Silver Bay

Specific points of interest include routes on two trails, a hiking option to Bean and Bear Lakes, golf, and the history of the harbor. When it comes to the trails, it is worth taking a closer look at the respective endpoints: the mileages refer in some cases to a trail section, in others to a loop or the route to a destination.

Trails and Route Distances

The Gitchi-Gami State Trail passes through Beaver Bay on its way to Silver Bay. Its section from Gooseberry Falls State Park to Silver Bay is 17.3 miles long.

On the Superior Hiking Trail, the section from the Lax Lake Road Trailhead in Beaver Bay to the Penn Blvd. Trailhead in Silver Bay is 4.4 miles long. The Penn Blvd. Trailhead is in Silver Bay and is the starting point for the Bean and Bear Lakes Loop, also called the Twin Lakes Trail. This hiking option covers 6.8 miles. Silver Bay is also home to the Silver Bay Multi-Modal Trail Center. The Superior Hiking Trail Association lists parking, restrooms, and coin-operated showers for hikers; the facility has opened. Parking relates to access, while restrooms and showers are sanitary amenities.

The lakes are reached after 3.6 miles on the main trail; this figure therefore refers to the route to the lakes, not the entire loop. This makes a practical difference when planning a route: 4.4 miles is the section between trailheads, 6.8 miles is the loop, and 3.6 miles is the route to the lakes. These figures answer different questions and should not be read as interchangeable route distances.

For the Gitchi-Gami, the stated distance is between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Silver Bay; for the Superior Hiking Trail, it describes the connection between two trailheads. The sections therefore differ not only in distance but also in their named endpoints.

Harbor History and Shoreline

The Hesper was lost in 1905 after a storm drove the ship onto a reef at the southwestern edge of Silver Bay Harbor. The wreck broke apart on the reef in 42 feet of water.

Black Beach is designated a safe harbor on the Lake Superior Water Trail.

A distinctive black-stone beach lies near the destination, about 3.5 miles up the shore from the ore-loading facilities near Silver Bay Marina.

Golf in Silver Bay

Silver Bay Golf Course is a public, nine-hole course with a regulation par of 36. From the back tees, it measures 3,173 yards. When comparing distances with the hiking routes, be sure to note the units of measurement: trail sections are given in miles, while the golf course length is given in yards.

Discover more destinations: Two Harbors

For the broader travel overview: Lake County.