North Country National Scenic Trail — Attraction in Ironwood Township

I really wanted to enjoy this beautiful sandy beach on Lake Superior. We came on a late June day and the temperature was maybe about 75. We paid $5 for parking/day use permit (cash only) and there was a ranger there talking to people and making sure they pay their $5.

He neglected to mention the biblical plague of biting flies that would descend on us as we came nearer the beach. As we got close I thought surely by the water itself there will be some breeze and no flies. But oh, how wrong I was. As I ran barefoot across the burning hot sand toward the water I collected an ever increasing swarm of biting flies. Bites that were painful, and in some cases left us bleeding. The water was cold, my feet got a reprieve, but the flies kept swarming.

As soon as we waded ashore they were more aggressive than before, dozens at a time on each leg, preferring the part that was now wet. The water didn’t protect me, it somehow drew even more flies to me. We debated another 30 seconds before agreeing the only solution was to leave. We dashed back across the sand, feet burning even more, and being bitten along the way.

The whole ordeal maybe 20 minutes total, between parking, paying the fee, a slow-ish amble across the bridge and towards the lake, and a 5 minute dash back to the car.

Near the car we witnessed a young man, even more besieged by flies, collecting a swarm that followed only him, biting him, as he flailed his arms, trying in vain to escape what can only be described as his own personal malicious swarm of torment. His companions asked, “did you shower?” “Yes,”he screamed, “I showered, I put on bug spray, I put on sunblock.” His companions, some of them laughing at his pain and desperation, watched, and did nothing to help him. At this point I was running to save myself, and wondered why he did not run.

Some who were not being bitten were looking smug, or bemused, and I wondered what demon or spirit they had sold their souls to, to protect them from this curse.

Never again. You couldn’t drag me. You couldn’t pay me. Ok, maybe on a cooler day wearing full body hazmat suit, and only then if you paid me quite a lot of money, and provide the...

We had an excellent hike to several of the waterfall trails. They trails were will maintained and the views and forests were beautiful. We also went to the harbor on Lake Superior to let our dogs play in the lake and fetch some sticks. A great place to get some exercise and see some...

The North Country Trail in this area is seriously amazing. Lots of scenic sites to check out, and very few people once you get off the beaten path. The waterfalls around this region are often right near the trail which makes multi-day hiking totally worth it to...