Lake Superior North Shore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour
Description
Explore the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior with this self-guided driving tour. Relive tales of harrowing shipwrecks, including the famous tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Visit historic landmarks like Glensheen Mansion and Pierre the Voyager. Marvel at the cascading waters of Gooseberry Falls State Park and cap off your journey with breathtaking views from Split Rock Lighthouse. This is a drive you simply can’t miss! Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour begins in the parking lot of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, located at 600 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. To begin the tour, exit the parking lot and turn right onto Canal Park Drive. Note: The tour is over 48 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Local legend says in 1870 every man, woman and child in Duluth brought out their shovels and dug the canal here in just three days! In reality, a huge steam dredger did most of the hard work. Not quite as fun, I know!
Mining magnate Chester Congdon built it in 1908. It later passed to his daughter Elisabeth, who lived out her twilight years there. That is, until June 27th, 1977, when she was found murdered in her bedroom. Someone had suffocated her with a satin pillow. Nearby was Elisabeth’s nurse, bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.
As we head for the outskirts of Duluth, you might be wondering where the city got its name. Well, for that we have to meet French explorer Daneil Greysolon Dulhut. He set up camp in this area in 1679, proudly planting the French coat of arms.
This overlook also features a series of panels highlighting the history of commercial fishing on the lake. It’s big business! The fish sanctuary across the street isn’t open to the public, but it does brisk business catching rainbow trout, raising their offspring, then returning them back to the lake. It’s a cycle that goes on every year and helps maintain our marine ecosystems.
To see the marker, park in the turnout ahead. Otherwise, continue nutrients from the soil. And just like the trees, wildflowers have intricate root systems of their own. Their roots help stabilize the soil. They then use these nutrients for their own growth, then return the nutrients to the soil when they decompose.
This was the seedy part of town where men could be “relieved of their pay.” At its height in the late 1800s, there were 22 saloons in just a two block radius! That’s certainly a lot of places for these men to whoop it up and share wild tales.
Thankfully, workers completed the 3-year project without incident. With the tunnel completed, drivers no longer had to go miles out of their way, driving on a narrow two-lane road that ran right along the cliff’s edge. Talk about a white-knuckling drive! One mistake and the car would have plunged right into the lake.
On a clear morning in June 1928, Captain Edward Smith was commanding the SS America, a passenger steamship with 47 on board. The passengers included a number of wealthy citizens heading to their summer vacation homes on Isle Royale.
The name actually comes from the Objiwe name for this place. They call it Shabonimikani-zibi, or River Place of the Gooseberries. And they have a very special connection to these small tart berries.
As this part of the earth shifted, volcanic eruptions spewed lava onto the surface. The lava filled in cracks and crevices, then hardened into rocks called igneous rocks. The type of stones found at Iona’s Beach are specific kinds known as rhyolite and felsite.
Just ahead is a perfect spot to take a photo of the Split Rock Lighthouse. In fact, millions of people have taken a photo from this very spot, making this one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
Reviews(25)
While the narration is well done.This tour doesn't take you far on the North Shore. And missed key stops.
Cheryl, thanks for sharing your feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed the narration, but I’m sorry the route felt shorter than expected and missed stops you were hoping for. My Lake Superior North Shore audio tour focuses on the must-see stops included in the story list, and the route can always be previewed before starting. No worries, though—my audio tours are valid for lifetime access, so you can still listen to any missed stories whenever you’d like. You’re also welcome to contact me, and I’d be happy to help swap it with another audio tour.
My sister and I really enjoyed this tour. We were able to drive along and see some amazing places with just the right amount of history thrown in. Wonderful areas to take pictures.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore GPS Audio Driving Tour. It’s wonderful that you were able to explore at your own pace and take in the scenic spots while learning about the history along the way. If you’re interested in more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of 200+ audio tours—you can explore new places at your own pace with the same ease and flexibility. Happy exploring!
My daughter and I really enjoyed this audio tour. It added a lot to our drive from Duluth to just past Two Harbors. We leaned some interesting facts about the area. I would definitely recommend it.
I’m glad you and your daughter enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore GPS audio tour. It’s great to know it added to your drive from Duluth to Two Harbors and revealed interesting facts. If you want more self-guided adventures, explore my collection of over 200+ audio tours to discover new destinations at your own pace.
The narration was informative and educational. At times, the narration skipped towards the end of a segment, but you are able to understand the end. This tour is helpful if you do not have background on the North Shore/Duluth. I would recommend it.
