat the big crowds. “The Park itself is almost 9,000 acres in size,” said Ty Gangelhoff, assistant manager at Jay Cooke State Park. It’s a vast landscape filled with countless opportunities for adventure. …
GARY NEW DULUTH, Minn. – Getting kids off cell phones, and into the forest. It’s a goal of one teacher in the Gary New Duluth neighborhood as the community’s rec center continues to host Nature Nights. “In spring, kids should smell like dirt,” said Leslie Bucar, youth director at the Gary New Duluth Rec Center. You can practically smell the…
DULUTH, Minn – Over the past year, many have turned to the outdoors as a source of solace amid a global health crisis and other stressors in our everyday lives. “It’s perfect. I couldn’t be any more grateful,” said Hannah Holmberg, a senior at UMD. It’s a source of gratitude only Mother Nature can provide. “We have three extra days…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Minnesota fishing opener casts off on Saturday, May 15th this year, with the Wisconsin opener on May 1st. Aside from inland fishing, owners of big boats are also preparing for the warmer months ahead, and a new season on the big lake. Currently, the environment at Barker’s Island Marina is filled with excitement as the weather…
BRULE, Wis. – Fly fishing is now the name of the game on the Brule River in Wisconsin. This past Saturday, the trout season officially opened, and many avid anglers are thrilled to be back out doing what they love. “Anything you need in the fly fishing world, I can provide it,” said John Fehnel, owner of Great Lakes Fly…
BRULE, Wis. – As the seasons change, the sap is running wild in the north woods. For the owners of Brule River Farm in Brule, Wisconsin, it’s a season they look forward to year-round. “It’s something we wouldn’t do if we didn’t like it, and it’s a passion for us, it keeps us busy,” said David Dumke, co-owner of Brule…
CLOQUET, Minn. – The dog days of winter are coming to a close, but that’s not stopping energetic Northland residents from getting in the final few weeks of cross-country skiing. One popular place for cross country skiing in the Northland is Pine Valley Ski Area in Cloquet. “Boy what a nice day,” said John Bankson, a resident of Duluth. “It’s…
DULUTH, Minn. – As part of last months cold front festival, the City of Duluth began offering pop-up snow shoeing as one of many outdoor activities. “It’s basically a couple hours where people can take some snowshoes and get out and about in their communities,” Recreation Instructor, Julianna Langlois says. Providing a great way to get outside, with social distancing…
Two Harbors, Minn. – “It’s really beautiful in the winter time,” Nisswa Resident, Marcy Byrns says. The frozen upper and lower falls are just one of the many reasons people make a return trip to Gooseberry even in the colder months. “It’s really amazing how they are frozen over to a certain extent depending on when you come and we…
DULUTH, Minn. – Just like many other facilities, the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center is now having to adapt during the pandemic. Because of Covid-19, the learning center has had to cancel several of its annual fundraising activities. “We got together as a staff and thought we need to get creative. That’s where the idea of these DIY kits came…
DULUTH, Minn. – Over at Enger Park in Duluth, the hillside is full of unbe-leaf-ably vibrant colors of reds, yellows and bright greens. “It’s really pretty. It’s very beautiful. We’ve never been up here in the fall so it’s really cool to be up here. It’s like the perfect time to come to,” Chaska Resident, Josh Wiltsie says. With the…
From hiking to biking, Northlanders are doing all they can this summer to experience the great outdoors and keep somewhat sane amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One small group in the area is branching out with a need for speed, and a passion for sightseeing on one wheel. “If you’re ever bored, you’ll never be bored again,” said Eric Hester, a…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Great Grey Owl typically resides toward the tip of North America and across the pond in northern Russia. Recently, residents in the Northland captured a rare sight, one that has bird enthusiasts speaking out in this week’s Great Outdoors. “Even people that were just driving by living in the neighborhood, they pull over and ask what…
CARLTON, Minn. – Located just south of Carlton is one of the prime destinations for northland tourists in the wintertime. “We classic groom about fifteen miles of classic ski trails within the park,” Assistant Parks Manager, Ty Gangelhoff says. With additional fat biking and hiking trails, Jay Cooke state park offers something for all of your active adventures. “Kids love…
DULUTH, Minn. — Dog sledding was widely used by those traveling from village to village along the north shore and later by mail carriers. One legendary mail carrier in particular, John Beargrease, is still recognized and honored here today. With the Beargrease race just weeks away, in this weeks great outdoors Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot takes us mushing with a…
