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    Black Beach

    4.8 (22 reviews)

    Black Beach Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Black Beach

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    One of the few if any black sand beaches in the lower 48, I can't think of any others.
    Jpb T.

    GREAT hidden gem right off of Route 61. This is a chance to experience a black sand beach without having to fly to Iceland or Hawaii. This is an awesome place to have a picnic. Give credit to Cliffs Corporation opening up this space to the public.

    Swimming in Lake Superior at Black Sand Beach
    Karina W.

    Gorgeous hidden gem on Lake Superior! It used to belong to a mining company but it has been opened to the public. You will not find any signs from the main road, so follow GPS until you get close. Parking is along the side road, then you walk down to the beach area. The water is shallow so you can swim far out. You can climb the large rocks and even find an adorable tiny swimming cove on the other side.

    Shelby G.

    1. Like anywhere cool/instagram worthy, expect it to be a busy place. 2. This is not sand, but more like small black rocks -- definitely can hurt to walk on barefoot. 3. It can be a little difficult to find because there aren't signs differentiating between Black Beach and Black Sand Beach. To get here, when you see the little parking lot for Black Beach, continue driving down the dirt road. You'll probably start to see a line of cars parked and then a little parking lot with a trail that brings you to Black Sand Beach.

    Black Beach

    One of my favorite places I visited. Truly unique and very relaxing. Small parking area but we lucked out. Short walk to the lake shore. Wasn't very big if you're used to some ocean shores and beaches. Also if you're used to water ways having a stinky smell there wasn't any detectable stink to it. It's a must see!

    Caitlin U.

    This is a great beach. I think it's awesome the the sand is black. You do not have to pay any type of fee to go here. They gave a small free parking lot. This isn't a beach that you can swim in since the waves in lake superior are very strong. I did try kayaking which is also very difficult to do since the water waves are pretty heavy. However there is a place that you can bring firewood and have a fire. There are also picnic tables so you can have a picnic. They have a private area that is supposed to be handicap accessible however we went over there it didn't seem very easy to get down to the water if you were in a wheel chair they had a lot of rocks and things.

    Black sand and nature
    Bella V.

    Unbelievably unique and beautiful place! The surrounding nature is magical! Would definitely come back. Highly recommend!

    Black beach up close

    Had the whole beach to ourselves! Soft black rock type sand. Picturesque type of place. It was cold when we went but was worth it. So gorgeous. Definitely one of the prettiest places on the north shore

    Michael H.

    This location has panoramic views and its one of the few beaches on the North Shore with a fine black sand to enjoy and swim in the water. While the water of Lake Superior is cold overall, this location has the warmest waters. We have been to the North Shore a few times and this is our first time to Black Beach. Be sure to include Black Beach as part of your North Shore visit because it is easily accessible.

    Ann S.

    I've visited Duluth many times over the years, but had never visited the Black Beach before. Though, my understanding is that the beach just opened back up to the public in mid-2015. Unfortunately, it was a rather cold day, but the beach was still beautiful and we enjoyed walking along the water line. The "black" beach is made up of taconite tailings that have built up over the years. That said, while you can absolutely bring pets, I would be hesitant to keep them there too long. While recent studies have found that it wasn't the taconite that caused mesothelioma among miners on the iron range (instead it was asbestos), I am still leery to let my pets have contact for too long.

    Kim C.

    What an amazing place! As we were driving through Silver Bay, we saw this billboard at the side of the road for Black Beach. We were intrigued.... Was it just a name or was it black? Anyway, we got the lowdown from the innkeeper at the B&B we were staying at. For years it was simply private land owned by the mining company. Kids would sneak there for drinking parties and late night shenanegans. But it was also an amazingly beautiful beach. One day the mining company got tired of tresspassing and fenced the beach off. The locals were up in arms! Silver Bay purchased the tract of land and created a public beach (which noone but the locals seem to know about) and the rest is history. Yes, the sand is black. The taconite plant dumped a lot of minerals in the lake which accumulated in the sand and made it black. The sand is not fine but almost pebbly. I took some home with me and my daughter loves to play with it. There were some gorgeous rock formations not far off the beach and in fact the biggest was joined to the beach by a sandbar. Several young adults were attempting to climb it when we were there. There were several picnic tables, some fire pits and a vault restroom located in the small parking lot. This wasn't the easiest beach to find. Its tucked away and seems private. It wasn't crowded mid august which tells me it's not a tourist destination, but it should be!

