Wow, is there a lot to see here. After enjoying dinner at the Canal Park Brewing Company, it was time to wander around the Canal Park itself. TWO lighthouses, breakwater, the 1905 Army Corps of Engineer building and of course, the amazing Aerial Bridge. Sculpture gardens, lots of restaurants and retail shops and hotels. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center looked interesting but was closed at the time of day I visited. And I was hoping the bridge would open but it didn't happen during my visit. Note that it gets VERY cold here because of lake effect weather. Be prepared. [Review 17895 overall - 115 in Minnesota - 1416 of 2022.] read more

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There variety of place to eat and drinks. Plus a sightseeing and lighthouse. There is museum. There many different shops and desserts too. The price has varied too . read more

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Canal Park was an amazing experience! It was awesome being able to see how ships passed through the bridge while also being educated on the types of ships that pass by. I highly recommend going to the museum and learning about the history of Canal Park! read more

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Excellent place. I am a ship-spotter, and after watching the lake freighters come in through the canal on Duluth Harbor Cam for many months, I was ecstatic to finally make the pilgrimage to the actual location. On my first night I saw the famous and beautiful S.S. Arthur M. Anderson come in. Other ships I saw come through include the M/V Mesabi Miner, M/V American Century and the Federal Ruhr. Definitely a great place to go for any lover of ships. read more

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Beautiful park with nice pathways along the lake, beaches, and wonderful places to shop and eat

Gorgeous beautiful place. Long wide walkway, terrific scene close to restaurants, shops, and the aerial lift bridge. Next to lake Superior, spend the day by the shore of the Midwest. read more

Beautiful walk. Stroller, walker, bike etc friendly. Looks newly redone and it's breath taking. Plenty of space and the walk to the lighthouse is great. Also you get a up close view of the lift bridge which is so much fun. read more

Canal Park - Lighthouse - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

A lot of construction in the area but nice views of the Harbor, lighthouses and interesting restaurants and shops. read more

Canal Park - Statue of Liberty.. - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Truly a diamond in the rough. This was an unexpected, very enjoyable find in downtown Duluth. This is my first time in the city and I kind of found this district by luck! Once I parked, I just kind of followed the crowds and realized a ship was about to pass through the canal. That was pretty cool! After that I walked around the various shops and bars located in the area and also had a great meal. Lots of cool sculptures and historical markers to look at and read while strolling the streets. What I thought was missing was music? The area just looks like there should be people playing on the street corners or outside of some of the restaurants.. but I is a Monday, so maybe things are different on other nights. Tourist hot spot. read more

Beautiful place to walk or just sit. Fun to watch the lift bridge go up and down. Feels like you are looking at an ocean. Wonderful breeze comes off the water. Great shopping and restaurants in walking distance. read more

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This review is based off the last time I came here, which was May 2021. Some aspects of this park may have changed since then, whether good or bad. This park is truly wonderful and is one of those rare gems. I don't understand why not many people from other areas of the US (and even Canada, with the exception of Northwestern Ontario and maybe Manitoba perhaps) know about Duluth and all the beautiful things it has to offer. Canal Park is very clean, safe, and also somewhat easy to miss, and provides great views of Lake Superior, the Aerial Lift Bridge (obviously) and Downtown. I would definitely consider this a family-friendly place. In the times I used to live in Minnesota, I would come up to Duluth a lot for day trips and have loved every single visit - and all of them have included a stop at this beautiful park. There is also a nice walk up to a lighthouse as part of the park. Be sure to check that out for a relaxing, calm walk along the shores of Lake Superior. I have even been lucky on some occasions to see a ship pass through the park and under the lift bridge. Definitely something you don't want to miss, as I do not know many other places you can go where you can watch massive boats and ships sail right past you up close. Canal Park is also located near a lot of great small, local shops, restaurants and hotels along the Lake. Don't forget the DeWitt Seitz Marketplace nearby too, that's another must-see place in Duluth. So why not kill two birds with one stone and do all those activities at once? Despite all this, I have never found Canal Park to be overwhelmingly crowded in all the times I have been here. It does get busy, but never to the point where you feel uncomfortable, at least in my experience. Although I currently do not live in Minnesota anymore, I definitely look forward to visiting this place again if I'm back in the area. read more

Canal Park - Aerial Lift Bridge - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Pretty neat park just outside the downtown area of Duluth. The whole area is called Canal Park, as well as the designated city park adjacent to the bridge where the maritime center is located. Paid parking is present, and if you drive, you should definitely pay because they have many officials walking around all day everyday writing tickets. During my 1 hour of parking on my last day in town, I saw numerous cars receive citations. A must visit for families and all other types of visitors. read more