CARLTON, Minn. — In this week’s Great Outdoors, Fox 21’s Meteorologist Brittney Merlot takes on a hike through the fall foliage of Jay Cooke State Park. “The colors seem to be peaking a little faster than we’ve historically had in the past few years.” explained Assistant Park Manager Ty Gangelhoff. It’s said to be an “un–leaf–able” sight to explore the…
DULUTH, Minn. — Stand up paddle boarding is the new craze on calm and sunny days but what about in bad weather and through river rapids? In this week’s Great Outdoors Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot catches up with a true adventurer looking to be the first to complete a unique journey. A local Duluthian who took to the water last…
DULUTH, Minn.- A part of Minnesota-Duluth’s campus turned into an extreme skiing event for a professional skier who took home Gold in the 2012 X-Games. X-Game Gold Medalist Tom Wallisch used the campus of UMD for some extreme skiing, being filmed for his YouTube page. Just Tuesday, Wallisch posted pictures from the photo shoot to his nearly 300,000 fans on…
DULUTH, Minn. — As the brutal cold temperatures return with a vengeance, ways to stay warm are important and crucial. Fox 21’s Brittney Merlot introduces us to the LUNG PLUS. “It’s a mouth worn, re-heater and humidifier.” explains the distributor of Lungplus, Eve Graves. It’s held by small flaps that you place in front of your teeth. As you breathe…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The Winter Rovers Program brings kiddos ages 3-7 together outside to learn! It’s like an old fashioned play date hosted by the Lake Superior Estuarium. “We are just trying to connect them to the community in the area and then also get them outside.” explained intern Megan Hogfeldt. “Show them some fun things that they can do…
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, Minn. — In this week’s Great Outdoors we are headed into the thick of the woods, to cut down our own Christmas Tree! First things first, MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR PERMIT! On average, 200-300 permits are sold annually! It’s only $5, cash or check only. It can be quickly picked up at the Superior National Forest…
DULUTH, Minn.- Four kayak guides are taking the summer off to paddling their way around Lake Superior to advocate for clean water. They’re called “Four the Water” a crew of four men started a journey around Lake Superior back in May, pushing off from Lake Superior. The crew paddled up around Canada and down Minnesota’s North Shore. Overall the journey…
DULUTH, Minn. – Local police officers took the opportunity to get outside and bond with kids, hoping to build relationships and bridge the gap between the two. Several Duluth police officers met up about 20 kids at Chambers Grove on Monday for the second annual Hooked on Fishing event. “What better way to interact with the kids, bond with the…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Park Point Rummage Sale stretches four miles long, drawing in first-time “garage salers” and veterans who know all the tricks. This year did not disappoint shoppers or sellers. “Beautiful area of Duluth for one thing, to be coming into Park Point, seeing the lake right around here and they have such beautiful flowers here,” shoppers Lindy Danielski…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Great Outdoors took over Congdon Park Elementary School as students learn how to preserve our forests. The Superior National Forest’s educational outreach program aims to inspire students to enjoy our trails but also know the proper etiquette. The gym transformed into a mock boundary waters campsite at Congdon Elementary School. “We want kids to care about the environment…
DULUTH, Minn.- For nearly a decade Judge Shaun Floerke has been gearing up for each full day of work at the Duluth Court House by hopping on his bike. Once gas prices hit three dollars a gallon all those years ago, Judge Floerke changed up his morning commute, biking instead of driving. “The first couple of weeks were just super…
DULUTH, Minn.-The Buffalo Valley Campground, is open all year-round but excitement is blooming, as they prepare for the busy season. Located just 10 miles outside of Duluth, the campground is packed with Northshore adventurists. But getting blanketed with snow in late April, pushed the season back a smidge. “Mother nature threw a big monkey wrench into us this year,” campground…
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…
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…
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…
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
Categories: News, News – Latest News Tags: great outdoors, ice skating
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Curling Club has a rich tradition for its global accomplishments. And for the last twenty years, they’ve been helping kids learn the sport through its junior program. Every Tuesday night from November to March, the club instructs more than 70 young curlers. This year they took in twenty new members who had never played the…
A look at the skiing and snowboarding at Giant’s Ridge