    Ella P.

    Absolutely love this beach! There are pits to have a bonfire everywhere and the view is beautiful! It is a bit harder to access but other than that it's amazing!

    Justin T.

    Although I've been returning to the North Shore since I was five, and only visited Black Beach a few times in the interim, it will forever hold a commanding and singular place on my internal mantelpiece of warm memories. A few weeks ago, I took my Californian Honeybunny to the North Shore (and Minnesota) for the first time. And this is the first place she dipped her awe-struck paw in the great waters of Gichi Gami. We wiled away an entire morning vacillating between staring, mouths agape at the panorama of day-glow orange lichen-crusted rock formations, and stark, pine-studded, wind-swept headlands...and staring, mouths agape on hands and knees or fully prostrate at the microcosmic universe of rocks and pebbles of this vast, ebony-pebbled collection of heterogeneous mineralogical wonders. In addition to touching Superior, and being touched, in turn, by something even more vast, opaque, and enigmatic, we also tried our hands--paws--at something I've never had much success with--agate hunting! And lo and behold, she found her first agate! I found about 4-5, most of which were less than 5 mm in width, but the largest contained an oddly dark and pale complexion, like a mocha with foam. It seemed to perfectly symbolize the enigma of this depthless inland sea, both a perfect representation of its complex, multilayered beauty, and a fingerprint of its individuality. While it is easy to be swept away (pun intended) by the visual delights of this place, there is also an audio landscape that permeates this crescent sliver of night-hued sand. You hear it each time the waves lap against its edges. It is not the crashing roar I hear so often at Pacific beaches or even other parts of Minnesota's North Shore. It is more like another, distinctly Minnesotan sound, the tinkling of ice being crushed as the fragile skins of ponds either just on the cusp of freezing up in Autumn, or in Spring or the mid-winter thaw when the ice shards collide like metal wind-chimes in a faint summer breeze. While this sound is fundamentally akin to those just described, it differs in its essential qualities: it is more rhythmic, undulating at regular intervals, and less like the breaking of something; it is gentler, and lower-pitch, a cross between the sound of a giant's sonorous exhalations in a deep, peaceful slumber and the ringing of bells. It is easy to imagine some great, invisible hand or palm running over these sands, plying them like the strings of an instrument that mortal ears can barely hear let alone conceive of. The singing sands have their own voice and volition, and yet they can be plied. How is it so? How is it that a single note can provision the hearer with perfection, and it also can when played with other notes? Whether one instrument aubades us, or many simultaneously, each note resonates as an echo of the whole, just as each grain of sand is an imprint of the whole. Choose your measure: pi, the golden mean, the atom, the pentatonic scale--the entire sea exists in a drop of water, the beach in a grain of sand, the human being, in an atom, the humble snail shell in a spiral. When reduced to subatomic particles, matter and energy are indistinguishable. We are not objects, but a ceaseless oscillating wave, and when all of our voices are heard together--the voice of the sand, the sea, the plants, and humankind--above the din of our illusions, constructs, and artifices--we exist as one interstellar orchestra, there is no cacophony, just a ceaseless hum. That hum is found in the sounds mothers instinctively make to their babies, in the purrs of cats, in the wind through tall grasses, in singing sands caressed by inland oceans. We all exist in the symmetry of our relationships to and with all other things. To the degree that our actions reflect that symmetry, we achieve perfection. Symmetry is simply the external manifestation of harmony. Lest we forget that we are children of the Earth, it is wise to remember that the Earth is within us as much as we are a part of it. We are nothing without the iron in our blood that points to true north, without the calcium that forms the house of our flesh, we are nothing without the carbon that we share with all life as we know it, without the millions of unknown species of bacteria that live and die in the cities and countries inside of us, without the combination of hydrogen and oxygen atoms that makes the inland seas and rivers within us, without which nothing could live. We are intact ecosystems. We are whole, complete, perfect, and yet we could not exist alone. We are nothing and we have nothing without our relationships we have. We are but one of an infinite number... Were I to give this beach another name, I think "Singing Sands" would be a fitting title. I could spend hours here lost in reverie, deaf to all distractions, receptive only to the voice of the singing sands, and the lost language of the rocks, the wind in the branches of gnarled pines, of the Earth herself...

