Tuesday, June 24 – Waterfall, Wilderness & a Dancing Dog

So… I slept in until 4:30 a.m. (yes, really), which actually counts as sleeping in up here. When sunrise hits around 5-ish, the lake light comes blazing in like a natural alarm clock. I rolled out of bed, brewed some strong coffee, and started sketching out the day’s plan while Kenobi stretched and gave me that “where are we going today?” look.

First up: Judge C.R. Magney State Park to tackle the Devil’s Kettle trail—one of my favorite hikes up here. Early morning bonus: barely anyone else was there. Just us, the birds, and a few other trail-loving souls.

Now, the info kiosk gives a warning: “Rigorous trail with 200 steps.” But the steps are wooden stairs—not the “hope your ankles are flexible” kind made from natural uneven rocks. (Looking at you, Eagle Mountain.) That said, my quads still got the memo that we were climbing

Anyway, we climbed and gawked at the Devil’s Kettle (seriously wild how part of the river just disappears into a mysterious hole). And then—magic moment alert—as we reached the base of the Devil’s Kettle waterfall, a rainbow shimmered through the mist. I just stood there, awestruck, while Kenobi sniffed around like, “Yeah, this place is special.” I managed to snap a few photos, but honestly, they barely capture the feeling of being there. Nature just showing off.

We kept going along the Superior Hiking Trail, hugging the river and taking in the quiet. I couldn’t stop taking pictures—moth caterpillars were dangling from invisible threads like tiny tightrope walkers, and White Admiral butterfliesfluttered through the understory like they were on a mission. Wildflowers were blooming along the path in bursts of color, and the moss-covered boulders and towering pines made every turn feel like a scene from a fairy tale.

After hitting our fourth trail checkpoint, we turned back, clocking just over five peaceful, soul-filling miles.

Back in Grand Marais, we made a few pit stops—first the post office, then the local co-op (LOVE that place—crunchy, friendly, stocked with all the good stuff). We also dropped by Johnson’s Foods, which is locally owned and just as awesome. I love supporting both when I’m in town.

And yes… we returned to The Fisherman’s Daughter. Couldn’t resist. This time, we picked up fresh Whitefish and Herring—and big dinner dreams. Back at the cabin, I fired up the grill on the deck (my first time grilling fish!) and paired it with pasta tossed in a lemony piccata sauce. Fancy? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely.

Kenobi got his fish over his Ollie’s lamb dinner and actually danced while I was plating it. Full-on tail wags and happy hops. That’s how you know you’ve nailed it.

We curled up that night with happy bellies, trail-tired legs, and the feeling that this day—rainbows, waterfalls, butterflies, and all—was something really special. Another perfect North Shore day in the books.