Temperatures in the US this summer are expected to rise to 4 degrees Fahrenheit above the average, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In other parts of the world, people can also expect 2021 to be one of the top six hottest summers on record. To beat the heat this summer, we are given the perfect opportunity to take a holiday at one of America’s most famous bodies of water, Lake Superior. Its chilly waters are best enjoyed during the hottest of summers and can be a great way to cool off. Not only that, it is rich in other interesting attractions as well.
Essential Items To Bring
Essentials for swimming in the lake include a bathing suit, towel, sandals, a change of clothes, and a plastic bag to keep wet clothes in. Don’t forget sunblock, sunglasses, cold drinks, and snacks. If you intend to go on one of Lake Superior’s many hiking trails, you will also need plenty of water canteens, first aid kits, hiking pants, and boots. If you are looking to go kayaking or boating, however, you will have more essentials to account for. To start, you will need boating gloves, wet shoes, and a life jacket. The US Coast Guard also highly recommends that you pack one paddle per person and spray skirts. For emergencies, you would also do well to bring a rescue throw bag with at least 50 feet of rope, and a pump or bailer in case your vessel starts taking in water. They also let visitors loan dry bags, paddle floats, water booties, wetsuits, Greenland paddles, and paddle jackets free of charge in areas they oversee.
Safety Tips To Follow
Being one of the largest lakes in the world, Lake Superior is host to several hazards that you would do well to familiarize yourself with. But before doing that, it is good practice to brush up on the fundamentals of drowning prevention to give you a basic idea of how to keep yourself and others safe while in the water. As a main rule, always ensure that you swim where there are lifeguards. Some points of interest might not have any lifeguards stationed. Include this in your research before starting your journey. Even if reviews and articles claim that a spot is safe to swim at, never swim alone. Always notify your companions when you are going into the water.
The most prominent hazards in Lake Superior are its rip currents. These abnormally strong currents can take swimmers of any ability dangerously far offshore. The most dangerous rip currents most often form near rock formations such as those near Picnic Rock and Lakeview Arena. Visitors to Lake Superior are advised not to swim in these areas. The National Weather Service provides accurate forecasts on these currents, as well as how to free yourself from its grip if you find yourself caught in one. You should refer to these to help you mark out safe swim spots and know what to do in the worst-case scenario. Popular locations such as Middle Beach, South Beach, and Picnic Rocks also have flags that indicate how dangerous rip current conditions are.
Swim Spots Around Lake Superior
Given its size, Lake Superior has plenty of activities for lake visitors. Those who come solely to enjoy swimming surrounded by nature will have a wealth of options. The lake has several shores that feel like ocean beaches. Park Point Beach is one of the best of such destinations. Situated along the world’s longest freshwater sandbar, Park Point is perfect for swimming and sunbathing alike. Iona’s Beach on Lake Superior’s North Shore is another example. Iona’s Beach is famous for its smooth pink rocks, which make a mesmerizing tinkling sound when disturbed by the lapping waves. Black Beach, 12 miles to the Northeast of Iona’s Beach has sand with the same color as onyx. This was the result of years of being used as a dumping ground for taconite tailings by miners. However, the beach is perfectly safe to swim in. It also makes for some fantastic photo opportunities, as Minnesota’s vivid blue skies and the deep azure of Lake Superior’s waters complement the black sand flawlessly.
Aside from the lakeshore, there are other scenic swim spots available around Lake Superior. One of these is Tahquamenon Falls State Park. After hiking its 4-mile trail along the river, tourists are met with the breathtaking Lower Falls. These five falls cascading from the main stem of the Tahquamenon have much milder currents, making the area safer for swimming. The other main feature of the park is the observation deck, which shows visitors a full view of the 200-foot wide, 50-foot high Upper Falls.
Other Activities In Lake Superior
Lake Superior also has an abundance of recreational attractions separate from swimming and hiking. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, for example, is famed for its impressive sandstone cliffs decorated by colorful mineral stain streaks. This makes them a brilliant backdrop for commemorative picture taking. The area is also home to 40 miles of immaculate beaches. There are no lifeguards, however, and the prominent rocks give rise to strong rip currents. Caution is advised if you wish to swim here. Another popular location for sightseeing and picture taking is Agawa Rock. This rugged facade of rock in Lake Superior Provincial Park is adorned by pictographs imprinted by the Ojibwe tribe. Also known as the Chippewa, this tribe recorded their histories and prophecies on the rock in the 17th to 18th century. However, the area can only be accessed by a short, slippery trail when Lake Superior is calm. Isle Royale also deserves an honorable mention. Besides having 450 islands to explore, kayak, and go diving at, it is also a famous wildflower paradise.
Additionally, several exhibits are displaying the natural and cultural history of Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth showcases the different forms of life that thrive in the waters of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum offers somewhat the opposite, showing the dangers the lake presents to those who travel across it. The museum is located within the Whitefish Point Light Tower, a relic of the American Civil War. It hosts trinkets and fragments from ships that had sunk in Lake Superior’s depths throughout history.
Planning Your Trip Around Lake Superior
First, download this circle tour map from Lake Superior Magazine’s website. This map is equipped with a mileage chart and will help you plan out your route based on the places you want to visit, as well as places to rest, sleep, restock supplies, and eat. More detailed maps and other information is available in information centers around the lake. Lake Superior Magazine also offers an annually updated Travel Guide, available at newsstands and bookstores in the area, specifically Duluth where the magazine is based. Duluth is also where many of the attractions are clustered around. Thus, it can serve as a major staging and reference point.
The biggest hurdle when planning a trip around Lake Superior is finding a place to stay every night. In the summer, inns and hotels tend to be packed. You may be forced to stay at some of the worst places in town if you are caught unprepared. It is best to start making reservations as early as late winter, at planned points along your chosen route. When to go is also a major factor to consider, and it will largely depend on what you want to do most. Generally, the sweet spot is sometime in the middle of September, when the weather is still ideal but traffic and crowds have both thinned out. Swimming is ideal throughout the summer, but the water temperature is the warmest in August if you intend to go swimming on the south shore. August through September are also the best months to hike and kayak. Festivals begin in earnest in the middle of June, but this is also when black flies are most plentiful.
Lake Superior is one of the most majestic natural wonders that the United States has to offer. Its vast, one of a kind beauty is something that anyone who loves to take lakeside holidays should explore.