Wisconsin's Northern Edge

I always feel a bit sheepish returning here after not having posted in this space for a while. For us in the outdoor industry, the year 2020 brought a crush of business, so finding time to go on trips —let alone write about them— proved quite challenging.

Which is why we decided to end the year —and begin the new one— by finally going “up north”. Originally, we planned stay in Duluth, but we vastly underestimated other peoples’ enthusiasm for colder latitudes in winter: Duluth was booked solid the week straddling New Years’.

So we found ourselves in a tiny morsel of a town called Cornucopia, which boasts 92 year-round residents, a world-class farm to table restaurant, and the northernmost Post Office in Wisconsin. We found rudimentary but comfy accommodations at a kayak outfitter converted to an Airbnb for winter season, and we used that as a home base for a series of daytrips.

Meyer’s Beach hiking trail meanders over the top of Bayfield Peninsula’s sea caves.

Frost River Trading Co crafts waxed canvas and leather bags and other outdoor good in this facility in Duluth.

Bright morning at Port Wing wayside on Lake Superior.

Last full moon of the year setting over retired fishing boats on the shores of Lake Superior in Cornucopia.

Downtown Duluth is full of independent, local restaurants, breweries and shops, like Trail Fitters in historic Fitgers Bldg.

Sailboats in Bayfield awaiting warmer days.

Lost Creek Falls at the mid-point of a glorious 3 mile morning hike through fresh snow.

From the menu at Fat Radish in Cornucopia: “we support a resillient food system that helps preserve our rural way of life.”

Late afternoon at Meyer’s Beach.