This Month's Featured Stories
When most folks think of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, they imagine long portages, heavy packs, and days spent paddling along shorelines deep in northern Minnesota’s backcountry. And while there’s no shortage of those epic journeys, the BWCAW doesn’t always ask for a week’s worth of time or a......
Keep On Keeping On: The Unstoppable Mo Joe at Age 95
In 2010, I asked Joe Houle if I could marry his daughter Caroline. “You both sound happy—sure!” He sounded enthusiastic. Overtime, we took Joe and his wife Carla on trips into the Boundary Waters, to Alaska to visit the area where Joe was stationed in the Air Force in the......
Camping Traditions: Part One
Canvas, Campers, and Coffee By Naomi Yaeger I’ve been camping since I was 2 years old. I know this because of a photo—me sitting at a picnic table eating oatmeal at Itasca State Park, with a green canvas tent in the background. I remember that tent’s smell—not good or bad,......
Along the Shore
Duluth’s Lakewalk and the Power of Public Space
by Naomi Yaeger
Many people know the Duluth Lakewalk as a scenic boardwalk in the Canal Park business district, but it actually begins at Bayfront Festival Park and extends about 8 miles to...
Thunder Bay Yacht Club: Bringing Back “Social Capital”
Silver Islet, Pie Island, Porphyry Lighthouse, the Sleeping Giant: these toponyms are magnets to the explorer’s soul of anyone who’s ever drooled over the map of Thunder Bay and environs....
Fishing Still Reels in Visitors to Ely—But It’s One of Many Lures
by Naomi Yaeger
Fishing remains a draw for many visitors to Ely, but its role has evolved as part of a broader outdoor tourism economy, according to the Ely Chamber of Commerce. “Over...
Treasure Hunting at Second Hand Rose
Travelers along the North Shore don’t need to look too hard for a unique shopping experience when they come through Beaver Bay. An iconic flea market sits right on the...
Gitchi-Gami State Trail Continues Expansion
The Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) is a paved pedestrian trail that stretches like a pearl necklace along the Lake Superior coastline. While most people are zooming right past the shore’s...
Take the Leap and Skydive Over Duluth and the North Shore
Minnesota’s North Shore offers countless ways to soak in its stunning natural beauty. You can cruise up Highway 61 with the windows down, boat across Lake Superior, hike on the...
Reflections Dance Company: Joy in Movement
Many people only associate northern Minnesota with stereotypical outdoorsy activities. Hiking, camping, and wildlife watching are all a huge part of the culture here. But another important part of the...
Thunder Makers: Meet the Creative Forces behind ThunderCon
by northwilds
ThunderCon is a pop culture convention in Thunder Bay, and this year they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary with a focus on the imagination that fuels the entertainment industry. Held Sept....
Going Viral, Staying Grounded: The Art of Gene Boshkaykin
“I’ve been drawing seven days a week for the past six years,” said Thunder Bay artist Gene Boshkaykin. “If I take a day off, something’s wrong.” A member of the...
Behind the Craft: Spinning on the Shore
By Riley Kleve Working as a professional fiber artist, I often encounter many assumptions about how, where, when, and why I make my work. People imagine handspinning yarn as a...
Giizhik Meme: Cedar Pileated Woodpecker
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to get outside and gagaakone (harvest without cutting) some giizhikaandag (cedar bough) medicine, as I had used all of my previously harvested supply. It...
Granola: Handcrafted with Heart
Did you know that the first granola was developed at a sanitarium as an alternative to the cholesterol-rich American breakfasts of the 1880s? Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg),...
Baking Sweet Legacies Through Generations
We know that history often repeats itself, and while this saying is often used as a cautionary tale to warn against repeating our mistakes, can we also use the phrase...
The Clover Valley Farm Trail
I think most of us are familiar with the concept of a farmer’s market. These are gatherings of local vendors who often meet in parking lots on specified days of...
Two Unique & Memorable Brook Trout Flies
As a lifelong fly angler for brook trout, I have seen a lot of flies come and go. However, some seem to stick around longer than others, and it’s not always...
Memorable and Odd Moose Interactions
There isn’t a more iconic northern animal than the moose. It is built for anything the north can hand out, including neck-deep snow, bitter cold temps, bugs, and lots of...
My Dad: A Father’s Day Recollection
We can’t pick our parents—that’s a decision made by God and nature. And not all people have good memories or relationships with their parents. However, I was lucky enough to...
Lake Superior’s Tides, Seiches, and Meteotsunamis
In June this year, Lake Superior experienced some interesting tidal-like water movements that received media attention on both sides of the border, describing tides, seiches, and a type of tsunami...
The Story Behind Rocky’s Lighthouse Adventure
The remote Rock of Ages Lighthouse was constructed in 1908 of steel, masonry, and concrete on a skimpy 50-foot by 200-foot (15 m by 7.6 m) rocky outcropping in Lake...
Déjà Vu: Remembering a Place You’ve Never Been Before
Ever visited a new place for the first time but feel you’ve been there before? Or maybe you get a strange feeling that the conversation you’re having has happened before—a...
Latest Issue!
August 2025
Can you believe it’s August already? Just like that, summer is flying by—and honestly, so has the entire year. In my opinion, August is the best summer month—the bugs aren’t as bad and the weather is warm, making it the perfect time to get out on the water—which just happens to be our theme this month.
In This Issue:
- Duluth’s Lakewalk and the Power of Public Space
- Thunder Bay Yacht Club
- Treasure Hunting at Second Hand Rose
- Gitchi-Gami State Trail Continues Expansion
- Take the Leap and Skydive Over Duluth and the North Shore
- Reflections Dance Company: Joy in Movement
- Day Tripping the Boundary Waters: Easy Routes from Ely and the Gunflint Trail
- Camping Traditions: Part One
- Keep On Keeping On: The Unstoppable Mo Joe at Age 95
- The Art of Gene Boshkaykin
- Behind the Craft: Spinning on the Shore
- Granola: Handcrafted with Heart
- Forest Bathing
- Two Unique & Memorable Brook Trout Flies
- Giizhik Meme: Cedar Pileated Woodpecker
- Lake Superior’s Tides, Seiches, and Meteotsunamis
Stay in Touch
Each month Northern Wilds Magazine features upcoming events, the arts, outdoor activities, dining, community news, and other interesting topics. It also contains The Ultimate North Shore Real Estate Guide, the area’s most comprehensive listings of homes and properties for sale in our coverage area.