Sports & Recreation

Visitors and athletes from around the world come to Cook County to experience our unsurpassed outdoor recreation opportunities. There’s no limit to what you can do in Cook County. 

• Hiking - explore nearly 400 miles of Minnesota’s most incredible hiking trails
• Biking - paved, single-track and backcountry: pedal over 2,000 miles of potential rides
• Birdwatching - home to over 150 native bird species, Cook County is a birding paradise
• Canoeing - paddle the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and more
• Kayaking - endless kayaking along the Lake Superior shoreline or inland lakes and streams
• Stand Up Paddleboarding - glide across the bays of Lake Superior 
• Fishing - so many honey holes and enough time to explore them all
• Golfing - tee off at Superior National Golf Course in Lutsen
• Hunting - hunt deer, grouse and bear in the deep wilderness of Cook County
• OTV & ATV - fuel your adrenaline on countless backcountry trails
• Rock Climbing - test your limits on the rocky shores of Lake Superior
• Sailing - sailing Lake Superior is an unforgettable experience
• Swimming - with water everywhere you look, the opportunities to swim are unlimited
• Zipline - try the Towering Pines Canopy Tour at Gunflint Lodge for a new perspective
• Races - a little healthy competition in beautiful Cook County keeps athletes on their toes

Whatever your skill level, you’ll find an outdoor adventure to suit your taste in Cook County. There are no limits to what you can do or try here, and we invite you to explore any adventure to the fullest. In a place this unique, scenic and rugged, anything is possible.