Best Free Scenic Overview Near Duluth Without Traffic Backups
Last week I went up the North Shore to see the fall colors. It was a Tuesday afternoon, so I figured I had a better chance to avoid traffic. Boy, was I wrong. Everybody else in the region had the same idea, and it was bumper to bumper in a few spots up Highway 61.
To be honest, the fall colors weren't that spectacular around Two Harbors. Most of the trees next to the road were pine trees or had been cleared near power lines. Once I got closer to Gooseberry Falls, things started to brighten up.
That's something a lot of tourists don't understand. The most beautiful waterfalls and overlooks happen north of Two Harbors. Duluth is really just the gateway to the North Shore. The real magic happens once you get to Lake County.
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But if you're traveling North to Duluth, you should check out the Evergreen Memorial Drive Scenic Overlook. It's a breathtaking view of the St. Louis River Valley, and it offers tremendous, vibrant fall colors.
The drive itself is a 50-mile stretch of Highway 23 from Banning State Park to Duluth. It's a beautiful scenic drive with little towns and places to stop along the way.
The Evergreen Memorial Drive was dedicated in 1947 to all the men and women from Carlton, Pine, and St. Louis counties who served in World War I and World War II.
While you're there, stand in the center of the brick circle. The geometric shape perfectly reverberates and echoes your voice!
So if you can't make it all the way up the North Shore, this is usually a pretty quiet place with a fantastic view.