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    2 years ago

    A nice place to relax and enjoy the lake. There are lots of grill pits and picnic tables

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Super cool place to visit. Crazy how beautiful the lake and beach are. Plenty of parking and room to spread out and enjoy.

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    Ask the Community - Black Beach

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes as long as they are on a leash

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    Review Highlights - Black Beach

    It can be a little difficult to find because there aren't signs differentiating between Black Beach and Black Sand Beach.

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    Tettegouche State Park

    Tettegouche State Park

    (34 reviews)

    Cart-in campsites are normally great and well taken care of, especially campsite H…read more We scooped up a campsite(H) and reserved it early on. We get to the site after pushing a full cart(with a messed up wheel) to find a dozen fallen trees that haven't been clean up, and a bunch of dry old rotting brush on the site, and the fire pit is needing to be cleaned out(its full) Site needs maintenance, bad, was really looking forward to our stay, and now just kinda disappointed.

    Tettegouche State Park yes what a worthwhile place to come for a visit! Tettegouche is located…read morealong North Shore Scenic Drive running up and down the Minnesota coast. For me...the star attraction is the hike to HIGH FALLS!!! You can never have enough waterfalls and these High Falls were fantastic! I highly recommend everyone make the trek to High Falls and take some time to appreciate the beautiful backdrop. First off, Tettegouche SP is sort of a hidden little park. When I arrived here, the parking lot was small and it appeared that I fortunately got the last available spot. I visited back in June around 9am and the park and trailhead had filled up. I read at the entrance sign that the trail to High Falls was 1.5 miles each way taking roughly 2 hours. I was able to arrive at High Falls in a little over 1 hour each way with a quick pace. I found the hike to be relatively difficult especially starting out and towards the end. Leaving the trailhead I did have to climb up and over some rocks and cliff areas that I wasn't expecting to be so rugged. I'd say the elevation along the way was pretty elevated at times. When you do arrive near High Falls, there's a sign that states you have to step down 83 stairs to the base. But not to fret...it's all worth it. Upon making it to High Falls, I found the setting to be spectacular! It was a sunny, brisk and pleasant morning for the start of summer. Also, there was zero wind. I was able to climb on the rocks for some great looking photos of this 63 foot tall waterfall along the banks of the Baptism River. High Falls splashed down the cliffside and is sort of divided, making the appearance you're gazing out upon two unique looking waterfalls. Really, in total, it was a beautiful scene. If you don't mind taking your shoes off you can certainly step onto the waters for closer views up to High Falls. You can cross the river for different perspectives. I was really impressed with the surroundings at High Falls. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and as I always point out...I got fortunate with the sun being at my back and allowing for picturesque photo opportunities. On the side next to the trail you can climb safely up to the falls. For me, I was content getting a panoramic view from the riverside area. I simply took a seat on the rocks and had High Falls in plain clear sight for one grand magical moment. I hung out for 45 minutes. Eventually it filled up with hikers. For the time I was there though, I was appreciative for looking at such a pretty waterfall. Also at these High Falls, there was a sign for the Two Step Falls Access. I tried to decipher where this access lead towards but unfortunately I never discovered anything worthwhile. For those wanting more out of their time here you can connect to the Superior Hiking Trail. There were signs for it. Another worthwhile spot was Shovel Point. According to the entrance sign, if you follow the cliff line trail to Shovel Point, you're afforded views of the world's largest freshwater lake. Finally, you can also hike to Tettegouche Camp where you can reserve a cabin in advance and stay overnight in nature. Or it's mentioned that you can simply picnic in the lodge or canoe Mic Mac Lake. My experience here at Tettegouche State Park was fulfilling. Getting the chance to hike to High Falls for fantastic photo chances was memorable. I left feeling satisfied and grateful for taking a few hours out of my summer morning to visit. I highly recommend stopping here during your travels along North Shore Scenic Drive. I've become a waterfall enthusiast and believe if you make the 1.5 mile trek each way, you will not be disappointed with the sights and surroundings of this 5 star attraction.

