Things to Do in Two Harbors, Minnesota

This is the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota, first lit on April 14, 1892, overlooking Agate Bay and the ore docks. The Lake County Historical Society owns it and gives tours, and volunteer keepers still maintain the light as a private aid to navigation. The complex has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.

★ Good to know The historical society runs a bed and breakfast in the lighthouse, and the proceeds help pay for its upkeep.

About 13 miles northeast on Highway 61, the park surrounds the mouth of the Gooseberry River and its Upper, Middle and Lower Falls. It has a visitor center with a large nature store, historic log and stone buildings, Lake Superior shoreline and accessible trails. A paved 2.5-mile stretch of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail runs through the park toward Silver Bay.

★ Good to know You don’t need a vehicle permit for the visitor center lot, but it fills up and stays over two hours aren’t always possible, so arrive early.

The U.S. Lighthouse Service finished this cliff-top lighthouse in 1910, and it’s often called one of the most picturesque lighthouses in the country. The Minnesota Historical Society runs the site, with a visitor center, the fog signal building and the keeper’s house. It’s further up Highway 61, past Gooseberry Falls.

★ Good to know The historic site is open daily from May through mid-October, and construction on site can change programs, so check before you go.

The Duluth and Iron Range Railroad opened this depot in 1907, and passenger trains ran from it until July 15, 1961. The historical society now fills 4,000 square feet of it with Lake County history. Outside, you can see a 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone steam locomotive, one of the largest steam engines ever built.

★ Good to know The depot sits at 520 South Ave., a short walk from the lighthouse, so the two make an easy pair.

Built in 1896 for the railroad, the Edna G worked Agate Bay for most of her career and was the last coal-fired steam tug on the Great Lakes when she retired in 1981. She’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The volunteer Friends of Edna G look after her and host teas aboard for Mother’s Day and Christmas.

★ Good to know Regular tours have ended, so check the Friends of Edna G event calendar if you want to go aboard.

Castle Danger’s taproom at 17 7th Street looks out over Lake Superior.

★ Good to know Taproom hours change by season, so check before you go.

This cafe on Highway 61 in Castle Danger, just up the shore toward Gooseberry Falls, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner year-round. It’s known for its pies, and it sells whole pies too. The menu includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

★ Good to know It sits on the way to Gooseberry Falls, so plan pie as the reward after a hike.