By Tiegen Brickson, co-owner, The Brix (Our Story) · Last updated October 2026

The quick answer: Canal Park is the walkable lakefront district in Duluth, MN, and you can fill a full day here without a car. Watch a ship pass under the Aerial Lift Bridge, walk the Lakewalk to the lighthouse, visit the Great Lakes Aquarium and the free Maritime Visitor Center, cross the bridge to the Park Point beach, then eat and shop on Canal Park Drive.

We're Tiegen and Keenan. Tiegen grew up in Duluth, and we host families in Canal Park year round, so this is the same advice we give our own guests.

Canal Park: key facts

• 🌉 Aerial Lift Bridge: free to watch, and it lifts for ships and boats all through the shipping season
• 🚶 Walkable: the aquarium is about a 10-minute walk from our Waterfront Plaza building, the Maritime Visitor Center about 8 minutes
• 🚢 Ships: shipping season usually runs late March to mid-January; check the ship schedule on canalpark.com
• 🎄 Bentleyville: Nov 21 to Dec 26, 2026, free, about a 20 to 25 minute walk
• 🏊 Rainy day plan: the indoor pool in our building is open until 10 PM for kids and 11 PM for adults

What is Canal Park in Duluth?

It's the strip of land between the harbor and Lake Superior, right next to the Aerial Lift Bridge and the ship canal. Old warehouses from the Marshall Wells Hardware days now hold shops, restaurants and lodging, including both of our buildings. Everything below is within a short walk.

Photo: @kelseyleephotographmn

1. Watch the Aerial Lift Bridge go up

The bridge is Duluth's best free show. The middle span lifts to let ships and boats through the canal, and the ship and bridge usually trade horn blasts on the way. Stand on the pier by the canal or on the lawn by the Maritime Visitor Center. In summer you'll also see sailboats and the Vista Fleet tour boats pass.

Plan a few extra minutes if you're driving to Park Point, since cars wait while the bridge is up.

2. Walk the Lakewalk to the lighthouse

The Lakewalk starts right in Canal Park and runs northeast along the shore for miles. The short version is a loop out the pier to the lighthouse at the end of the ship canal and back. It's flat and stroller-friendly on the paved side. After big storms, waves can throw ice or rock onto parts of the path, so stay off the piers when the lake is rough.

3. Visit the Great Lakes Aquarium

About half a mile from our Waterfront Plaza building, roughly a 10-minute walk along the harbor. It's an easy win with kids and works in any weather. Check hours and ticket prices on the aquarium's site before you go.

4. Stop at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center (free)

It sits right by the ship canal, with exhibits on Great Lakes shipping and shipwrecks and big windows onto the canal. Admission is free. Hours change by season, so check before you go.

5. Tour the William A. Irvin

The Irvin is a retired 610-foot ore boat docked by the DECC, and the tour takes you through the engine room, crew quarters and pilothouse. It runs seasonally, roughly May through mid-September in 2026, with the last tour starting at 4:30 PM. It's not accessible for wheelchairs (lots of stairs), so plan around that with grandparents.

6. Take a harbor cruise

Vista Fleet's boats leave from the harbor next to Canal Park from spring through late fall. A sightseeing cruise takes you under the Aerial Lift Bridge and around the harbor, and they also run dinner and sunset cruises.

7. Cross the bridge to Park Point

Walk across the Aerial Lift Bridge to Park Point (Minnesota Point), a long sandbar with sandy Lake Superior beaches. The water is cold most of the year, but it's a great place to dig, look for rocks and let kids run.

8. Walk to the harbor side: Bayfront and the DECC

Cross the Minnesota Slip Bridge and you're on the harbor walkway behind the DECC, past the Irvin and the aquarium, toward Bayfront Festival Park. That's where Bentleyville sets up each winter and where summer concerts and festivals happen.

9. Eat, shop and get a treat on Canal Park Drive

Canal Park Drive and Lake Ave. have restaurants, a brewery, candy and fudge, outdoor gear and gift shops, all within a few blocks. Grandma's Saloon & Grill, the namesake of Grandma's Marathon, is here, and so is the Duluth Pack flagship store. Staying with us? Your Brix Passport has discounts at 25+ local spots, including many in Canal Park.

Our tip: Check the ship schedule before dinner. If a ship is due while you're out, it's worth walking over. Hearing the horns up close is the thing guests mention most.

When is Canal Park busiest?

Summer weekends, Grandma's Marathon weekend in June and October leaf weekends are the busiest. Winter weeknights are the quietest, and the pool, aquarium and Lakewalk still work then. See Best Time to Visit Duluth, MN: A Month-by-Month Guide from Your Hosts for the full year.

Photo: @kelseyleephotographmn

Canal Park: FAQ

Do you need a car in Canal Park?

Not for Canal Park itself. Everything on this list is walkable. You'll want a car for Glensheen, Enger Tower, Spirit Mountain or the North Shore. Parking details are in Canal Park Parking: What Guests Should Know.

Is Canal Park good for kids?

Yes. The aquarium, the bridge, the beach and the pool in our building make it easy. Strollers do fine on the paved Lakewalk.

Is the Aerial Lift Bridge free?

Yes. Watching and walking across it is free.

How far is Bentleyville from Canal Park?

It's at Bayfront Festival Park, about a 20 to 25 minute walk through the harbor walkway by the DECC and the aquarium.

Stay in Canal Park with us

Two historic buildings, both right in Canal Park. Most of our condos share an indoor pool and hot tub.

• L'Etoile du Nord: 3 bedrooms, 2,000 sq ft, a 10-person kitchen island, games and a fireplace. Indoor pool and hot tub on site.
• Captain's Quarters: 2-bedroom corner condo with views of the William A. Irvin and downtown, plus foosball. Indoor pool and hot tub on site.
• Aerial Lofts: 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, two kitchens, sleeps 12, on the top floor of the 1890s Marshall Wells warehouse. Third-floor walk-up, no pool.

See which Brix condo fits your crew

Book directly at TheBrixDuluth.com to skip the extra fees and support our small, family-run business directly.

Join The Brix Club for first dibs on our best Duluth dates and member deals.

Staying with us? Your Brix Passport has discounts at 25+ local spots.

More Duluth guides: Where to Stay in Duluth with Kids (and Grandparents) · A 2 to 3 Day Duluth Weekend Itinerary (Park the Car and Walk) · Bentleyville from Canal Park · All Duluth Guides

Official info: Canal Park ship schedule · Great Lakes Aquarium hours · Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center · William A. Irvin tours · Vista Fleet cruises · Visit Duluth

By Tiegen Brickson, co-owner, The Brix. Tiegen grew up in Duluth and met Keenan in Canal Park in 2011. Last updated October 2026.