Unveiling Hidden Gems: 4 Must-See Stops on Highway 61!
June 4th, 2024
Over Memorial Day weekend, we had the chance to head up to the Duluth area, a spot we absolutely love and visit often. This time, our trip took us further north on Highway 61 to Finland, where we have an Airbnb, Balsam Haus and two long-term rental properties. We're hoping to transform them into a resort in the next few months. Stay tuned!
Since we were up there to check on one of our long-term rentals that experienced flooding—our first spring owning this property, so we had no idea this would happen—we decided to turn it into an adventure. Despite driving up and down Highway 61 hundreds of times, we made it a point to explore some new places we'd never visited before. Here are 4 unique spots to visit on (or slightly off) Hwy 61.
Stoney Point
Our first stop isn’t exactly a secret, but it was new to us: Stony Point. Located off Scenic Highway 61 and Stony Point Drive, this spot is famous among Lake Superior surfers, especially around October and November when the weather calls for dry suits. Don’t believe me? Check out Christian Dalbec’s epic photos from winter’s past of surfers on Stoney.
However, we discovered that Stony Point is also quite popular in the summer. It's not as crowded as the state parks which makes it a great stop along (scenic) Hwy 61. When you arrive, you'll notice plenty of trees and a charming old shack, which seems to belong to a neighbor across the street. It’s locked up and run-down, but it makes for a fantastic photo op—Kylo even tried to get inside!
From there, a little path leads to another rundown shack that you can explore, though I wouldn’t recommend it. Continue along the path to reach Stony Point itself, where you’ll find the iconic North Shore flat rocks right up against the water. The area is scattered with both large and small rocks, making it a playground for kids and a scenic picnic spot. So, if you’re driving along Scenic 61, definitely pack some food and enjoy the stunning landscape and serene waters at Stony Point.
Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel
Second on my list was the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel. Now, many of you have driven through this tunnel countless times, but how many have actually stopped at the Wayside Park? I was really curious to get up close to the mountains of the cliff and see what was on the other side since I had never taken the path before.
The 1,344-foot Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel, built in the early 1990s, transformed Highway 61. Before the 1920s, drivers detoured far from Lake Superior, adding miles to their trip. From the 1920s, a narrow road along the cliff’s edge was used, but falling rocks and boulders made it dangerous. As natural forces made the road unstable, MnDOT decided to tunnel through the cliff. This massive project, involving over three years of dynamite blasting to remove 500,000 cubic yards of rock, was completed in 1994.
The path up the cliffside is really well-maintained and you will cross a wooden bridge. There’s a memorial at the top that you can read describing the process of creating the tunnel.
The path continues up to the other side of the mountain—a great spot for electric bikes because it’s very hilly. I definitely couldn’t do it on a regular bike.
Looking north up the shore is a gorgeous photo opportunity. You can see an island in the distance, and the way the shoreline cuts in and out is just mesmerizing.
Illgen Falls, Finland, MN
Okay, the third spot might be surprising because it's less than a mile from Balsam House, and I've passed it hundreds of times on Highway 1, but never been to it. Just off Highway 61, where Highway 1 and 61 intersect near Tettegouche State Park, you will travel 2 miles up on Hwy 1 to find the Illgen Falls Trail.
It's a short walk with a few stairs and some root-infested paths, but they’re mostly clear—just be sure to wear closed-toe shoes. At the end, you’ll find an epic waterfall that I rarely see people stopping at or posting about. Thanks to all the spring rain, the waterfall was overflowing and looked incredible.
In one of the pictures with Rick and Kylo, you can see that they get right up to the falls—it's amazing how close you can get. I was incredible nervous for my four year old. There were hardly any people at this stop, which surprised me because it's just gorgeous. In one of the photos, you can see a hanging rope. I'm not sure if it's used when the water is calmer for people to jump in, but I’ll definitely stop back later this summer to check it out.
Seriously, this is a stunning spot and a fantastic photo opportunity for anyone looking for unique waterfall experiences along Highway 61, just a couple of miles up Highway 1 near Balsam House.
Stewart River Bridge | Kelsey Park
The last spot wasn't accessible for the past couple of years due to road construction in front of Betty's Pies, but now the Stuart River Bridge and Kelsey Park are open again, complete with new turning lanes. This little turn-off is now much easier to access.
You'll need to go down a path with a staircase—though the bottom half has washed away, requiring a bit of a leap at the end. Once you're down, you can get under the bridge and to the river. Here, Kylo was in his element, throwing rocks into the river and Lake Superior for hours. One of the rocks he found even looked like the state of Minnesota, which was a fun discovery. We also found some cool-looking rocks that glittered and sparkled, though they weren't agates. I've heard agates can be found here, but they seem pretty elusive! If you are traveling with kids and want to have a sure thing, you can do what my co-worker did, and order agates online and secretly place them around while looking for a guaranteed find!
This spot also makes for a great picnic area. You can grab some food from Betty's Pies—I'd highly recommend the pie shakes—and enjoy the waves while looking through the rocks.
Well, that wraps up my four hidden gems along Highway 61. I hope you get a chance to check them out, and if you do, let me know what you think!
