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| Duluth's North Pier Light sits some 1150 feet in Lake Superior. |
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| North Pier Trail map. Click for larger version. |
The 0.45-miles round trip hike runs along the north breakwater of the Duluth Ship Canal. It heads to the Duluth North Pier Light, one of three towers on the canal.
To reach the lighthouse, from Interstate 35 in downtown Duluth, exit south/east onto South Lake Avenue. Continue south onto Canal Park Drive. After the road loops back on itself, park in the Lighthouse Lot. From the lot's east side (the one nearest Lake Superior), go right/southeast onto the Lakewalk.
When the walking path runs out, turn left/northeast onto the North Pier path. This heads onto the concrete pier that ends at the lighthouse.
Improvements over time
In 1874, the canal's southern breakwater was equipped with a light to mark the passageway. Some twenty years later, in 1896, the canal sides were reconstructed and defined by the two concrete piers that still exist today.
The piers each run about 1,700 feet, and of that 1,150 feet extend beyond the shoreline into Lake Superior. Their foundation sits up to twenty-two feet below low water and up to 18 feet above low-water. The canal between the piers is 300 feet wide with the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge spanning it.
During the turn-of-the-century reconstruction, a rear range light (now known as the Duluth Rear Range Light) was added on the southern pier. In 1901, the existing lighthouse (now known as the Duluth South Breakwater Outer Light) on the southern pier was added, but the northern pier remained towerless.
Following the wreck of the SS Mataafa in 1905, though, calls were made to equip the northern pier with a light. The existing lighthouse was constructed and lit in spring 1910.
The northern tower's design was based on that of the Peche Island Rear Range Light at the entrance to the Detroit River from Lake St. Clair. The Michigan light still exists but upon its deactivation was moved to Marine City in that state.
North Pier Light
The North Pier Light is a white steel/cast iron cylindrical tower with a black lantern. It rises 36 feet from the concrete breakwater foundation. The tower is 10-feet 6-inches in diameter at the base and tapers to 8-feet at the top.
No keeper's quarters sits at the North Pier Light. A head keeper and assistants maintained it and the two southern pier lights and lived at another location.
The U.S. Coast Guard automated the North Pier Light in 1966. It can be seen up to 13 miles away.
You can't enter the tower but can walk up to it and stand on the pier watching ships enter the canal.
After taking in the lighthouse, retrace your steps on the North Pier walking path. This heads to the Lake Superior Marine Museum. If not interested in going inside, there are some exhibits outside that can be walked around before taking the sidewalk back to the Lakewalk and your parking lot.
South Pier lighthouses
Alternately, you can walk past the museum and at South Lake Avenue go left/southeast for a close-up view of Duluth's iconic Aerial Lift Bridge. You also can cross the canal via the bridge and take a paved path heading down the South Pier past the Duluth Rear Range Light to the Duluth South Breakwater Outer Light.
A skeletal tower constructed of steel/cast iron, the Rear Range Light rises 70 feet and is visible from 15 miles away. It sometimes is referred to on maps and in guidebooks as the Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light.
The 34.5-foot South Breakwater Outer Light is a house with square tower. The white tower is made of brick. Automated in 1976, it can be seen up to 15 miles away.
If adding the south pier lights to the hike, the entire trip runs about 0.96-miles total.
