Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore
Two Harbors, Minnesota
lake superior agatesthomsonitejasperbasaltdatolite
Public land, rules apply · Free
Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore
Minnesota's DNR states it in one line: the public beaches along Lake Superior are a popular place to hunt agates, while state parks, state recreation areas, and scientific and natural areas are closed to rock collecting. That leaves municipal beaches like Two Harbors' Agate Bay and Burlington Bay and Duluth's Park Point as the legal North Shore hunting ground — and it makes the park boundary the single most important thing on your map. Work the cobble after a storm, when fresh gravel has been turned up the beach.
The card catalog
| What you can find | lake superior agates, thomsonite, jasper, basalt, datolite |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free on city, township, and other non-park public beaches. No permit, and the DNR publishes no weight limit for personal, non-commercial collecting. |
| Season & hours | Year-round where you can reach the cobble. Late spring melt and the days after a November gale are when the lake has done the sorting for you; mid-summer beaches are the most picked-over. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Easy shoreline hunting with no tools required, though the cobble is round and rolls underfoot. Lake Superior runs dangerously cold all year and the surf can be sudden, so keep small children back from the waterline in any wind. |
| Official source | Minnesota DNR, Recreational Geology |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
More drawers in Minnesota
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Before you go
What does Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore cost?
Free on city, township, and other non-park public beaches. No permit, and the DNR publishes no weight limit for personal, non-commercial collecting. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore open?
Year-round where you can reach the cobble. Late spring melt and the days after a November gale are when the lake has done the sorting for you; mid-summer beaches are the most picked-over. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore good for kids?
Yes — Lake Superior Public Beaches, Minnesota North Shore works for families. Easy shoreline hunting with no tools required, though the cobble is round and rolls underfoot. Lake Superior runs dangerously cold all year and the surf can be sudden, so keep small children back from the waterline in any wind.