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Duluth is a radio site at the westernmost point of Lake Superior. It consists of Duluth, Minnesota to the north and Superior, Wisconsin to the south, together referred to as the Twin Ports. The city is well-known for its 17 radio towers that dominate the skyline, a beacon visible from 20 miles (32 km.) away alerting locals that home is near as they travel into town.
Due to the shape of the coastline here, the terrain blocking the city into the marine layer where few stations lurk, as well as the aforementioned cluster of towers, home to 22 stations immediately overlooking downtown – almost the city’s entire local radio dial – reception here is the worst of any spots on the Great Lakes, an average distance of just 27 miles with few out-of-market stations audible within the city.
While reception here is primarily from locales nearby, the strongest of the Minneapolis signals are very common in the higher elevations surrounding Duluth as well as along the lake just to the east of town and other inland markets can be heard with good conditions. Despite its location beside Lake Superior, Duluth is chiefly governed by inland propagation.
This bandscan is dedicated to Jacob Norlund. Jacob was a long-time friend and radio hobbyist who lived in Duluth. He lost a long battle with brain cancer in February 2017 just weeks before I came to town and performed these scans.
DULUTH, MINNESOTA BANDSCAN
this is a combined off-season bandscan (see individual scans below)
Minnesota Point, Beach: 46°43’45.8″N 92°02’53.1″W
April 4, 2017 1830 – 1945 / 55°F
605 ft. elevation (5 ft. above Lake Superior)
Enger Park & Tower, Duluth: 46°46’29.1″N 92°07’30.7″W
April 6, 2017 1700 – 1730 / 48°F
1,130 ft. elevation (530 ft. above Lake Superior)
46 stations total / Average distance: 27 mi.
* Note: aside from digital radio (IBOC), these scans do not include notes of interference from stronger adjacent frequencies
*88.1 WWEN WI Wentworth / Real Presence Radio / 850w / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (17 mi.)
88.3 –
*88.5 WSSU WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 950w / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
88.7 –
*88.9 WOJB WI Reserve / Native American / 100kw / 15dBu, stereo (73 mi.)
89.1 WGZS MN Cloquet / Native American / 50kw / 10dBu, mono (28 mi.)
89.3 –
*89.5 WJRF MN Duluth / The Refuge / 2.85kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
89.7 IBOC (WHSA)
*89.9 WHSA WI Brule / Wisconsin Public R. / 92kw / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (34 mi.)
90.1 IBOC (WHSA)
90.3 –
*90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith 90.5 / 2kw / 50dBu, mono (1 mi.)
90.7 –
*90.9 W215CG MN Duluth / The Current //92.9 HD2 / 99w / 35dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
91.1 IBOC (KUWS)
*91.3 KUWS WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 83kw / RDS / 60dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
91.5 IBOC (KUWS)
91.7 –
91.9 –
*92.1 WWAX MN Hermantown / The Fan / 5.4kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
92.3 WRLS WI Hayward / The Best Mix / 6kw / 8dBu, mono (60 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 IBOC (WSCD)
*92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / MPR Classical / 70kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
93.1 IBOC (WSCD)
93.3 WBSZ WI Ashland / Z93 Country / 71kw / 8dBu, mono (61 mi.)
93.5 –
*93.7 WGHF-LP WI Superior / 3ABN Hope Radio / 100w / 35dBu, stereo (4 mi.)
93.9 WTBX MN Hibbing / Northland’s #1 / 100kw / RDS / 10dBu, mono (59 mi.)
*94.1 K231BI MN Duluth / 94X //104.3 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
94.3 –
94.5 –
94.7 –
*94.9 KQDS MN Duluth / Classic Rock //95.3 / 100kw / RDS / 60dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 WXXZ MN Grand Marais / Classic Rock //94.9 / 63kw / 5dBu, mono (91 mi.)
95.5 –
*95.7 KDAL MN Duluth / My 95.7 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 WDKE MN Coleraine / Duke FM / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (66 mi.)
96.3 –
*96.5 WKLK MN Cloquet / K-96.5 / 36kw / 20dBu, stereo (14 mi.)
