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Lake Superior North Shore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

27 Reviews 4.37 out of 5 stars Based on 27 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Duluth, USA

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On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior with this self-guided driving tour. Relive tales of harrowing shipwrecks, including the famous tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Visit historic landmarks like Glensheen Mansion and Pierre the Voyager. Marvel at the cascading waters of Gooseberry Falls State Park and cap off your journey with breathtaking views from Split Rock Lighthouse. This is a drive you simply can’t miss!

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

What's Included

  • Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
  • Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
  • Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
  • Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

600 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Split Rock Lighthouse Visitor Center
3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

This tour begins in the parking lot of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, located at 600 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. To begin the tour, exit the parking lot and turn right onto Canal Park Drive.Note: The tour is over 48 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Canal Park

Local legend says in 1870 every man, woman and child in Duluth brought out their shovels and dug the canal here in just three days! In reality, a huge steam dredger did most of the hard work. Not quite as fun, I know!
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Glensheen Mansion

Mining magnate Chester Congdon built it in 1908. It later passed to his daughter Elisabeth, who lived out her twilight years there. That is, until June 27th, 1977, when she was found murdered in her bedroom. Someone had suffocated her with a satin pillow. Nearby was Elisabeth’s nurse, bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Duluth

As we head for the outskirts of Duluth, you might be wondering where the city got its name. Well, for that we have to meet French explorer Daneil Greysolon Dulhut. He set up camp in this area in 1679, proudly planting the French coat of arms.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

French River

This overlook also features a series of panels highlighting the history of commercial fishing on the lake. It’s big business! The fish sanctuary across the street isn’t open to the public, but it does brisk business catching rainbow trout, raising their offspring, then returning them back to the lake. It’s a cycle that goes on every year and helps maintain our marine ecosystems.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Buchanan Historical Marker

To see the marker, park in the turnout ahead. Otherwise, continue nutrients from the soil. And just like the trees, wildflowers have intricate root systems of their own. Their roots help stabilize the soil. They then use these nutrients for their own growth, then return the nutrients to the soil when they decompose.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Two Harbors

This was the seedy part of town where men could be “relieved of their pay.” At its height in the late 1800s, there were 22 saloons in just a two block radius! That’s certainly a lot of places for these men to whoop it up and share wild tales.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel

Thankfully, workers completed the 3-year project without incident. With the tunnel completed, drivers no longer had to go miles out of their way, driving on a narrow two-lane road that ran right along the cliff’s edge. Talk about a white-knuckling drive! One mistake and the car would have plunged right into the lake.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

S.S. William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum

On a clear morning in June 1928, Captain Edward Smith was commanding the SS America, a passenger steamship with 47 on board. The passengers included a number of wealthy citizens heading to their summer vacation homes on Isle Royale.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gooseberry Falls State Park

The name actually comes from the Objiwe name for this place. They call it Shabonimikani-zibi, or River Place of the Gooseberries. And they have a very special connection to these small tart berries.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Iona's Beach

As this part of the earth shifted, volcanic eruptions spewed lava onto the surface. The lava filled in cracks and crevices, then hardened into rocks called igneous rocks. The type of stones found at Iona’s Beach are specific kinds known as rhyolite and felsite.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Split Rock Lighthouse

Just ahead is a perfect spot to take a photo of the Split Rock Lighthouse. In fact, millions of people have taken a photo from this very spot, making this one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Lake Superior North Shore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-259428P36

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.37
27 reviews

Average 4.37 out of 5 stars based on 27 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
16
4 stars
8
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
1

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
  • Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
  • Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
  • This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site
  • Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
  • Offline GPS-enabled route map
  • NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)
  • This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app
  • Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
  • Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
  • The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT).

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
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  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
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