Minnesota Highway 61

Northern Terminus: Canadian Border at the Pigeon River Bridge near Grand Portage, where MN 61 becomes Ontario Highway 61

Length: 151 miles

Counties: St. Louis, Lake, Cook

Routing: MN 61 begins its trek along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Duluth at the Northern Terminus of I-35.  Starting out as a two-to-three lane highway through northeastern Duluth, MN 61 becomes four-lane divided on the outskirts of town, and is such up to Two Harbors. From there, MN 61 continues northeast along the heavily-forested Lake Superior shoreline up to the MN 1 junction near Silver Bay, passing through two tunnels along that stretch.  Northeast of MN 1, MN 61 passes through Grand Marais, and ultimately Grand Portage, near which MN 61 ends at the Pigeon River Bridge, which crosses into Ontario and ties in with Highway 61.  

Links:

• MN 61 @ Minnesota State Highway Endings -- Adam Froehlig

< Photo by Cameron Bevers

MN 61 North reassurance marker, posted just after the 60th Ave. E. intersection in the northeastern portion of Duluth.

Photographer: Patrick Lilja

Date: 9/05/2009

Guide sign along MN 61 North denoting that the road ahead is an expressway from this point in Duluth up to Two Harbors.  Just ahead, the two-lane stretch of MN 61 widens into a four-lane divided highway, and the former two-lane alignment, now a county road, turns off.  It is interesting to note how, on this sign, "Expressway" appears in all capital letters, while the remaining text on the is in mixed case.

Photographer: Patrick Lilja

Date: 9/05/2009

Guide sign just after the one shown in the previous photo denoting that the North Shore Scenic Drive turns off from MN 61, and follows Congdon Blvd. from the turnoff up ahead.  The scenic drive designation follows a two-lane road that straddles the Lake Superior shore line that was years ago the routing of US 61 prior to construction of the four-lane expressway up to Two Harbors.

Photographer: Patrick Lilja

Date: 9/05/2009

Three views of the southern portal to the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel, which opened to traffic in 1994 northeast of Two Harbors.  It takes MN 61 inland from its former alignment (now Lake Co. Rd. 61), which traversed a stretch along some cliffs that were deemed unstable.  The first photo shows a wide view of the area, as viewed from the former alignment of MN 61.   The second photo presents the immediate area surrounding the entry of MN 61 North into the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel, and the third photo shows a close-up of the actual entry portal.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2004

View looking north along MN 61 into the Lafayette Bluff Tunnel, which opened in 1991, and is situated approximately 3 miles down the road from the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel.  This tunnel was constructed for similar reasons to the other tunnel, as well.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2004

Northerly view of MN 61 at Good Harbor Bay.

Photographer: Cameron Bevers

Date: 8/31/2004