27 mi · 30-minute drive from the hostel
Two Harbors & Castle Danger
Ore boats, the state’s oldest lighthouse, pie and beer.
Two Harbors is the first real town up the North Shore, and it’s an easy, rewarding half-day from Duluth. Watch giant ore boats load taconite at the docks, tour Minnesota’s oldest operating lighthouse, grab a pint at Castle Danger Brewery, and — because it’s practically the law up here — stop for a slice at Betty’s Pies on the way.
What to do
The Two Harbors Light Station, dating to 1892, is the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota and sits right by the ore docks, where thousand-foot lakers still load iron ore for the trip across the Great Lakes. It’s a great place to watch working shipping up close.
In town and nearby you’ll find Castle Danger Brewery, small-town cafés and shops, and quick access back to the shoreline. Betty’s Pies, just outside town on Highway 61, is a beloved roadside stop famous for its pies and comfort food.
From the front desk
- Time it to catch an ore boat loading at the docks.
- Betty’s Pies is the traditional North Shore road-trip stop.
- An easy trip if you only have half a day.
Good to know
Two Harbors — FAQs
How far is Two Harbors from Duluth?
About 27 miles — roughly a 30-minute drive up Highway 61, making it the easiest North Shore town to reach from Hostel du Nord.
What is the oldest lighthouse in Minnesota?
The Two Harbors Light Station, established in 1892, is the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota. It stands beside the town’s working iron-ore docks.
Where is Betty’s Pies?
Betty’s Pies is a well-known roadside restaurant on Highway 61 near Two Harbors, a classic stop for pie and comfort food on the way up the North Shore.
Keep exploring
Nearby & related
Book Direct & Save
Sleep 10 minutes from the trailhead.
Downtown Duluth — where the Lakewalk, the breweries and Highway 61 all begin.
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