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Wow! The new boardwalk is amazing and such a beautiful place to stroll at Canal Park. We walked and biked it the same day. read more

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There is not a lot to not like at Canal Park because if this is not your thing you wouldn't be here anyway..so much for some logic. When you feel you've seen enough of the park of course just head back to the rest of downtown Duluth or walk along the shore. The waves splash against the rocks, the ships head in after some powerful blasts on their horns, the lift bridge rises and falls, tourists take pictures. Grandma's for lunch, the Maritime Museum, The Slip Bridge, the ore boat William Irvin and your right next to the Entertainment and Convention Center with a hockey rink. The views are spectacular all year round. Parking is free from Oct-March and even in the off season spaces can be limited. read more

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Canal Park is a blast. There are so many things to do and see here. The first advice I can give to out-of-towners is to make sure to plan for about 10 degrees cooler by the lake. Be sure to come prepared. Lack of preparation may spoil this if you are not warm enough. The high lift Bridge is the star of the show with tons of shops, restaurants and sights to behold. The Duluth Lakewalk starts here and continues along the shore of Lake Superior. Beautiful scenery and if you are lucky enough to see the bridge lift for a large ship, it is a nice photo opportunity. See the great photos that I took to help you fall in love with this area. Another long-time favorite here is Grandma's restaurant. Stop by for some grub. Little Angie's Cantina is a good option if Grandma's is too busy. Enjoy the beauty of Lake Superior. read more

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What a fun area! We decided to stop off on our way through town, heading for Grand Marais. The walk-through alone is worth the stop. Add in the beautiful views and interesting details and you can easily kill a day, even on a chilly day! When we arrived, it was "Minnesota breezy" out. In other words, hurricane force winds. The waves were crashing against and over EVERYTHING. It brought back West Coast memories, vibes that brought on a craving for a steaming cup of craft coffee. I recommend checking out the museum- free, enjoying the beach (almost like being at the ocean- complete with sea gulls- watch em... they'll steal your crackers), and watching the ships- hard to believe this is a lake. Feel you, be free, if only for a day! read more

Canal Park feels like a hybrid of the Midwest and east coast. It feels like home - and is freeeee! If you come to Duluth but didn't spend a good amount of time on the shores of Canal Park, then ya dun goofed. There's a lighthouse, sculptures, outdoor fact sheets and artifacts, a fun shoreline, restaurants, and the drawbridge, to name a few things. There is a shipwreck still sitting at the bottom of the lake, right by the shore, that is interesting to read about but horrifying to imagine. The museum in the park is free as well, and you will feel like a big adult-baby when you cannot resist getting behind the ship's wheel and spinning it like a drunken pirate. Waving and cheering for the big ships that come honking in under the lift bridge is another neat aspect - it makes me feel like I'm waving at the Titanic which is fun until I remember how horrible an analogy that is. Dipping my feet into the cold water on a summer's day is one of life's simple pleasures. So is running around like a total ass and feeding seagulls (even though I usually hate when people act like this). I don't recommend it, actually. It's rude and attracts too many seagulls and one of them shit right in my eye. read more

Canal Park - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Early one morning I coaxed my friend to join me for a walk in Canal Park to take in the beautiful sunrise over Lake Superior. It was our first full day in Duluth and I wanted to take advantage of as much of this amazing city as I could. We walked over the Aerial Lift Bridge and explored a bit of the Lakewalk near the Maritime Center. I walked down both piers to take pictures of the lighthouse and the bridge from multiple angles. Even at sunrise we were able to watch several boats sail under the bridge. It's quite a sight. Canal Park is a popular place and for good reason. I took way too many pictures. But how could I not? Canal Park is quite possibly one of the most beautiful and scenic spots in all of Duluth regardless of the time of day. I would recommend a sunrise walk as a great way to ease into another gorgeous day in Duluth. read more

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Beautiful place to walk around. Especially on days like today which are few and far between in Duluth. If you have a dog, I highly recommend walking them around here. If you are a tourist, this is the perfect spot for a family getaway. If you live in Duluth, parking may be an issue during the summer so you may want to take a cab here. There is so much to do and see in this area. I personally love watching the ships on the lake from here. You can walk around and read the facts sheets or hang out at the lift bridge. There are all kinds of crazy little shops and yummy restaurants to keep you entertained. When I come here, I feel super happy because all of the wide open space and freedom to roam. It's the perfect balance of nature and shopping! read more

