Two Harbors combines a beautiful setting on Lake Superior with an industrious past. The city was built to service the local iron ore industry and straddles a pair of picturesque bays. Stretch your legs on waterside trails, watch enormous tankers cruise into the harbour and check out cafes, shops and craft breweries in the vibrant downtown district.
Things to do in Two Harbors
Walk along the Agate Bay breakwater and watch huge iron ore ships sail in and out of the harbour. The ships load up on metallic rocks and minerals mined from the nearby Minnesota Iron Range. Seeing the massive tankers up close is always impressive.
Learn more about the city’s industrial heritage at the Two Harbors Lighthouse Museum. The red-brick lighthouse is perched on a peninsula overlooking Agate Bay and has been guiding ships into the harbour since the 1890s. Take a self-guided tour of the heritage-listed lighthouse and explore the rocky shoreline trail.
Hike to cascading waterfalls and scenic lookouts in Gooseberry Falls State Park. Trails wind through the park and take you past towering birch, aspen and cedar trees. The fun continues in the winter when the park transforms into a popular destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Follow the scenic Sonju Trail along the Lake Superior waterfront. The paved trail skirts the shoreline and connects Agate Bay with Burlington Bay. You’ll pass through Lake View Park, a picturesque space with grassy areas, picnic tables and barbecue grills.
From mom-and-pop diners to craft breweries, Two Harbors is packed with small businesses. Browse eclectic shops along 7th Avenue and head down to the waterfront to find hip bars, bistros and pizzerias.
Getting around Two Harbors
Downtown Two Harbors is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The city is in Lake County, a 30-minute drive from Duluth and three hours from Minneapolis. Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport is a three-hour drive away.