The Mökki Guide to the Gems of East Cook County
Food Scene
Your one-stop-shop for bakery, deli, general grocery, regional brews on tap, and a well-stocked liquor store. Sandwiches and hamburgers are served on homemade bread and pizzas on homemade crusts. Fresh frosted cinnamon and caramel rolls served alongside delicious fair-trade coffee.
Note that open hours are hit or miss!
Chicago Bay Marketplace-Bakery
Your one-stop-shop for bakery, deli, general grocery, regional brews on tap, and a well-stocked liquor store. Sandwiches and hamburgers are served on homemade bread and pizzas on homemade crusts. Fresh frosted cinnamon and caramel rolls served alongside delicious fair-trade coffee.
Note that open hours are hit or miss!
Serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. This historic building with its unique architecture and décor is sure to impress.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
The Naniboujou Lodge & Restaurant
20 Naniboujou TrailServes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. This historic building with its unique architecture and décor is sure to impress.
Parks & Nature
(2.5mi, difficult): A 30-minute switchback climbs 800ft to provide breathtaking views of Lake Superior, Pigeon Point, Isle Royale and the Susie Islands. Well worth the effort!
Directions: 18mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. Turn right onto County Rd #17 at Grand Portage. Stay on #17 up to the trailhead – you’ll encounter some turns, but always remain on 17. The only trailhead signage is fire numbers 183 and 193. (20min drive from Hovland)
Mount Josephine
(2.5mi, difficult): A 30-minute switchback climbs 800ft to provide breathtaking views of Lake Superior, Pigeon Point, Isle Royale and the Susie Islands. Well worth the effort!
Directions: 18mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. Turn right onto County Rd #17 at Grand Portage. Stay on #17 up to the trailhead – you’ll encounter some turns, but always remain on 17. The only trailhead signage is fire numbers 183 and 193. (20min drive from Hovland)
(2.5mi, moderate): Trail, with many stairs, follows the river offering views of waterfalls and rapids. A 50-foot waterfall mysteriously disappears into a hole in the bedrock. Try your luck a catching brook and rainbow trout.
Directions: 4.5mi west of Hovland on Highway #61 to Judge C.R. Magney State Park. (5min drive from Hovland)
18 Einheimische empfehlen
Devil’s Kettle Falls
(2.5mi, moderate): Trail, with many stairs, follows the river offering views of waterfalls and rapids. A 50-foot waterfall mysteriously disappears into a hole in the bedrock. Try your luck a catching brook and rainbow trout.
Directions: 4.5mi west of Hovland on Highway #61 to Judge C.R. Magney State Park. (5min drive from Hovland)
(1.5mi, easy): Easy hiking that takes you through the woods and along a river gorge. Stream fishing is good here too. Look for a few good places to jump in and cool off!
Directions: 10mi west of Hovland on Highway #61 to Kadunce Wayside parking lot. (11min drive from Hovland)
Kadunce River State Wayside
Minnesota 61(1.5mi, easy): Easy hiking that takes you through the woods and along a river gorge. Stream fishing is good here too. Look for a few good places to jump in and cool off!
Directions: 10mi west of Hovland on Highway #61 to Kadunce Wayside parking lot. (11min drive from Hovland)
Check out the tallest waterfall in Minnesota on the Pigeon River that borders with Canada. Park also offers an 8.5mi hiking path.
Directions: 21mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (25min drive from Hovland)
High Falls Trail
High Falls TrailCheck out the tallest waterfall in Minnesota on the Pigeon River that borders with Canada. Park also offers an 8.5mi hiking path.
Directions: 21mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (25min drive from Hovland)
Everything Else
This little harbor is a good spot to jump into Lake Superior! Or launch your boat from its ramp.
Directions: 3mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (2min drive from Hovland) Turn right onto Horseshoe Bay Rd to parking lot.
Horseshoe Bay
This little harbor is a good spot to jump into Lake Superior! Or launch your boat from its ramp.
Directions: 3mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (2min drive from Hovland) Turn right onto Horseshoe Bay Rd to parking lot.
Beachcombing, skip rocks, walk the beach for miles from this location.
Directions: 6mi west of Hovland on Highway #61. (6min drive from Hovland) The parking lot is on the lakeside of the highway.
Paradise Beach
Beachcombing, skip rocks, walk the beach for miles from this location.
Directions: 6mi west of Hovland on Highway #61. (6min drive from Hovland) The parking lot is on the lakeside of the highway.
This gem offers the best swimming around. This gorgeous shallow beach goes for a long distance; lake bottom is nice sand. Fishing also an option.
Directions: Long drive up the Arrowhead Trail. Drive gravel road 20mi. Turn left, short drive down to a parking area for the beach. If you cross a small bridge over the lake, you just missed the left turn down to the parking. (35min drive)
McFarland Lake
This gem offers the best swimming around. This gorgeous shallow beach goes for a long distance; lake bottom is nice sand. Fishing also an option.
Directions: Long drive up the Arrowhead Trail. Drive gravel road 20mi. Turn left, short drive down to a parking area for the beach. If you cross a small bridge over the lake, you just missed the left turn down to the parking. (35min drive)
Another great place to simply gaze out at at Lake Superior or jump into its refreshing waters.
Directions: On Chicago Bay Rd in Hovland.
Hovland Dock
Another great place to simply gaze out at at Lake Superior or jump into its refreshing waters.
Directions: On Chicago Bay Rd in Hovland.
Sightseeing
Take in some history at the monument's Heritage Center and Historic Depot, walk the trails or partake in their lakeshore activities – plenty of fun for all here.
Directions: 16mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (20min drive from Hovland)
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Grand Portage National Monument
170 Mile Creek RdTake in some history at the monument's Heritage Center and Historic Depot, walk the trails or partake in their lakeshore activities – plenty of fun for all here.
Directions: 16mi east of Hovland on Highway #61. (20min drive from Hovland)