Happy Trail

A few weeks back I made my first long distance bicycle trip. I rode the nearly 70 mile Willard Munger state trail from Hinckley to Duluth, Minnesota on my loaded down mountain bike. I'm not in the best shape and I certainly don't have the best gear, but I'd been in a rut and just needed to get out & do something.

Avid cyclists could no doubt make the trip in a day as the trail is fully paved, relatively straight, and mostly flat. But I took my time, starting late Monday afternoon and rolling into downtown Duluth Wednesday morning. I stopped in Moose Lake the first night, then camped in Jay Cooke state park the next afternoon before ending the main ride at a dive motel on Grand Avenue in Duluth early Wednesday.


Between Hinckley & Finlayson on the Munger Trail. - Photo: holisticgeek

I can't tell you how therapeutic this experience was for me. In recent months I had lost my job and my car. My vacation plans fell through and I'd broke out in hives for the first time in my life. But I was able to pedal my worries away on the trail and my hives stopped itching that first night. Crazy, huh? The exercise, scenery and fresh air must have done the trick.


Nearing Duluth and Lake Superior. - Photo: TimDan2

After resting for a couple days I met up with a family member and drove north for a few days of backpacking at Crosby-Manitou state park. I'll be posting a few pix from that trip shortly.

North Shore Beacon

One of my favorite destinations on Lake Superior's North Shore is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.


Split Rock Lighthouse in late winter. - Photo: S.L.H.

This park gets quite a bit of visitors but you'll often feel completely alone as you hike the relatively easy & wide trails alongside the shore. Split Rock is also a great place to spot wildlife. I've seen deer, eagles & hawks, otters, foxes, and even a bear cub in the park.


A sailboat on Superior (left). A wildflower on the trail (right). - Photos: S.L.H.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is also an excellent place to camp. There are cart-in sites close to outhouses and near the parking lot where flush toilets & showers are available. But if you're like me you'll prefer to pack in your gear to one of the backpack campsites in order to enjoy as much solitude as you can. Nothing beats having a nice chunk of shoreline all to yourself.


Spoonful of wild raspberries (left). Camping in first snow (right). - Photos: S.L.H.


Corundum Point near backpack site #2. - Photo: S.L.H.

Pitching My Tent

Welcome to I-Love-Camping.com


Tent: Kelty Streamside 2 - Photo: S.L.H.

Glad ya stumbled upon my little blog. If you love nothing more than hiking a rugged forest trail or exploring a rocky shoreline then you'll want to check in often for photos from my numerous hiking & camping trips around the beautiful state of Minnesota. I'll also be posting campsite reviews, tips, and even the odd camping recipe.

Happy trails.