Superior Route into Canada

8/19/2019 - Monday

Continuing on the Lake Superior Circle Route, we left our lakeside campsite in Grand Marais, MN and headed towards the US northern border.

It wasn't long before we stopped at Judge C.R. Magney State Park to view rapids and a waterfall.

Just before lunch we arrived at Grand Portage National Monument. Not knowing anything about it, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there was no entrance fee and the park features a reproduction of the trading post with many costumed interpreters.

The canoe shop was our first stop where we saw spruce pitch, charcoal & bear grease prepared to hold the seams together. While it worked, it didn't last long. Canoe seams had to be redone daily while on voyages! 

Canoes, like this one, were used to transport goods 1,500 miles to Montreal. The journey took six to eight weeks of paddling.

The main trading post building sits up high enough to offer a view of Lake Superior over the surrounding stockade fence.

Inside, a large communal dining area provided opportunity to share news and negotiate trades.

Woolen blankets and other trading goods are displayed as they would have been when the post was in service.

The Hudson Bay Company was all about these furs.

A long dock greeted canoes to the post.

Fragrant wood smoke wafted into the air around reproductions of Indian lodging. 

Beth enjoyed discussing finger weaving with a young woman demonstrating native techniques.

 

Windows in the modern visitor center offered a commanding view of the bay and big lake beyond. We highly recommend stopping at this National Monument.

Shortly after leaving the monument, we stopped to investigate transportation to Isle Royale National Park. The Park is only accessible by boat or seaplane.  Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines provides day trips from Grand Portage for $76.  A trip to Isle Royale might make it into future plans. Judging from the waves in the bay, today would have provided a bumpy ride on the open lake.

A little further up the road, the Susie Islands Overlook was an easy pull-out with a great view.

Binoculars were helpful for bird spotting as we were four-hundred feet above the lake.

The next stop was Grand Portage State Park where we found a really easy 1/2 mile trail to High Falls.

These falls are the first barrier when traveling by canoe upstream from Lake Superior. Twenty miles of additional falls and rapids upstream from here were bypassed by a nine mile portage. This Grand Portage provided passage to inland waterway and the name for the current town and park.

The park visitor's center had a display of amazing photographs by local photographer, Travis Novitsky. He captured the majesty of waves on Lake Superior in this video link. 

There was no waiting at the Pigeon River Border Crossing, though we did loose an hour due to the time change. Beth immediately started making new friends in Canada.

By 1724 we reached Eagle Ridge Trout Ponds in Neebing, Ontario.

Rick, who has owned the property for twenty-three years, asked if we wanted to see a campsite before committing to stay. Quickly agreeing, we hopped in his golf cart, drove past his trout ponds, climbed, and then climbed some more, until reaching Lookout Point at the top of the ridge. Each campsite has a name, not a number, and this one was appropriate.

When we turned and looked out at the view of Lake Superior, there was no question that we wanted to stay here.

On the way back down, Rick told us how he and his wife logged some of the property and built the campground, cabins, and house. 

Here we are after our trusty Lexor pulled us up to Lookout Point.

Situating the van so the passenger side wall of windows faced the lake was perfect. The site was only $39.55 CAD.

Rick asked that we use the showers sparingly as they have to truck in the fresh water. 

Only one other campsite was occupied that night. A quiet couple was tent camping down near the pool.

Here's one last view as the setting sun lent a golden glow to the shoreline.

Shoreline Route to Canada