Outdoors and Recreation
National Learn to Row Day 2026
Duluth Rowing Club presents hosts this opportunity to check out its facility, try rowing on a rowing machine and/or give rowing on the water a shot.
Pollinator Marketplace
Duluth Monarch Buddies hosts a market featuring a pollinator/native plant sale from Shoreview Natives in Two Harbors, free resources on pollinator plants and gardening for Monarch butterflies, a native pollinator garden tour and DMB merchandise for sale. DMB members will be on hand to answer questions, assist with plant purchases and provide direction on developing and increasing monarch and butterfly habitat in their yards and neighborhoods. Local partner organizations will host informational booths, including the Arrowhead Chapter Wild Ones and Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center.
Species-Finding Field Trip: Frigga Fritillary and Red-disked Alpine
With all the biodiversity in the greater Sax-Zim Bog ecosystem, seeing the uncommon, rare or difficult-to-find species can require special, targeted effort. This field trip is focused on finding two unique butterfly species: Frigga Fritillary and Red-disked Alpine. These two butterflies are specialists of open bogs, which are not very common in this area, and feature Bog Willow, Cranberry and sedges.
Please note: this is a strenuous field trip with almost all the hiking done off-trail in wet and uneven conditions.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at noon. The field trip concludes at 5 p.m.
Eco3 Urban Farm Plant Swap
The Eco3 Urban Farm is holding a free community plant swap. Please contribute plants of all types, including houseplants, vegetable starts and more. The farm will contribute excess vegetable starts. In addition to the swap, the farm will also be open to the public for guided tours and interactive activities for kids, including farm bingo and yard games.
Galls, Burls and Brooms! Oh My!
This workshop focuses on exploring the Lilliputian world of galls, burls, witches’ brooms and non-Metazoan plant diseases as well as the plants they grow on. Start with some basic ID skills before heading out for a hike at Park Point.
Superior Hiking Trail’s 40th Ultimate Birthday Celebration
The Superior Hiking Trail Association is celebrating the trail’s 40th anniversary with a community-wide hike along the entire 300-mile course. Hikers can choose who to go with, when to go, how to travel (hike, run or saunter) and which SHT section to traverse.
Register for the hike at superiorhiking.org and, after time on the trail, celebrate at one of four birthday parties from 4 to 7 p.m., hosted by local businesses.
Party Locations
Voyager Brewing Company (Grand Marais)
Bluefin Bay Resort (Tofte)
Castle Danger Brewery (Two Harbors)
Ursa Minor Brewing (Duluth)
Reptiles and Amphibians Field Trip
Northern Minnesota is home to an impressive diversity of reptiles and amphibians, with 14 species present in the greater Sax-Zim Bog ecosystem, alone. On this field trip, attendees will spend time searching for and observing many of these species, including turtles, frogs, snakes, toads, salamanders and maybe more. Attendees will also learn tips on how to better observe or find reptiles and amphibians on their own adventures.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org.
Bike Blessing
Bike Blessing is an annual outreach of Salem Covenant Church in West Duluth. Bikers and non-bikers of all walks and rides are invited to this family-friendly event starting at 10:30 a.m. that kicks off the riding season. Pastor Joe Florestano leads the blessing of the bikes. Then there is “kickstands up” at 1 p.m. for a 100 mile ride. Destination to be determined. Emma’s Kitchen food truck will provide lunch (cost not included).
Earth Rider Makers Market
Unique, sustainable, handcrafted, locally-grown and freshly-brewed goods are sold at the Earth Rider Brewery Fest Grounds on the first Saturday of the month from June to August. The market features a variety of what Twin Ports makers have to offer.
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Duluth Yacht Club runs sailboat races every Wednesday night at 6:15 from mid May to early September on Lake Superior and the Duluth-Superior Harbor within approximately 10 miles of the Duluth Shipping Channel. Fitger’s Brewing Complex Courtyard and other stops along the Lakewalk offer particularly good vantage points.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD4nrLin9Lw” /]
Adventure Book Club: Tree Trek
Author Stephanie Mirocha talks about her book Tree Trek: A Daughter’s Walk Through Grief during this outdoor event. In Tree Trek, Mirocha weaves together accessible tree identification with her deeply personal journey through grief, revealing how the natural world can serve as both companion and guide toward healing.
The discussion takes place at Fairmount Park next to Lake Superior Zoo and is followed by an optional one-hour hike led by Duluth Parks and Recreation.
Registration is required on the Parks and Recreation website.
Free Park Day
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers free admission to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas on four days each year. On Free Park Days the DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit to enter state parks and recreation areas. The entrance fee waiver does not cover activities like camping, rentals or tours.
The goal of Free Park Days is to get all Minnesotans outdoors.
For more information, contact the DNR Information Center by emailing info.dnr @ state.mn.us or by calling 888-646-6367 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The next Free Park Day is Friday, Nov. 27.
Thunderbird Warrior Challenge 2026
The second annual Thunderbird Warrior Challenge in Bayfield is Wisconsin’s northernmost trail run and the only run with views of the Apostle Islands. The event features 50k, 25k and 10k trail run options and a 5k run with obstacles. There are also games, entertainment and activities throughout the day.
The run courses feature a mix of rolling trails, technical singletrack and panoramic vistas of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Runners explore diverse terrains, including old-growth maple stands and sandy pine forests, with challenging climbs and descents through glacial topography. Notable highlights include passing the historic Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area and taking in views from Mt. Ashwabay.
The challenge kicks off at 6 a.m. with the 50k trail run, followed by the 25k and 10k races at 8 a.m., and a 5K fun run and obstacle course at 9 a.m.
