Cook County is located at the northeastern tip of Minnesota’s Arrowhead, with Lake Superior’s north shore on one side and the Sawtooth Mountains and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) on the other. The nearest large city is Duluth, Minnesota. We may be in northern Minnesota, but we’re easy to find and get to. Cook County, Minnesota is only four-and-a-half hours north of the Twin Cities. We’re also easy to reach from the Iron Range, Chicago, Thunder Bay, Madison and other areas in the Upper Midwest and beyond.
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Strung along the Lake Superior shore like beads on a necklace, the communities of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder serve as the southern gateway to Cook County, Minnesota. This region is the perfect vacation destination, whether you’re looking for romance, adventure, relaxation or family fun. It all happens here, where the great Lake Superior meets the ancient Sawtooth Mountain Range. There’s always something new to explore.
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Artsy and quirky, the North Shore harbor village of Grand Marais welcomes creatives, families and adventure-seekers alike. The accolades almost speak for themselves. Grand Marais has been named America’s Coolest Small Town (Budget Travel Magazine), Top 10 Beach Getaways (Outside Magazine), and Next Great Adventure Town (National Geographic Adventure Magazine). In Grand Marais you’ll meet some of the most friendly, creative and talented people – both visitors and locals alike.
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Shhh, is that a moose? Uncover the history and allure of this 57-mile National Scenic Byway at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Canada’s Quetico National Park. We all romanticize about a quaint, little lodge in the woods. But on the Gunflint Trail, it’s real. The log lodge, the grand resort, the shimmering lakes and a million acres of pristine Minnesota forest. It doesn’t get much better than this.
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At the very tip of Minnesota’s Arrowhead, about 45 minutes northeast of Grand Marais, sits the community of Grand Portage. Grand Portage is a place of enduring tradition and vibrant culture. Home to the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, this community is one of the earliest Ojibwe settlements in Minnesota. Grand Portage has been a legendary meeting place for centuries – and after one visit you’ll understand why.
