We Deem this Trail to be Superior: Bean and Bear Lakes

If you’re like me, impatiently waiting for fall foliage to return, tentatively mark your calendars for early October and have your Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder at the ready to plan a trip to Bean and Bear Lakes. Near Silver Bay, Minn., Bean and Bear Lakes Loop is a 6.6-mile loop and is considered moderately challenging due to some mild elevation and rocky terrain. On average, it takes just over three hours to complete. I think we took four hours to ensure we had enough time to stop and gaze at the breathtaking views.

This hiking loop is gorgeous all year round. Check out AllTrails for more photos of the loop hike in all seasons. I am biased in thinking that fall is the superior time to visit the area due to the colors, but you really cannot lose. Depending on the season, wildflowers bloom on this route throughout the lush forests.

The trail takes you to Bear Lake and Bean Lake via the Superior Hiking Trail as part of the North Country Trail. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash. There are plenty of wonderful places to stay, whether that be camping, glamping or other lodging like the Black Beach Inn or the Tettegouche Lodge for larger groups of ten to eighteen. When we went just after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, camping became extremely popular during that time of isolation, and we could not find any open campsites in Minnesota. Therefore, we camped just across the border in Wisconsin and mostly hiked in Minnesota.

There are other great parks and trails nearby, including but not limited to Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park and the Split Rock Lighthouse. You can’t miss the picturesque black sand beaches. There are also plenty of fun activities to check out in Silver Bay and nearby towns like the North Shore Adventure Park. At the North Shore Adventure Park, adults and kids seven and up can challenge themselves to fun high ropes courses and ziplines. There are six treetop high ropes courses and ten ziplines with five levels of difficulty. There is a playground for kids ages three to six featuring similar obstacles to the high ropes course, but they are easier and lower to the ground. There is also a fun sit-down zipline.

For those interested in fishing, check out Fugitive Charters near Silver Bay. They offer half-, three-quarter- and full-day trips. Rods and bait are provided along with license, ice and fish cleaning. For those with other interests in nature and wildlife, look no further than just a short trek north. About six miles north of Silver Bay is the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, where the classroom is a 2,000-acre campus bordered by the Baptism River. This land boasts creeks, two lakes, two high peaks, 18 miles of trail, and a mixed forest of birch, spruce and maple. The wildlife is abundant and diverse, including but not limited to pine marten, eagles, moose, black bears, white-tailed deer, foxes, wolves, beavers, peregrine falcons and loons. Their buildings are fully accessible, and most of their trails are suitable for all-terrain wheelchairs. They have family camps, Split Rock Kayak tours, Boundary Waters day trips, overnight naturalist-guided wilderness trips, adult workshops, K-12 school programs, summer youth camps, naturalist training and a retreat center. It sounds like Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center is the perfect place for nature lovers to thrive.

For those of us interested in rock climbing, the Silver Bay area has some of my favorite climbs in the Midwest. Palisade Head is a can’t-miss spot for climbers and anyone looking to watch a sunrise or sunset. If you are into rock climbing but don’t know where to get started outdoors, check out the Mountain Project app by REI. It is an interactive map to show you where to climb outdoors. Before you get too excited, ensure that you are properly trained on how to climb safely outdoors. I highly recommend the outdoor climbing safety courses put on by Vertical Endeavors staff all across the Twin Cities and in Duluth. That is where I laid the foundation for most of my outdoor climbing education, and I still recall these memorable and useful safety courses every time I put on my helmet.

Overall, Silver Bay is an exceptional choice for nature lovers to spend their time, whether or not they choose to check out one or more of the aforementioned attractions. If you end up enjoying your time at any of my recommendations, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your experiences with [email protected]. Happy hiking!