Two Harbors, MN: what to do

This guide is for anyone deciding whether to stop in Two Harbors or use it as a base for the lower North Shore. It covers what is in town, what is open right now, the choice between Scenic 61 and the expressway from Duluth, where to camp, and the state parks within a short drive.

Hours and closures below were read from official pages on November 11, 2026. They change with the season, so the checklist at the end says what to confirm before you go.

What is in town, side by side

All three museum statuses come from the Lake County Historical Society homepage, which lists no admission prices. Call 218-834-4898 for prices.

The Depot Museum and the ore docks

The Duluth & Iron Range Depot was the railroad's headquarters and passenger station, built "overlooking the ore docks and rail yards on Lake Superior," according to the Lake County Historical Society. It opened to the public in 1907. Passenger service ended on July 15, 1961, and the society opened its first museum in the building in 1960. The museum now has 4,000 feet of exhibit space.

Two locomotives sit outside:

• The 3 Spot: the first engine the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad bought, for $9,750. It arrived at Agate Bay by scow on August 29, 1883, and helped lay 68 miles of track from Agate Bay to Soudan. It has been on display beside the depot since 1923.
• The Yellowstone Mallet: built in 1943 to haul ore trains between the Iron Range, Two Harbors and Proctor. It joined the 3 Spot on May 28, 1965.

Why the docks are here

Two Harbors exists because of iron ore. The DNR's history of the Soudan mine, the state's first iron ore mine, says "On July 31, 1884, the first shipment of ore left for Two Harbors." By 1885, roughly 225,000 tons of ore were moving through Agate Bay, according to the historical society. The historical society describes the depot as built "overlooking the ore docks."

The lighthouse and the 3M museum

Two Harbors Light Station

The Two Harbors lighthouse "has been guiding ships into Agate Bay since 1892," per the historical society. Congress authorized $10,000 for the light station on August 4, 1886. The tower and the head keeper's quarters are red brick and share a wall five bricks thick. The complex has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, and the society took ownership in 1999.

Two details worth knowing before a visit:

• The light now flashes instead of sweeping. The old rotating beacon failed on November 25, 2019. A stationary flashing beacon was lit on June 2, 2021, on a five-year loan, and the society launched a campaign in 2021 to raise $70,000 for a new rotating one.
• You can sleep there. The keeper's quarters at the base of the tower have run as a bed and breakfast since 1999.

3M Birthplace Museum

In 1902, five Two Harbors businessmen formed the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company to mine what they thought was corundum near Crystal Bay. It turned out to have no commercial value, and the company moved to Duluth and then into sandpaper. The 3M Birthplace Museum is in the original Dwan law office, listed on the National Register a year after the society bought it in 1991. It is closed for repairs for the 2026 season.

The Edna G

The Edna G is a tugboat built in 1896 by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company for the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, according to the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, a regional visitor guide. The chamber describes it as "preserved as a museum ship" and lists it on Waterfront Drive.

Walks in town and the Superior Hiking Trail

According to the Lake County Chamber's trail page:

• Sonju Trail: partially paved and about one mile along the Lake Superior shore. Park at Agate Bay, Burlington Bay or the RJ Houle Information Center on Highway 61.
• Uptown Trail: paved, starting at Lakeview National Golf Course.

The City of Two Harbors posts its own trail map.

The Superior Hiking Trail Association is based in town at 618 1st Avenue (218-834-2700). Its office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for deliveries and appointments. The Trail Store is open "seasonally mid-May to mid-October on Thursdays and Fridays"; the SHTA lists its 2026 store hours as May 21 to October 16, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online shopping and curbside pickup are available year-round. For trail sections near here, see Superior Hiking Trail day hikes.

Getting here: Scenic 61 or the expressway

Between Duluth and Two Harbors you choose between two roads. The DNR's North Shore itinerary puts it this way: "Choose Scenic Highway 61 for a beautiful drive along Lake Superior to Two Harbors. Although the Highway 61 Expressway is faster, you will not see views of the lake." The itinerary then continues on Highway 61 from Two Harbors to Tettegouche State Park. The same itinerary suggests stopping "in Duluth or Two Harbors if you need to pick up food for a picnic."