Carman, I’m glad to hear you found my Lake Superior North Shore audio tour informative and educational. Following the speed limit shown in the app can help prevent the narration from skipping and keep everything in sync. Thanks for recommending the tour, and I’m thrilled it added value to your visit. I’m so happy you enjoyed this tour. If you’re interested in more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of over 100 audio tours—you can explore new destinations at your own pace with the same flexibility and convenience.
We camp a lot with our fur babies and often times have to miss out on exploring the nearby area. This was a great option for us. With the exception of the Mansion and last light house, the dogs were able to enjoy the day with us at all the stops. If you have dogs but still want to see the lighthouse at the end, you can go to the state park and walk the trail towards the lighthouse for amazing pictures. Very happy to have found this little gem and will continue to look for other guided tours like this in other areas.
I’m so glad you enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore audio tour. It’s wonderful to hear it worked perfectly for exploring with your dogs, and I love your tip about visiting the lighthouse via the state park trail. I’m thrilled you found this tour, and if you’re looking for more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of 100+ audio tours—you can explore new destinations at your own pace with the same flexibility and convenience!
We’ve lived in Duluth for 20 years and we still found this trip great fun. We learned so much about the North shore that we didn’t know. I will admit that it seems like it’s a little overpriced, but after doing it we found it well worth the price. Highly recommend.
Mike, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore audio tour. It’s great that even after living in Duluth for 20 years, you still found new stories and insights along the drive. I truly appreciate your note about the pricing, and I’m happy you felt it was worth it in the end. If you’re interested in more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of 100+ audio tours—you can explore new places at your own pace with the same ease and flexibility. Happy exploring!
I was quite surprised. I expected this to be a struggle for my children (8 yrs old) to be interested. They enjoyed it from the start. I would encourage the stops as there is deeper learning and great sites to see. I had driven by many times in my life, but there was so much I didn't know. I would recommend it.
Peter, thank you for the wonderful review! I’m so glad to hear your kids enjoyed the tour and that you discovered so many new things along the North Shore. My tours are valid for a year, so you can always listen again on the way back or at home. If you’re looking for more self-guided adventures, don’t miss my collection of 100+ audio tours—you can explore new destinations at your own pace with the same flexibility and convenience. Happy exploring!
This was awful. The tour we choose did not exist but they sure took our money. We are in line to get it back but the lake superior north shore audio driving tour is not supported, their phone number goes to a disconnected line and you have to fight to get your money back.
I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've encountered, and I genuinely apologize for the frustration. I cannot find your booking details, so I’m unable to confirm what went wrong. After booking, all the details for downloading and setting up the tour are sent via email and text. I recommend checking the email and contact number you entered during booking to ensure you received it. If you're still having trouble, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to walk you through the setup and make sure the app works correctly for you. You can reach me daily from 9 to 6 EST. If you’ve already left the location, I can offer a replacement tour or assist with a refund. Let me know how I can help further!
We are so very glad that we decided to try this audio tour. We've been to the North Shore multiple times, and we absolutely love our (almost) annual summer visits. This tour provided information and interesting stories, as well as highlighting places we had driven past before but never bothered to check out. It was great to get a new view of a familiar favorite drive. It really added dimension and depth to our enjoyment. Well done!
Dolly, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore audio tour and that it helped you experience the area in a new way. It’s great that it brought attention to spots you had previously passed by, making your summer visit even more enjoyable. If you’re looking for more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of 100+ audio tours—you can explore new destinations at your own pace with the same flexibility and convenience!
The North Shoreline is beautiful. We enjoyed the stories on the tour, and we liked being alerted about available restrooms and approaching turnoffs. We did, however, expect the audio tour to last all the way to Grand Portage. We likely wouldn’t have gone that far, but we were surprised when it ended at the lighthouse. Don’t miss Iona Beach. Be sure to take the trail all the way back. It’s beautiful and relaxing.
Kathy, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Lake Superior North Shore audio tour and found the stories engaging. It’s great that the alerts for restrooms and turnoffs were helpful. I appreciate your feedback about the tour’s length—it typically covers a good portion of the route, but it’s valuable to know when it may have left you expecting more. Iona Beach sounds beautiful, and I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the trail. If you’re looking for more self-guided adventures, check out my collection of 100+ audio tours—you can explore new destinations at your own pace with the same flexibility and convenience!