96.7 WJJH WI Ashland / Real Rock J-96 / 50kw / 5dBu, mono (61 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 –
*97.3 KDNW MN Duluth / Life 97.3 / 72kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
97.5 –
97.7 –
97.9 WEVE MN Eveleth / Northland’s Variety / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (57 mi.)
*98.1 W251CD WI Superior / The Talk of the North //710 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
98.3 –
98.5 –
98.7 –
*98.9 KTCO MN Duluth / Kat Country / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 –
99.5 KTWH-LP MN Two Harbors / Two Harbors Comm. R. / 100w / 0dBu, mono (28 mi.)
*99.7 W259CV MN Duluth / VCY America //850 / 250w / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
99.9 WUSZ MN Virginia / Radio USA / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (59 mi.)
100.1 = 95.7 / 101.7
100.3 IBOC (WSCN)
*100.5 WSCN MN Cloquet / MPR News / 97kw / RDS / 50dBu, mono (1 mi.)
100.7 IBOC (WSCN)
100.9 WCMP MN Pine City / Cool Country / 25kw / 0dBu, mono (72 mi.)
101.1 –
101.3 –
101.5 –
*101.7 KLDJ MN Duluth / Kool 101.7 / 18.5kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
101.9 –
102.1 –
102.3 –
*102.5 KDKE WI Superior / Duke FM / 100kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 = 103.9
103.1 –
*103.3 KUMD MN Duluth / Duluth Public Radio / 95kw / 45dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
*103.9 W280FB MN Duluth / NewsTalk 610 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 KZIO MN Two Harbors / 94X //94.1 / 50kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (13 mi.)
104.5 –
*104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / Wisconsin Public R. / 17.5kw / RDS / 10dBu, stereo (54 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 KKCB MN Duluth / B105 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
105.3 –
105.5 KBAJ MN Deer River / J105 The Thunder / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (71 mi.)
105.7 WXCX WI Siren / Willie 105.7 / 6kw / 0dBu, mono (68 mi.)
*105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 100kw / 30dBu, stereo (54 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 –
*106.5 W293CT MN Duluth / Sasquatch //560 / 99w / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
106.7 –
106.9 WMOZ MN Moose Lake / The Moose / 6kw / 5dBu, mono (32 mi.)
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 1dBu, mono (102 mi.)
107.1 –
*107.3 WNXR WI Iron River / Classic Hits / 21kw / 30dBu, stereo (37 mi.)
107.5 –
*107.7 KBMX MN Proctor / Mix 108 / 7.7kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
107.9 –
I worked out of Duluth for a year and one thing I learned never to bother with was radio. Nothing from afar, aside from some stations down the Wisconsin coast and from the Northwoods (Rice Lake, Hayward), would ever come in.
While these scans are from the off-season, I can’t say I ever heard a great deal even in the summer, at least not from across the lake. Even 95.3 from Grand Marais would soon go off the air after these scans were conducted before coming on again in the summer of 2018 following the completion of the majority of my Lake Superior scans.
I made an attempt for better reception at Minnesota Point, seen below. The beach here actually has a shoreline orientation that points exactly outward into the lake. However, there are few stations on the shore to the north; Thunder Bay is largely hindered by a turn in the coastline, and one cross-lake powerhouse, CFNO on 93.1, is perfectly positioned but has local 92.9 in town to crowd it out. Furthermore, keep in mind that Lake Superior ducts exist primarily at 100+ feet above the water, while Minnesota Point is down below at water level. The results are unimpressive.
DULUTH / MINNESOTA POINT BEACH, MINNESOTA BANDSCAN
April 4, 2017 1830 – 1945 / 55°F
Location: 46°43’45.8″N 92°02’53.1″W
605 feet (5 feet above lake level)
41 stations total / Average distance: 24 mi.
* Note: aside from digital radio (IBOC), these scans do not include notes of interference from stronger adjacent frequencies
*88.1 WWEN WI Wentworth / Real Presence Radio / 850w / RDS / 15dBu, stereo (13 mi.)
88.3 –
*88.5 WSSU WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 950w / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
88.7
88.9 WOJB WI Reserve / Native American / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (68 mi.)
89.1 WGZS MN Cloquet / Native American / 50kw / 5dBu, mono (32 mi.)
89.3 –
*89.5 WJRF MN Duluth / The Refuge / 2.85kw / RDS / 30dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
89.7 IBOC (WHSA)
*89.9 WHSA WI Brule / Wisconsin Public R. / 92kw / RDS / 15dBu, stereo (29 mi.)
90.1 IBOC (WHSA)
90.3 –
*90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith 90.5 / 2kw / 45dBu, mono (5 mi.)
90.7 –
*90.9 W215CG MN Duluth / The Current //92.9 HD2 / 99w / 35dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
91.1 IBOC (KUWS)
*91.3 KUWS WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 83kw / RDS / 60dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
91.5 IBOC (KUWS)
91.7 –
91.9 –
*92.1 WWAX MN Hermantown / The Fan / 5.4kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (6 mi.)