For every stop from Duluth to the border, see Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop.

Nearby parks and waysides

• Flood Bay: the DNR waysides page describes "a long pebble beach" just outside the city and a wetland with "quite a bit of beaver activity and waterfowl," and says otters show up in spring. The page lists no picnic tables and one vault toilet.
• Gooseberry Falls: the DNR gives the drive as "approximately 13 miles" on Highway 61. The visitor center and Nature Store are open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and "No vehicle permit is necessary to park in the wayside/visitor center lot." As of November 2026, the DNR says that during its November 7 to 22 special management deer hunt, trails north of Highway 61 (including the Superior Hiking Trail) are closed, while the falls area and trails on the Lake Superior side stay open. See the Gooseberry Falls guide and Gooseberry Falls camping.
• Split Rock: the DNR lists the park "about 20 miles northeast of Two Harbors." The Minnesota Historical Society runs the lighthouse. From October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027 it is open Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A grounds pass (no lighthouse or keeper's house access) is $8. As of November 2026, the DNR says a special firearm hunt runs November 7 to 22, 2026, closing everything on the inland side of Highway 61 except to lottery permit holders and Shipwreck Creek Campground campers; the lakeside stays open. See the Split Rock Lighthouse visiting guide.

State park vehicle permits are $7 a day or $35 a year. Past Split Rock, the next towns are Beaver Bay and Silver Bay.

Camping in town: Burlington Bay Campground

The City of Two Harbors runs Burlington Bay Campground at Highway 61 and Park Road:

The campground is open mid-May to mid-October. Reservations for 2027 open at 12 a.m. on Friday, January 1, 2027. Rates cover up to four adults and one vehicle per site, and children under 12 stay free. A dump station, Wi-Fi and ice are on site. Check-in is 12 p.m., check-out 11 a.m. The city's page lists add-on fees (an extra tent is $10 a night plus tax) and firewood at $7 a bundle. Call 218-834-2021, or leave a message in the off-season.

Before you go

• Check the museum hours on the day. As of November 11, 2026, the historical society's homepage lists open hours only for the Depot Museum, Friday to Sunday.
• Ask about admission. The society's homepage lists no prices. Call 218-834-4898.
• Late-season hunts (as of November 2026): both Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock close inland trails through November 22. The DNR recommends blaze orange or other highly visible clothing.
• Split Rock is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through January 4, 2027.
• Book Burlington Bay early if you want a summer 2027 site. Booking opens January 1, 2027.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota road trips · North Shore waterfalls, in driving order · Silver Bay and Beaver Bay

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Sources

• Lake County Historical Society, homepage (museum addresses, hours, closures): https://lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org/
• Lake County Historical Society, Duluth & Iron Range Depot: https://lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org/duluth-iron-range-depot/
• Lake County Historical Society, Two Harbors Lighthouse: https://lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org/lighthouse/
• Lake County Historical Society, 3M Birthplace Museum: https://lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org/3m-museum/
• Lake County Historical Society, Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast: https://lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org/bed-breakfast/
• City of Two Harbors, Burlington Bay Campground: https://www.twoharborsmn.gov/community/burlington_bay_campground/index.php
• City of Two Harbors, City trails: https://www.twoharborsmn.gov/services/city_trails.php
• Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Edna G (secondary): https://lakecounty-chamber.com/explore-things-to-do/edna-g/
• Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Hiking & Biking (secondary): https://lakecounty-chamber.com/explore-things-to-do/hiking-biking/
• Superior Hiking Trail Association, Contact Us: https://superiorhiking.org/contact-us/
• Minnesota DNR, North Shore waterfall itinerary: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/itineraries/north-shore-waterfall-itinerary.html
• Minnesota DNR, Gooseberry Falls State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00172
• Minnesota DNR, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00266
• Minnesota DNR, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park (history): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00285
• Minnesota DNR, State waysides: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/waysides/index.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota Historical Society, Split Rock Lighthouse hours and admission: https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock/visit/hours
• Minnesota Historical Society, Split Rock Lighthouse plan your visit (vehicle permit rule): https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock/visit