Canal Park - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Canel Park Brewing Company. Fish Tacos not worth it. I usually try to come from a place of gratitude but I can honestly say: Don't go to this restaurant. Service was VERY slow as if the waitress was moving in a slow motion movie. Extremely bland taste and minuscule in quantity. Chips were stale...maybe they prepared a minnow taco wasn't enough fish call it a fish taco. I can barely give it one star. Worst lunch I've ever had. read more

Canal Park - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Every time I visit a new city I like to explore it by checking out their best running trails. The trail here at Canal Park is absolutely beautiful. Lighthouse, constant lake views, and sculptures make this a geat run. They have a boardwalk for walkers and a paved path for runners and bikers. Grounds are well maintained and theres a big restroom too. I went for two runs here and it made me happy to see others enjoying the park. I shall return. read more

Canal Park - Parks Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

This was my first stop of many while taking a weekend trip along the North Shore. My girlfriend and I were walking around in the area when we noticed a huge ship approaching the canal. We made our way over to the edge of the canal and waited for the ship to enter the canal. The thousand foot ship blasted its horn three times and the bridge responded and started to rise. It seemed like it took the boat forever to get under the bridge, but it was probably only a few minutes. Great spot to catch some boats, take pictures, and it is right next door to restaurants and shops so there is something to do for everyone. read more

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Oh man...if you take a trip to Duluth and have never checked out Canal Park, you are missing out! There are plenty of touristy things to check out (shoppes, restaurants, cheesy t-shirt vendors, spas, aquarium, theater, etc). But the real show stopper here is the walk along the water, watching the ships come through the canal, and gawking at the lift bridge go up and down (seemingly trivial to watch a bridge go up and down but man, its a sight to see!). There are several benches near the water where you can park yourself and boat/people watch. Here's the only downside: parking is a pain. If you aren't staying in the hotels in Canal Park, which we never do, driving to Canal Park and finding parking can be a nightmare. Do not go here on a weekend if you can help it! It gets c-r-a-z-y! You are going to pay to park, no question there, but on weekends, we've run into times where there was not a single space anywhere near the Canal and we just decided to forgo visiting. So, my advice is you definitely want to check out Canal Park, but go on a weekday, early in the morning if you can (plus, you'll get a bonus of watching the sunrise over the water from the lighthouse!). read more

Canal Park is an interesting place to visit. However, be careful where you park. At 1:59 pm I used the pay machine to pay for my parking, paid for three hours; 5 minutes later at 2:04pm I had a parking ticket violation from the city. Clearly they need to come up with a better system. After discovering the ticket, I immediately went to City Hall to argue it. Now you would think they could just take care of this immediately since it was issued in error but nope. I had to file a formal appeal and now I have to wait for it to be processed. They said they would get back to me. Ridiculous. I was also told next time to use the parking app instead of the pay machine. So my advice to you, don't visit unless you have a smart phone and are willing to download another app. read more

Although a bit touristy this part of Duluth is a great place to start a tour of the North Shore of Lake Superior. This area has changed a lot since Duluth was a small city in the 1800's. If I remember my history right this area, like Superior, WI. to the south was where sailors would hit the bars and frequent the whorehouses. Now in the last 30 or 40 years it has turned into an inexpensive place where you and the kids can hang out. Actually there is something interesting for a wide variety of interests. The main attraction at the south end is the famous vertical lift bridge. I can remember the Norwegian sailing ship, the Christian Radich, just making it through back in 1976. There is a nice maritime museum right by the bridge. It's the Lake Superior Maritime Museum. Wikepedia has a nice write up about it. There's a monitor that shows when the big freighters and ore boats will come through the canal. There is a nice little park there and you can walk out to the small lighthouse at the entrance to the canal. For restaurants there are a variety of places from the semi-kitschy Grandma's to the reasonably upscale Lake Avenue Cafe. There are a variety of shops catering to canoeists, art collectors, trinket seekers, etc. It's in easy walking distance from downtown Duluth and their fine convention center. If you are from the south or don't like cold weather you would be well advised to avoid walking around there in January of February: the odds are that YOU WILL FREEZE YOUR ASS! But in the summer when it's hot and humid up away from the lake, this a a lovely place for a lazy fun sojourn. On a busy day parking can be a hassle. Lake Avenue is the main thoroughfare. You can continue south on that over the vertical lift bridge and into the narrow spit of land that has a long beach with sand dunes and a nice park at the south end. This area is called Park Point. read more