92.3 –
92.5 –
92.7 IBOC (WSCD)
*92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / MPR Classical / 70kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
93.1 IBOC (WSCD)
93.3 WBSZ WI Ashland / Z93 Country / 71kw / 0dBu, mono (57 mi.)
93.5 –
*93.7 WGHF-LP WI Superior / 3ABN Hope Radio / 100w / 10dBu, stereo (2 mi.)
93.9 –
*94.1 K231BI MN Duluth / 94X //104.3 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
94.3 –
94.5 –
94.7 –
*94.9 KQDS MN Duluth / Classic Rock //95.3 / 100kw / RDS / 60dBu, stereo (6 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 WXXZ MN Grand Marais / Classic Rock //94.9 / 63kw / 0dBu, mono (90 mi.)
95.5 –
*95.7 KDAL MN Duluth / My 95.7 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 WDKE MN Coleraine / Duke FM / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (71 mi.)
96.3 –
*96.5 WKLK MN Cloquet / K-96.5 / 36kw / 15dBu, stereo (18 mi.)
96.7 –
96.9 –
97.1 –
*97.3 KDNW MN Duluth / Life 97.3 / 72kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
97.5 –
97.7 –
97.9 WEVE MN Eveleth / Northland’s Variety / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (61 mi.)
*98.1 W251CD WI Superior / The Talk of the North //710 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (5 mi.)
98.3 –
98.5 –
98.7 –
*98.9 KTCO MN Duluth / Kat Country / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 –
99.5 KTWH-LP MN Two Harbors / Two Harbors Comm. R. / 100w / 0dBu, mono (28 mi.)
*99.7 W259CV MN Duluth / VCY America //850 / 250w / 20dBu, mono (5 mi.)
99.9 WUSZ MN Virginia / Radio USA / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (64 mi.)
100.1 = 95.7 / 101.7
100.3 IBOC (WSCN)
*100.5 WSCN MN Cloquet / MPR News / 97kw / RDS / 50dBu, mono (5 mi.)
100.7 IBOC (WSCN)
100.9 WCMP MN Pine City / Cool Country / 25kw / 0dBu, mono (72 mi.)
101.1 –
101.3 –
101.5 –
*101.7 KLDJ MN Duluth / Kool 101.7 / 18.5kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
101.9 –
102.1 –
102.3 –
*102.5 KDKE WI Superior / Duke FM / 100kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 = 103.9
103.1 –
*103.3 KUMD MN Duluth / Duluth Public Radio / 95kw / 45dBu, stereo (6 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7
*103.9 W280FB MN Duluth / NewsTalk 610 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (5 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 KZIO MN Two Harbors / 94X //94.1 / 50kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (15 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / Wisconsin Public R. / 17.5kw / RDS / 0dBu, mono (50 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 KKCB MN Duluth / B105 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
105.3 –
105.5 KBAJ MN Deer River / J105 The Thunder / 100kw / 0dBu, mono (76 mi.)
105.7 –
*105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 100kw / 10dBu, stereo (50 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 –
*106.5 W293CT MN Duluth / Sasquatch //560 / 99w / RDS / 30dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
106.7 –
106.9 WMOZ MN Moose Lake / The Moose / 6kw / 5dBu, mono (34 mi.)
107.1 –
*107.3 WNXR WI Iron River / Classic Hits / 21kw / 15dBu, stereo (33 mi.)
107.5 –
*107.7 KBMX MN Proctor / Mix 108 / 7.7kw / RDS / 45dBu, stereo (5 mi.)
107.9 –
So if reception at Minnesota Point was generally a huge failure because it lies below the typical Lake Superior ducts 100+ feet above the water, you’d think Enger Park, which lies more than 500 feet above the lake, would be a success, right?
Downtown Duluth, however, is home to 17 radio and television towers clustered together overlooking the city, the origin of almost all of the city’s local radio stations. And its location? Right beside Enger Park. Literally… right beside the park.
The interference spawned by the proximity of these towers does no favours for the Duluth area in general and certainly not this otherwise magnificent site overlooking the city and lake from above. Reception here was slightly better – Ironwood was regularly audible – but nothing more came from it. Would reception be better in the summer as opposed to the off-season? Honestly, I really doubt it. Because Duluth is considered “inland reception” due to coastal reception rarely favouring narrow bays, which Duluth lies upon, it was low on my priority list.
But an average reception distance of 22 miles? I mean… you could almost do better in an underground bunker.
