Things to do near Cotton

• 

  The lake

  Swim off the sandy beach, fish from the dock, or paddle out in a kayak or on the paddle board. The pontoon is yours too when it's in season.

• 

  The fire pit

  Above the water, for s'mores and late evenings under the pines.

• 

  Sunsets

  The lake goes calm as the sun sets across it, and the chairs on the deck face that way.

• Sax-Zim Bog (opens in a new tab)

  30 min drive

  Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls, boreal chickadees and winter finches in more than 300 square miles of spruce bog. The Welcome Center on Owl Avenue is open daily in winter and summer.

  Birding the bog from the cabin →

• Canal Park and the Aerial Lift Bridge (opens in a new tab)

  45 min drive

  Watch ore boats pass under the lift bridge, then walk the shops and restaurants along the canal.

• The Lakewalk (opens in a new tab)

  45 min drive

  A paved path along the Lake Superior shore, from Canal Park up past the Rose Garden in Leif Erikson Park.

• Glensheen (opens in a new tab)

  50 min drive

  An early-1900s estate on the lake, open for tours of the house, gardens and grounds.

• Great Lakes Aquarium (opens in a new tab)

  45 min drive

  Freshwater fish, river otters and exhibits on the Great Lakes. A good pick for a rainy day.

• Skyline Parkway and Enger Tower (opens in a new tab)

  45 min drive

  A winding drive along the hill above the city. Climb the stone tower in Enger Park for the widest view of the harbor.

• Hawk Ridge (opens in a new tab)

  50 min drive

  From mid-August into November, thousands of hawks, eagles and falcons pass over this ridge on their way south.

• Two Harbors (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 10 min drive

  A harbor town with a lighthouse, a breakwall to walk and ore docks where the boats load.

• Gooseberry Falls State Park (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 30 min drive

  Waterfalls a short walk from the visitor center, with rock ledges to explore beside the river.

• Split Rock Lighthouse (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 40 min drive

  The lighthouse on a cliff above the lake, with tours in season and trails along the shore.

• Superior Hiking Trail (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr+ drive

  Hundreds of miles of trail on the ridge above the lake. Pick a short section for a day hike.

• Mesabi Trail (opens in a new tab)

  35 min drive

  A paved bike trail linking the Iron Range towns, with long stretches through the woods.

• Hull Rust Mahoning Mine View (opens in a new tab)

  50 min drive

  In Hibbing, one of the largest open-pit iron mines in the world, seen from an overlook at its edge.

• Giants Ridge (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr drive

  Golf in summer, and downhill and cross-country skiing in winter, near Biwabik.

  Giants Ridge from the cabin →

• Soudan Underground Mine (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 15 min drive

  Ride the cage half a mile down into a historic iron mine at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Tours run in summer.

• International Wolf Center (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 30 min drive

  Watch the resident wolf pack and learn how wolves live in the north woods.

• North American Bear Center (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 30 min drive

  Black bears in a big wooded enclosure, with talks on how they live.

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area (opens in a new tab)

  1 hr 30 min drive

  A million acres of lakes linked by portages. Day trips need a free permit, and outfitters in Ely rent canoes and gear.

Drive times are from the cabin and approximate. Check opening hours before you go; many places keep shorter hours outside summer.