    Agate Bay Beach - The walking path to the lighthouse is what makes Agate Bay worthwhile.

    Agate Bay Beach

    (3 reviews)

    Agate Bay Beach sits beside the waterfront town of Two Harbors, Minnesota…read more First off, the town of Two Harbors, MN is a worthwhile stop to make while driving along the popular 150-mile North Shore Scenic Drive up the northeastern part of Minnesota's coast. Here at Agate Bay, you can pause to appreciate the setting viewing onto the endless waters of Lake Superior. The big highlight is walking on a cement pathway that extends out to a remote lighthouse observation point. This pedestrian strip only takes 10 minutes to walk, but it affords you a picturesque overlook into the wide-open appearance of Lake Superior. You can breathe in the fresh air while making the stroll over to the lighthouse and ultimately, coming to Agate Bay allows for a casual rest from driving, if you're not in any hurry. While visiting back in early June, there were a couple of cars parked in the lot and just a few tourists checking out this cool little beachfront. Generally, it was quiet and not nearly as congested as I had anticipated it to be for peak summer visitations. The historic lighthouse at the end of the beach pier is a rewarding opportunity for a picture with Lake Superior in the background. Lol, it made me ponder...how many of the 5 Great Lakes had I been to??? But overall, it's a pleasant moment outside. And definitely, making the journey on North Shore Scenic Drive is the epitome of enjoying nature, with loads of beautiful state parks and gushing waterfalls. Lastly, located just before the walking pier, they have a few picnic tables set up which is a nice chance to enjoy lunch with a view. From here at Agate Bay, I'd suggest grabbing dessert 3 miles away at Betty's Pies before spending time at fantastic MUST DO - Gooseberry Falls State Park.

    Good spot to walk all the way down to the lighthouse with the kids. Very windy the day we wentread more

    Meyers Beach- Bayfield Sea Caves

    Meyers Beach- Bayfield Sea Caves

    (4 reviews)

    We hiked the Lakeshore Trail from the Meyers Beach parking lot. (National Park Service. $5 parking…read morefee; $2.50 if you have a Senior Pass or Access Pass. May, 2023). As noted by others, this is a launch point for kayaks to launch for views of the sea caves and cliffs. We were at this location twice in late May, 2023, and national park Rangers were there on both days (Wednesday, Friday) ensuring that kayakers were prepared for the rough and cold waters, and to provide guidance to hikers. There are clean vault toilets at the location. Regarding the Lakeshore Hike, we did about 2.2 miles of the hike, returning on the same trail to make it about 4.4 miles roundtrip. The trail continues to a campground site (I believe NPS reservations are required) but we didn't go that far. The first 1.8 miles are largely inland, without views of Lake Superior. Of this segment, the first 0.7 miles are almost completely on a double plank boardwalk that goes over swampy land in parts. It requires some stepping up and down on planks, following terrain changes. After you cross a service road at 0.7 miles, the trail alternates between plank boards and regular trails. As you approach the crevasse at 1.8 miles, there are quite a few ascents and descents wherein you go down to a stream-bed and then back up. Some of these are steep but have logs to help with footing. The stream crossings all had sturdy boards or bridges to cross. At 1.8 miles, you reach the crevasse area with views of Lake Superior. Take a look on both sides to see sea caves and the deep crevasse. There are benches here too so it made a great lunch spot. Be careful not to get too close to the edges. It's a long way down! Beyond the crevasse, walk another 0.4 miles to the "basin". This stretch is relatively easy (flat) walking with spectacular views. My husband, who has been hiking in the Himalayas recently, found the entire trail to be easy. For me, I'd characterize it as moderately challenging. On the positive side, there is very little elevation change, so I wasn't huffing and puffing. However, I have balance issues, so I didn't particularly like the footing for the ascents/descents to the stream beds nor all of the roots on the trail. Some of the steps up and down, even on the boardwalk, were also a bit too high for my short legs! Having walked with hiking poles and an occasional hand from my husband helped. Finally, remember bug spray. The mosquitoes are active. 4-star rating overall instead of 5 due to distance required to walk to get views of the sea caves and mosquitoes. 5 stars for the Park Service.