DULUTH / ENGER PARK, MINNESOTA BANDSCAN
April 6, 2017 1700 – 1730 / 48°F
Location: 46°46’29.1″N 92°07’30.7″W
1130 feet (530 feet above lake level)
40 stations total / Average distance: 22 mi.
* Note: aside from digital radio (IBOC), these scans do not include notes of interference from stronger adjacent frequencies
*88.1 WWEN WI Wentworth / Real Presence Radio / 850w / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (17 mi.)
88.3 –
*88.5 WSSU WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 950w / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
88.7 –
*88.9 WOJB WI Reserve / Native American / 100kw / 15dBu, stereo (73 mi.)
89.1 WGZS MN Cloquet / Native American / 50kw / 10dBu, mono (28 mi.)
89.3 –
*89.5 WJRF MN Duluth / The Refuge / 2.85kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
89.7 IBOC (WHSA)
*89.9 WHSA WI Brule / Wisconsin Public R. / 92kw / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (34 mi.)
90.1 IBOC (WHSA)
90.3 –
*90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith 90.5 / 2kw / 50dBu, mono (1 mi.)
90.7 –
*90.9 W215CG MN Duluth / The Current //92.9 HD2 / 99w / 35dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
91.1 IBOC (KUWS)
*91.3 KUWS WI Superior / Wisconsin Public R. / 83kw / RDS / 60dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
91.5 IBOC (KUWS)
91.7 –
91.9 –
*92.1 WWAX MN Hermantown / The Fan / 5.4kw / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
92.3 WRLS WI Hayward / The Best Mix / 6kw / 8dBu, mono (60 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 IBOC (WSCD)
*92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / MPR Classical / 70kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
93.1 IBOC (WSCD)
93.3 WBSZ WI Ashland / Z93 Country / 71kw / 8dBu, mono (61 mi.)
93.5 –
*93.7 WGHF-LP WI Superior / 3ABN Hope Radio / 100w / 35dBu, stereo (4 mi.)
93.9 –
*94.1 K231BI MN Duluth / 94X //104.3 / 250w / RDS / 20dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
94.3 –
94.5 –
94.7 –
*94.9 KQDS MN Duluth / Classic Rock //94.9 / 100kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
95.1 –
95.3 WXXZ MN Grand Marais / Classic Rock //95.3 / 63kw / 5dBu, mono (91 mi.)
95.5 –
*95.7 KDAL MN Duluth / My 95.7 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 –
*96.5 WKLK MN Cloquet / K-96.5 / 36kw / 20dBu, stereo (14 mi.)
96.7 WJJH WI Ashland / Real Rock J-96 / 50kw / 5dBu, mono (61 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 –
*97.3 KDNW MN Duluth / Life 97.3 / 72kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
97.5 –
97.7 –
97.9 –
*98.1 W251CD WI Superior / The Talk of the North //710 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
98.3 –
98.5 –
98.7 –
*98.9 KTCO MN Duluth / Kat Country / 100kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 –
99.5 –
*99.7 W259CV MN Duluth / VCY America //850 / 250w / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
99.9 –
100.1 = 95.7 / 101.7
100.3 IBOC (WSCN)
*100.5 WSCN MN Cloquet / MPR News / 97kw / RDS / 50dBu, mono (1 mi.)
100.7 IBOC (WSCN)
100.9 WCMP MN Pine City / Cool Country / 25kw / 0dBu, mono (72 mi.)
101.1 –
101.3 –
101.5 –
*101.7 KLDJ MN Duluth / Kool 101.7 / 18.5kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
101.9 –
102.1 –
102.3 –
*102.5 KDKE WI Superior / Duke FM / 100kw / RDS / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
102.7 –
102.9 = 103.9
103.1 –
*103.3 KUMD MN Duluth / Duluth Public Radio / 95kw / 40dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
103.5 –
103.7 –
*103.9 W280FB MN Duluth / NewsTalk 610 / 250w / RDS / 30dBu, mono (1 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 KZIO MN Two Harbors / 94X //94.1 / 50kw / RDS / 15dBu, mono (13 mi.)
104.5 –
*104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / Wisconsin Public R. / 17.5kw / RDS / 10dBu, stereo (54 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 KKCB MN Duluth / B105 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
105.3 –
105.5 –
105.7 WXCX WI Siren / Willie 105.7 / 6kw / 0dBu, mono (68 mi.)
*105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 100kw / 30dBu, stereo (54 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 –
*106.5 W293CT MN Duluth / Sasquatch //560 / 99w / RDS / 35dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
106.7 –
106.9 WMOZ MN Moose Lake / The Moose / 6kw / 3dBu, mono (32 mi.)
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 1dBu, mono (102 mi.)
