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Lake Superior Agate and Rock Hunting Beaches
Minnesota North Shore

hunting lake superior agates at Paradise Beach
Rock Picking and Agate Hunting - Paradise Beach, near Hovland, Minnesota


Best Lake Superior Rock Picking & Agate Beaches - Minnesota North Shore

Guides to
Lake Superior Agate Beaches

- North Shore Agate Beaches (here)
- Wisconsin & Western UP Beaches
- Keweenaw UP Agate Beaches
- Eastern UP Agate Beaches

red triSuperiorTrails Agate Hunting & Rock Picking Directory (Pictures and Guides to Identifying Lake Superior Beach Rocks, Minerals, and Agates)

As the picture at the top of this page suggests, Rock Picking and Agate Hunting is a popular family hobby and this particular beach - Paradise Beach - is one of the most popular agate hunting sites along the North Shore.

Most of the beaches we profile here were introduced to us by Sparky Stensaas's book Rock Picker's Guide to Lake Superior's North Shore (see ordering info near the bottom of this page). But some we discovered on our own and some of the beaches referenced in Sparky's manual, we've omitted because on our visit, we weren't impressed with the variety of available rocks. But beaches are constantly changing so we may have caught them on a bad day.


burlington bay beach

Burlington Bay, Two Harbors

Located on the north edge of town, adjacent to the municipal campground. Reputed to yeild agates, there is also good population of attractive polishing rocks.



beaver bay beach

Beaver River Bay, Beaver Bay

Access is just north of crossing the Beaver River. There are a few parking spots on the roadside shoulder. Otherwise, use the parking lot on the other side of the street just before you cross the river.


cutface creek beach

Cutface-Creek, Good Harbor Bay

This beach is four miles south of Grand Marais and is accessible from the Cutface Creek Wayside. We met some veteran agate collectors who thought this was one of the best agate beaches around the entire lake. Besides agates a bonus is the possiblity of finding Thomsonite zeolites.

Five Mile Rock Beach

Five Mile Rock Beach

This beach is about five miles north of Grand Marais, beginning about a half mile after you cross the Devil Track River. You'll need to find parking along the shoulder of the road. This one isn't listed in Sparky's book but we found a nice selection of rocks here and there is a lot of beach to explore.

kadunce river beach

Kadunce River Beach

Keep your eyes open for the Outpost Motel sign as the Kadunce River Hiking Trail parking lot is just past the motel on the right hand (lake side) of the road. Not a large beach, but lots of rocks.



mile 121 beach

Mile Marker 121 Beach

This beach is only a few miles north of Kadunce River. Look for mile marker 121. Parking is on your right (lake side) There is a short paved dead end road that leads down to the beach. Lots of rock and lots of beach to explore.

 

paradise beach

Paradise Beach

The Paradise Beach Wayside is only a mile or two down the road, shortly after you cross the Little Brule River and before you get to the Brule River and the turn to Judge Magney State Park. There is room to park a few cars in the wayside parking lot. People are always here beach combing so it has a reputation!


Books on Lake Superior Agate Hunting & Rock Picking

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Understanding and Finding Agates
Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals: A Field Guide to the Lake Superior Area

Recommended by a SuperiorTrails friend & rock hound, this new guide has actual photographs of various rocks and minerals found on Lake Superior beaches. Co-author Bob Lynch is owner of Agate City Rocks and Gifts in Two Harbors Minnesota

Agate Hunting DVD
DVD: How to Find Agates

Karen Brzys. Director, Gitchee Gumee Agate & History Museum, has created this comprehensive tutorial to finding agates. Includes over 750 photographs and diagrams.

Lake Superior Rocks and Minerals

Lake Superior Rocks & Minerals Field Guide


This new edition by Dan and Bob Lynch will help you identify up to 75 rocks and minerals you might find washed up on Lake Superior beaches. Has full color photographs to aid in identification.

Lake Superior Rock Pickers GuideLake Superior Rock Picker's Guide

Here is another book recommended by a Superior Trails reader and rock hound who was able to identify over 50 rocks found on the beach using this guide by Kevin Gauthier and Bruce Mueller. Also included are tips for polishing the stones and rock. Kevin and Bruce also publish a similar guide for Lake Michigan rocks.

Agate Hunting on Lake Superior BeachesAgate Hunting Made Easy: How to Really Find Lake Superior Agates

My wife Jo found this agate hunters book while traveling in the UP and thought it would help her find her first Lake Superior Agate. It is full of tips for agate hunting (and rock picking) and has some very good color photographs of a number of agate variations as well as photos of the other kinds of rocks you'll find on Lake Superior beaches.

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rock pickers guide to lake superiors north shore Rock Pickers Guide to
Lake Superior's North Shore

Sparky's guide covers what north shore beaches to comb, a bit of history on the formation of the various rocks found on beaches, and helpful information and pictures on identifying beach rocks and minerals.

Agate IdentificationAgates of Lake Superior

See more recommendations on guides and books on Lake Superior Rocks, Minerals & Agates

 

 

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Lake Superior Agate Links

red triMinnesota's State Gem: The Lake Superior Agate

red triRock Identification Key - By Don Peck on Rockhounds.com

Gitchee Gumme Agate Museumred triGitche Gumee Agate Museum
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See more on the Museum and Rock Picking/Agate Hunting on Grand Marais, Michigan beaches.

Rock On Agate Festival

 

The 2021 13th Annual Rock On Agate Festival will be held held in Sept 11 & 12 at the Community Center in Grand Marais, Michigan.

What last year's agate festival was like:
Pictures & Story from the
2014 Rock On Agate Festival
.


Continuing your Travel & Trekking
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& Campground Directory

Best Camping along Lake Superior.

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Minnesota Travel
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See our Directory of our favorite Upper Peninsula Scenic and Recreation areas.Upper Peninsula Porcupine Mountains


Walking along Canal Park Drive Don't miss experiencing Duluth's Canal Park, Shopping and Entertainment District.

Enger Park Tower Duluth MN
Duluth's Enger Park Tower provides a panaramic view of the city of Duluth.

porcupine mountains hiking trails
See our reviews on Best Hiking and Camping Guides around Lake Superior.


Oberg Mountain Oberg Lake
North Shore Fall Color and Hiking

Grand Marias Sunrise
Grand Marais, Minnesota - A Favorite North Shore Fall Travel Destination

Piorcupine Mountains Lake of the Clouds

 

Porcupine Mountains State Park



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Canal Park Brewery Beer Garden Enjoying lake breezes and views at the Duluth Canal Park Brewery Beer Garden - Canal Park.

Devils Island Lighthouse Apostle Islands
See the lighthouses on an Apostle Islands Cruise.


Travel Information

lake superior road map of Lake Superior Shoreline
Lake Superior Circle Tour Road Map & Guide to Travel Attractions around Lake Superior.




How to recognize Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks.Lake Superior Agate?


Best Lake Superior Agate Beaches

saxon harbor beach


Understanding and Finding Agates
See Our Reviews of the best guides to Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks.

basalt with quartz band
Agate Imposters - Agate Wanna-bees

Shovel Point
View from the top of Palisades Head Scenic Lookout.

Fall colors from the top of Moose Mountain
North Shore Fall Colors from the top of Moose Mountain.

Grandpa Tony's madeline island
Things to see and do on
Madeline Island

Grandpa Tony's madeline island and Most popular Madeline Island AttractionsSee our guide to interesting and fun things to see and do on Madeline Island.


rose garden plantings
See Duluth's Rose Garden at Leif Erickson Park.

Golf Courses Around Lake Superior
See our
Reviews of golf courses around Lake Superior.