This event is also a chance to honor veterans and first responders, with discounts for those groups and free entry for active-duty military personnel.
All proceeds from the event benefit Camp Benesi and Mt. Ashwabay Outdoor Recreation Area.
Camp Benesi is a nonprofit recreational getaway for veterans and Gold Star families who are grieving loss or dealing with the effects of military service. Created in honor of MSGT. Jonathan J. Dunbar, who was killed in action in 2018, Camp Benesi’s mission is to provide a safe and peaceful retreat for its guests to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and connect with others who share similar experiences. It offers free lodging, meals and activities at no cost to its guests.
Mt. Ashwabay is a nonprofit ski and recreation area dedicated to promoting outdoor activities and community engagement throughout the greater Chequamegon Bay area.
On-site (primitive) camping is available for those looking to immerse themselves in the event and the beautiful natural surroundings.
A Closer Look Series: Bumblebees
Come take “A Closer Look” and learn more about some interesting species groups with this talk series. These 1.5 hour talks with Head Naturalist Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus will informative deep-dives. The first talk in the series will investigate the lives of bumblebees. This will be an indoor class in the Lois King Education Center.
Field trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 11:30 a.m.
A Closer Look Series: Frogs and Toads
Come take “A Closer Look” and learn more about some interesting species groups with this talk series. These 1.5 hour talks with Head Naturalist Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus will be informative deep-dives. Our second talk in the series, this summer, will investigate the curious lives of Frogs & Toads. This will be an indoor class in the Lois King Education Center.
Field trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 12:30 p.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
A Closer Look Series: Warblers
Come take “A Closer Look” and learn more about some interesting species groups with this talk series. These 1.5 hour talks with Head Naturalist Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus will be informative deep-dives. The third talk in the series will investigate the lives of warblers. This will be an indoor class in the Lois King Education Center.
Field trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 11:30 a.m.
A Closer Look Series: Carnivorous Plants
Come take “A Closer Look” and learn more about some interesting species groups with this talk series. These 1.5 hour talks withHead Naturalist Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus will be informative deep-dives. The fourth and final talk in the series will investigate the wild world of carnivorous plants. This will be an indoor class in the Lois King Education Center.
Field trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 12:30 p.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
High School Volleyball Leagues Begin
The summer season of co-ed high school volleyball leagues at Skyline Social & Games runs from early June through mid-August, with games on Sunday nights.
Details and registration information are at skylinesocialandgames.com.
There are more than 600 teams playing weekly during Skyline’s outdoor summer leagues. Weeknight adult league options include volleyball, bocce ball and cornhole.
Wild and Free Kids Camp
This forest exploration camp invites children to slow down and reconnect through a blend of Qigong, music therapy, journaling and imaginative play. Surrounded by the magic of the woods, participants build confidence and emotional awareness while forming connections with nature and each other.
The camp is for ages 6-10. Sessions are from 1 to 4 p.m. from June 15-19. The cost is $120 for the weeklong camp. Registration and more information are at svalja.yoga.
Music in the Park: Palisade
The 42nd annual Music in the Park concert series, formerly known as the Chester Creek Concert Series, features a variety of live music on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. This summer all shows are at Lincoln Park while chalet renovations happen at Chester Bowl Park. The series is presented by Duluth Parks and Recreation and the Chester Bowl Improvement Club. The Twin Ports Express food truck will be on site and attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
For weather-related cancellations or updates, call the Music in the Park hotline at 218-730-4321 after 3 p.m. the night of the concert or visit duluthmn.gov/parks/cancellations.
Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Duluth Yacht Club runs sailboat races every Wednesday night at 6:15 from mid May to early September on Lake Superior and the Duluth-Superior Harbor within approximately 10 miles of the Duluth Shipping Channel. Fitger’s Brewing Complex Courtyard and other stops along the Lakewalk offer particularly good vantage points.
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD4nrLin9Lw” /]
Hartley Sustainability Workshop Series
This workshop series aims to connect community members with local environmental experts to instruct about local environmental challenges and solutions shaping the region. Workshops take place on the third Thursday of each month and will run through July 2026.
Wild Mushrooms 101
During this class, participants will learn about foraging and identifying wild mushrooms. Learn some basic information about mushrooms, steps for identifying mushrooms, steps for foraging mushrooms, common edible mushrooms, common toxic mushrooms and recommended resources. Everyone will get to handle real mushrooms to get some hands-on experience. This class takes place in a classroom but you will leave with the skills and knowledge to find and identify mushrooms in the wild.
Whipper Snapper Races for Kids 2026
Whipper Snapper kids’ races are held each year in Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park on Grandma’s Marathon weekend. These races are free and open to children ages 14 and under. All participants receive a ribbon at the completion of the race.
The free short-distance races are a way to introduce kids to running or keep the fire burning bright for future marathon finishers.
A festival sponsored by the Young Athletes Foundation features activities for the kids, including a bounce house, climbing wall, face painting and balance bikes.
Schedule
2 to 5 p.m. – YAF Festival for Kids
2 to 3:30 p.m. – In-Person Registration
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Whipper Snapper Races
Starting Times and Race Groups
3:30 p.m. – Mascot races
3:45 p.m. – Ages 4 and younger
4:15 p.m. – Ages 5-6
4:40 p.m. – Ages 7-8
4:50 p.m. – Ages 9-14
Pre-registration information is at grandmasmarathon.com.
Orchids of the Sax-Zim Bog Field Trip
The Sax-Zim Bog is home to at least 20 species of orchid. This field trip will cover a lot of ground to find orchids that represent the diversity of the bog. This trip will likely involve a little “bog stomping,” so rubber boots are a must.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs — excluding workshops — in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 5 p.m.