107.1 –
*107.3 WNXR WI Iron River / Classic Hits / 21kw / 30dBu, stereo (37 mi.)
107.5 –
*107.7 KBMX MN Proctor / Mix 108 / 7.7kw / RDS / 50dBu, stereo (1 mi.)
107.9 –
Recommendations for this radio site: Duluth has a lot of nearby sights to check out if you find yourself in town. Most people don’t find themselves merely passing through town; it’s on the way to almost nowhere. Instead, those who are in Duluth usually are here to see something, and there is no shortage of things to see.
The best place to check out first is always Enger Park and Enger Tower. The park lies more than 500 feet above the water just ½ mile down below. The hills in Duluth tend to be intense with this elevation rise along the slope immediately on the north shore of the lake making Duluth a unique city.
Enger Park is a beautiful green space through which the Superior Hiking Trail passes as well as the city’s Skyline Parkway, which runs along the top of this slope through the city and beyond. This neighbourhood is named Observation Hill and the origin of its name is no mystery. It’s home to all 17 of the city’s radio and television towers, lying immediately beside this park. Nearly every spot in this neighbourhood has some sort of scenic view in one direction or another. The park’s five-story Enger Tower lies 531 feet above the lake below and was constructed in 1939. From here, you can see nearly all of Duluth, Superior, and beyond, just a few minutes outside of downtown.
While the view here is spectacular on a good day (the city is prone to clouds off the lake, as well as fog and haze that obstruct or dull the views), the radio is not. Leave the radio behind and enjoy the scenery.
In the city below, there are plenty of sights and attractions to check out. While downtown Duluth is a rather depressed area and the city roads are beyond crumbled, the area surrounding the waterfront is anything but depressed.
There are a number of popular restaurants and bars in this area, which surrounds the Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal Park. Catch a bite to eat, sip a few drinks, and take a walk along the canal. The lift bridge is massive and like no other on the Great Lakes. If you’re lucky, you can spy a freighter passing through the canal beside you, which is truly a sight. They come and go from the harbour rather regularly compared to other freight harbours along the lakes and can be seen from many points.
Moving onward from the bridge and canal, Minnesota Point is a narrow strip of land that stretches on another 6 miles. At just 400 feet wide at most points, this strip of land has some nice beaches, a local waterfront airport, a forest preserve, and then a small lighthouse at its tip across from Wisconsin Point on the Wisconsin side, which despite being just 600 feet away, is a 40-minute drive. Wisconsin Point can be accessed from the Superior side of the harbour only by leaving the city and turning onto the point heading back toward Duluth.
Superior is the smaller twin of Duluth, lying across two long bridges over the harbour and river, both of which have equally great views of their own parts of town. Superior isn’t especially worth much of a visit; it has a nice downtown, but is primarily industrial and residential. Wisconsin Point, despite it’s longer drive, is a nice place for those looking for isolation.
Within the city of Superior, there are some nice views of Duluth across the water. The best views of Duluth come from Barker’s Island in Superior. Barker’s Island Inn is a fine place to stay in town. There is a pool in the middle of the inn (of which I’ve stayed at many times) and one can find great views of Duluth across the bay just a short walk down the road in the nearby park, which includes a miniature golf course and the SS Meteor Maritime Museum.
For other nice views of the downtown area of Duluth, travel up the Minnesota shoreline to the eastern edge of town to two small parking areas near University Park. The drive heading into town from the west on I-35 is phenomenal as well. To take full advantage of it, stop at the Thompson Hill rest area (photo below) where one can see for miles and miles over both the St. Louis River and over Lake Superior and downtown.
There are plenty of other sites in and around Duluth that can be of interest. Accommodations (hotels and camping) and services (mostly clustered northwest of the city along Central Entrance) are easy to come by almost anywhere in the area. For popular sights along the North Shore to the east of Duluth, see the Palisade Head bandscan.
Location rating: No other radio site on the Great Lakes comes close to the absurdity of Duluth, only Toronto being a distant second.
The weather here is quick to change from clear and sunny to dense fog off the water and can be brutal at times, making this radio site extremely unpredictable, though the stations on the radio are slow to change as quickly.
Due to the Duluth’s position along the shoreline with 500+ foot bluffs just a half mile from downtown, the city is trapped within the lake’s marine layer below with signals hopping over top. Nearly all the city’s local stations are clustered together at the same site overlooking downtown, and the unfavourable shape of the lake’s coast here – lake tropo is notoriously impeded by narrow bays – leaves Duluth a city best left to sightseeing, not listening.