If you are a tourist, come here! Join the other tourists and act like you have no idea where you are! Canal Park is a pretty area.. tons of shops, food, and tons of people and birds! I enjoy the area alot, it is a sight, watching the boats come in, and the bridge lift. Going to eat at Grandma's, then strolling down the lake front as the sun sets...It is beautiful! read more

The Lift Bridge is a fantastic structure to both see and watch operate. If lucky you'll see an uber freighter pass thru. Take in the nearby Maritime Museum, too. Nice walking paths around Canal Park. Vibrant public space. Only downside is too many corporate restaurants. Could be better if fewer corporate dining joints and more local ones. We sure as heck don't go to Duluth to eat at Famous Dave's and Green Mill. Boo! Canal Park is worth visiting. read more

I really liked Canal Park. It had a weird East Coast feeling to it at first, but there's just this energy in the air, like everyone's really hoping an ore ship or Vista cruiser is going to come through. Or, you know, they're all trying to avoid getting pooed on by seagulls. There are lots of great shops here; the food is pretty so-so, except for Crabby Bill's. Canal Park is definitely a must-do! Check out the maritime museum! It's free and actually really cool. read more

Lovely place to walk around, stop in some shops, grab a bite to eat, and most importantly enjoy the view of the beautiful Lake Superior and lift bridge. It is basically the epicenter of Duluth and I'd say a must do when in town, but how could you miss it?! read more

This area is the show case of Duluth for Tourists and locals. There is plenty to do and see. The biggest problem here can be parking during summer.Its always fun to watch a ship pass by. read more

I will give an updated review once I've had the time and chance to explore this area more, but it is such a beautiful area to say the least. We passed through the area to get to Grandma's, a really good restaurant in the area, and as we drove over the Lift Bridge (by accident) we noticed how gorgeous the area itself really is. It seems to have a lot of great food and entertainment options in the area. Perfect for a cute first date. read more

If you go to Duluth you MUST visit Canal Park. For some reason the weather always seems to be perfect when I visit this place. It's extremely touristy, but everyone is nice and laid back. The views off of the shore are beautiful and, if you go on the other side of the bridge, you can walk down miles of sand next to the Gr8 Lake. Restaurants like Grandma's (a Duluth staple) and many nice hotels surround Canal Park. Nothing is quite as relaxing and cool as looking out onto the lake and seeing ships far out, seeing all the Seagulls, and taking in the views. Don't miss out! read more

Tourist central. The best time to come is in early spring or late fall (in Duluth that's basically May and September) when the crowds have left and the place is cool, crisp, and open. The crowds all come here for a reason though, and even on popular summer days it's still a great place to go meetup with fellow tourists to enjoy Duluth, or to meetup with fellow locals to grumble about the tourists while doing the same things they do. read more

I absolutely love Canal Park. I wander around the area at least four times a year. Every time I go I walk down to the light house and stop in at the toy stores and souvenir shops. It is such a great laid back Midwestern atmosphere! There are plenty of great restaurants and hotels along with some great sculptures in the streets. As a student at UW-Superior, which is right across the bridge, it is mandatory to go walk around Canal Park as a stress reliever. Every spring, once the sun decides to return to the Twin Ports, students flock to the area during finals to take a study break. I highly recommend everyone to wander around Canal Park. It is a great start to a day in Duluth followed by a trip to Enger Tower or the beach when you cross over the lift bridge. read more

I love Canal Park! Very festive with a lot of activity going on through out the year! I love watching the ships coming into harbor!

Canal Park will always have a special place in my heart. Until I was older I thought that Canal park *was* Duluth. Its a great place to spend a few hours walking along the Lakewalk, skipping rocks and watching ginormous ships go under the bridge. Watching the bridge raise and lower is an amazing sensory experience. Canal park does have its hair share of touristy kitch but its easy to avoid by focusing on the natural beauty. read more

What can I say? It's a busy place. It's a tourist attraction. There are hotels, shopping, arts/crafts, food places and even Club Saratoga (if you want to see a few dancers or maybe some jazz). You get a great view of Duluth and Lake Superior and seeing the big ships coming and going from the harbor is quite something. read more

Fun spot to wander around for a couple of hours. Beautiful scenery, free telescopes to borrow, watch the ships come in and the drawbridge. It's so quaint and relaxing. Short walk to the major streets to grab a bite from chain spots and to that mall with all the restaurants. read more

One of my favorite places to go. Beautiful walk and amazing to see the big ships come in, under the lift bridge. They always wave from the big ship and fun to hear the ship's horn and aerial bridge sound its horn back. read more

Great place to hang. Relax, and walk on the shore of lake superior. Wonder some store in canal park. A relaxed day, every time. The best part of Duluth! read more