The dramatic view of Lake Superior at the end of the Split Rock Lighthouse Costal Hike
Back in early June, my family and I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend along Minnesota’s sensational, untouched North Shore of Lake Superior. I’d written quite a few posts about the gorgeous hikes we did in this area (to read them click here) but never had a chance to write about our final hike along the Split Rock Lighthouse Coastal Trail.
My parents generously offered to take our two children back to the Cities early Sunday morning providing my husband Paul and I with a free day to do a hike of our choosing. With so many amazing State Parks and endless amounts of day hikes, it was a tough choice. We had heard rave reviews about the Split Rock Lighthouse Coastal trail that meanders back along the river affording dramatic views of the rushing water, forest and Lake Superior. We set off around nine o’clock with a picnic lunch and were not disappointed. It was a lovely hike into the wilderness.
“Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”–– Anonymous
Setting off….
Majestical purple lupines line the streets and roads of the North Shore of Lake Superior.
I love my trail maps and always take a picture of the signs.
The forest beckons….
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
With the most magical flowers beaming towards the sky.
We also saw a very unusual bug…
“The forest has shrunk
And fear has expanded,
The forests have dwindled,
There are less animals now,
less courage and less lightning,
less beauty
and the moon lies bare,
deflowered by force and
then abandoned.”
― Visar Zhiti, “The Condemned Apple: Selected Poetry”
Then we finally see our first sight of the river and a gently moving waterfall. It is so peaceful I wish we could sit down, close our eyes and linger.
Paul standing between a pair of rocks that were split by nature’s force long ago and gave the park its name, “Split Rock”.
“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” -Mahatma Gandhi
I love this tranquil view of the river.
We finally made it to the lookout and what a splendid place it was for our picnic lunch. The view of Lake Superior’s azure waters was stunning. It appeared as if the water was above the horizon.
We followed the trail down to the shore.
Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
What a beautiful place.
Yes indeed. I hope to return in the fall!
What a peaceful and beautiful place to spend a long weekend! Gorgeous pics!
Thanks! It is very relaxing there. It is particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves are magnificent.
Your pictures of the North Shore are beautiful! We live in Minnesota too and just love to go camping there! Last year we camped at the Split Rock Campground. We just loved it! It was wonderful to see all of your pictures. We just went camping up the North Shore a couple of weeks ago. I’m ready to go back! 🙂
Thank you so much! I would love to go camping there, especially in the fall! We are hoping to make it back there with the kids. My family and I went to the North Shore every fall when I was a child. I hope to continue this with my children as well. It is truly a special, magical place! Thanks for your comment!
That would be wonderful to continue the tradition you had with your family with your children. That would be so special!
I agree – it is a special, magical place!
Lets hope! Life gets so busy but traditions are the most important thing you can insill with your family I think. 🙂
I know, life does get very busy! 🙂
That butterfly is just awesome !
Thanks! Yes it was incredible! 🙂
I think the photo of the bug is my favorite, but the way you mix the quotes and poems with the photos is really enjoyable.
Oh thank you! I love that darn bug too! It looked so much like a large leaf that it was hard to believe it was real!
Great post…and I, too, enjoyed the combination of your beautiful photos/quotes/poems.
Thanks Lola! Nature truly inspires me and sometimes I feel like the quotes can express my feelings of inspiration more than my words.
Wow, the purple lupine is lovely, and what a fun/weird-looking green bug! Hope you’re doing well, Nicole!
Hugs,
Kathy
What a beautiful trail. That bug is so well camouflaged. I thought it was a plant. The split rock really fires the imagination. It must have been an awesome event.
Thanks! It was gorgeous and so relaxing. I have not figured out what the bug is yet. It looked so much like a leaf!
Looks like a stunning walk and that moth(?) is beautiful!
Thanks Lu! I still need to look at your info on On Demand and revising my site. Probably this fall when I have more time. Also I can’t wait until you post on Iceland!!!!