    You have to come check out the sea caves on the shoreline of Lake Superior. Meyers beach is the…read morelaunching point for kayaks. It's also the location for the hiking trail. The views from the water are beautiful! I highly recommend the water instead of the walking trail. There are multiple vendors you can rent kayaks and wet suits from. You can even take a guided tour. We personally, have our own kayaks and decided to do our own trip. The DNR do sit at the beach and give you the whole spiel on safety and risks. It is recommended to use sea kayaks due to the rough waters of Lake Superior. We have used normal lake kayaks and used good judgement on the water/ weather conditions. Both times were just fine on the normal kayaks. Just be careful. The waters are freezing all year-round and if you do go overboard near the caves there's no good spot to pull off. Check out my pics of the stunning caves!

    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - Sand Island - North Beach

    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

    (35 reviews)

    Visit for the Sea Caves! We spent 4 days in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - 3 days of…read morecamping on Sand Island and a full day touring the surrounding area. Skip Madeline Island if your schedule is tight. Highlights: Sea Caves - my favorites were the northeastern edge of Sand Island (next to Justice Bay). They are so breathtakingly beautiful, especially in sunrise or sunset lighting. Since we took our boat, we were able to get up close to see all the spectacular details. If you don't have a boat, rent kayaks and a tour guide to get up close views. Grand Tour - we drove to Bayfield to ride a large catamaran boat for a 3 hour tour of the Apostle Islands. Visitor Centers - they were full of interesting info and has some fun merch for souvenirs. Many people rave about their experience visiting Madeline Island (the largest island) which isn't actually a part of the National Lakeshore, but we found it rather outdated and boring and left on the very next ferry.

    Great area with some beautiful scenery. We stopped at 2 mainland visitor centers for about 30…read moreminutes each and learned a bit about the islands. The Little Sand Lake visitor center we could have actually spent more time if we'd had the luxury but we had an appointment to keep. I could see spending about an hour there. I recommend visiting both centers and taking a ferry/tour of the islands. If you want to do it all give yourself 3+ days. Otherwise you could probably hit the highlights in 1.5 days.

    Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior - Small beach great for relaxing and rock skipping

    Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior

    (54 reviews)

    $$$

    We really enjoyed our stay at Bluefin Bay! Waking up to the sunrise over the water was such a…read morehighlight, and the beach was beautiful. The nightly s'mores were a fun touch, and the pool and hot tub were relaxing, with a pretty walkway leading to them. Our room was comfortable, with cozy beds and extra bedding, which we appreciated. We loved that the main lodge had hot coffee and ice water available - as well as games and loves to check out! That said, the exterior is starting to show some age, with weeds throughout the grounds and overgrown bushes making the sidewalks feel crowded. A window on our room was broken and the indoor pool was out of commission. While the activities are a great perk, one was full before I could attend, and the yoga class I signed up for didn't have an instructor show up. Overall though, it was a relaxing and enjoyable stay and I'd happily come back again!

    Stayed in Unit 2- 2 bedroom 2 bath with 2 patio upper & Lower. Full kitchen, living room,…read morefireplace. All the cups, plates , utensils you may need. Upper bedroom is a suite overlooking Lake Superior. We enjoyed dinner at Blufein Grille, we enjoyed the outdoor pool & hot tub overlooking Lake Superior. We had Pizza from Coho and it was delivered. This is a resort you can check in and dont have to leave for food or drink. There are options. There is also a spa, indoor pool/hot tub. We enjoyed the fire pit and a night walk on the lighted lake walk. Everything was clean and accommodating. We will be back.

    Black Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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