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Canal Park, Duluth, MN

Photo: Chrisographer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeLocal GemDate Night

Canal Park

Canal Park Dr and S Lake Ave, at the Aerial Lift Bridge · Duluth, MN

Why you should go…

Canal Park is Duluth's lakefront district at the foot of the Aerial Lift Bridge, built from a warehouse district converted in the 1980s into restaurants, shops and hotels. You can walk the Lakewalk along Lake Superior, head out the lighthouse pier as freighters enter the ship canal, and stop in at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center. The Great Lakes Aquarium and the William A. Irvin ship museum sit nearby.

  • #waterfront district
  • #lakewalk
  • #shopping
  • #restaurants
  • #ship watching

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Canal Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Aerial Lift Bridge

    Free

    Watch the lift span rise 135 feet to let lake freighters pass through the Duluth Ship Canal into the harbor.

    Right next doorMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Adventure Zone Duluth

    Under $25

    An indoor family entertainment venue in Duluth's Canal Park, part of the Grandma's Restaurant Company family.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Great Lakes Aquarium

    Under $25

    A freshwater aquarium on Duluth's harbor featuring over 250 species from the Great Lakes region.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    North Shore Scenic Railroad

    $25–$50

    Heritage train excursions along Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Hayward

    Free

    A Wisconsin Northwoods lake town known for fishing, forests, and the Hayward Lakes chain.

    60 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Washburn County

    Free

    A Wisconsin Northwoods county of lakes and forest anchored by Shell Lake and Spooner.

    68 mi awayMore like this