Devil's Kettle Hike and Naniboujou Lodge Breakfast

Our last day in Grand Marais was August 13th and so we decided to finish it up with a sunrise hike to Devil's Kettle Falls and get breakfast at Naniboujou Lodge.  Kim Andrews suggested both items and we had a great time.  There are multiple URLs about Devil's Kettle and I enjoyed reading up on the falls before we came.

We left super early to arrive at Judge Magney State Park at about 7 a.m. and paid our $5 entrance fee.  The sun was just peeking out and we enjoyed nearly the entire hike alone.  The park was 16 miles north back toward Grand Portage and it took about 20 minutes to get there.  Once we parked and found the trail head it was a 1 mile hike to these gorgeous double falls.

When we started the hike, we were asked to wipe our feet to prevent the spread of Spotted Kingweed both before and after the completion of the hike.

The hike was mainly a dirt trail gradually steeping upward through a beautiful dense forest of birch and spruce pine.  The solitude was lovely in the early morning air.  Soon, you cross a short bridge that spans the Brule River and rapids and soon you come to a lovely overlook of the valley and river where benches are plentiful.

We did get a little confused at this point but you continue to the right and then come to wooden stairs - over 213 of them! These stairs will take you to the Upper Falls where a few more stairs take you to the Devil's Kettle.

Just before the overlook, you can get a great photo of the Devil's Kettle if you walk around trees and just off the beaten path - it's still a path - just not used as much.

At the waterfall, this mighty river splits in two - half dropping into the mysterious Devil's Kettle and the other half dropping 50 feet into a pool of water and continuing downstream toward Lake Superior.  Devil's Kettle is a mystery!  No one has ever figured out where that water goes when it drops into the cauldron!  Some have dropped large amounts of dye, logs, ping pong balls and other things into the water and nothing has ever emerged at Lake Superior!  It's believed there are underground passages but where it goes, no one knows!  The rock at the kettle is a hunk of rhyolite (volcanic rock) - part of it making the bowl that holds Lake Superior.  One source thinks the kettle is a lava tube opening but rhyolite never forms lava tubes - basaltic lava does, so that's out.  It is a phenomenon that has stumped geologists today!

From this point, you can continue walking farthing into the back country another 8 miles, I think it is, that winds along the river and links up to the Superior Hiking Trail at the northeastern end of the park.  On our walk, we went directly to the upper falls and came back, but on the way back, there is a path that takes you to the Brule River and the lower falls just before the huge set of stairs back to the top.  While overlooking the river as it plummeted over a large boulder,  I kept wondering that if half the river is that mighty in August (it was an impressive River - very wide, loud and large), I wonder what it would have looked like with the other half of the river at Devil's Kettle didn't drop!

At this point, we traversed back up those 200+ stairs and enjoyed a different view on the walk back to the truck.  I spotted all sorts of beautiful foliage, flowers and mushrooms!  Such a lovely walk.  I'm so glad we did it.

After the hike, we drove another mile down the road to Naniboujou Lodge for breakfast.  This is a Native American lodge was first built in the 1920's as a private club.  Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey were among the charter members.  The name Naniboujou is Cree for God of the Outdoors.

In 1929 with the stock market crash and depression, it began to fail and by the mid-1930's it was in financial crisis, the mortgage foreclosed and the property sold.  Over the years, it's been owned and operated by various corporations and private persons.  Today, Naniboujou has been revitalized and is owned by Tim and Nancy Ramey since 1985!  It still looks like it did back in the 1920's and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.  It has Minnesota's largest native rock fireplace, a 200 ton piece that stands in the Great Hall Dining Room!  It is 30' x 80' and impressive!  For a full history of this amazing place, click here.

We sat right by the fireplace!

I found the painted artwork on the walls and ceiling stunning!  This place had a large number of diners.  They changed from photo to photo...that's how many people enjoyed breakfast!

Adjacent to the dining room is the hotel section where guests can have a relaxing overnight stay.

And, on the other side of the dining room is a relaxation, reading or pool room that overlooks the grounds and Lake Superior.

The dining room is to the left of this room.

The dining room is to the right of this room.

Lake Superior in the foggy distance.

Again, thanks to Kim for the recommendation.  Our breakfast was simply yummy...Veggie Omelet, two muffins and orange juice.  A perfect breakfast after a long hike.