Aerial Lift Bridge
Aerial Lift Bridge
4.5
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Originally constructed in 1905 as an aerial lift, this unusual elevator bridge is 386 feet long and spans the canal entrance to Duluth Harbor.
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TriCityDude
Saginaw, MI835 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Iconic go-to place in duluth. Even in winter with no ships. Pick a beautiful blue sky day and head to the bridge.
Amazing to walk under; you can touch it, it’s so low!
Go into the museum and warm up and view the canal from the warmth inside and check out the shipping displays. Always educational.
Amazing to walk under; you can touch it, it’s so low!
Go into the museum and warm up and view the canal from the warmth inside and check out the shipping displays. Always educational.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShanOC
Grand Forks, ND14,743 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We arrived unknowingly about a half hour before a cargo ship would be going under the Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park. A couple of smaller fishing/sport boats went under the bridge, as well as a sailboat and a tour boat. This bridge was lifted for the tour boat, but most importantly for the cargo ship. Standing next to this lift bridge and walking across it helps you to understand the massiveness of this structure! Watching the bridge lift and lower is certainly an amazing sight! However, watching a cargo ship pass under this lift bridge is a different story! It adds so much to the experience! We only spent two hours in the Canal Park area, but it was most certainly time well spent! The Aerial Lift Bridge is a “Must See” for sure!
Written 7 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonworshipper
Niceville, FL453 contributions
Jul 2023
Located in a beautiful waterfront area of Duluth. We enjoyed waking the area, visiting the Visitor Center maritime museum, seeing the lighthouses and watching as the bridge was raised & lowered for boat traffic. The area, on a pleasant sunny day, provided us with several hours of enjoyment.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mia Mia
5 contributions
Jul 2022
Stop into the Corp. of Engineers Building at the base of the bridge/canal. You can see details on what ship/boat is arriving and when. There was an announcer on the loud speaker who was informative and funny too. Explained the salutes, and other interesting facts. You may need to wait for the bridge to rise and the boats to come through. Bring a frisbee or look inside at the museum.
Written 10 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adamwaultee
Monticello, MN154 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
Canal park is great for a pedestrian! Staying at a hotel down here is really neat. A lot of shops and restaurants make it special alone, but this major port sure adds portance to a trip! Getting to see such an iconic piece of history for Minnesota and great lakes shipping up close & in person is unforgettable. Seen a ship come in and FULL salute! That night a trio of tall fishing boats came in...so I got to see it in action. Don't visit Duluth without taking this site in, although busy,it's worth it.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelDiva001
Knoxville, TN1,870 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
I was very impressed with the history and grandeur of this bridge. We walked across it in between half hourly lifts. I loved seeing the 3 lighthouses so close together. We even saw a couple of fellas hot dogging it up on their jet skis in the harbor. What didn’t impress me was the 3 people we spoke with (parking lot attendant, girl in souvenir store and a lady in a chocolate shop) had no clue when we asked questions about the bridge or directions to places. We were disappointed the visitor center was closed, and the restaurant we wanted to eat at was closed for lunch due to staffing shortages.
Written 9 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samuel A
Scottsdale, AZ475 contributions
Jul 2021
I stayed in a hotel near the aerial lift bridge. It is a unique structure that is interesting to watch when it rises for passing ships. We had to plan our travel from the hotel to local attractions based on the daily bridge schedule. In additional to rising for large, scheduled ships, the bridge also rises for a few short minutes at the top and bottom of the every hour. This allows recreational sail boats and other smaller vessels to pass underneath. If you are in the area, I recommending walking across the bridge.
Written 19 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BugsHouston
Houston, TX81 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We found this fascinating and fun to experience. You can look at the ship schedule online (Canal Park) and arrive to see the automobile bridge rise and then see a ship enter or exit. It was really fun that they announced the ship and gave information about it, and encouraged onlookers to wave to the crew. We felt like we were really close to a huge ship! The history of digging the canal, and the different bridges they’ve had is interesting too.
Written 1 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Violette54
Payson, AZ5,135 contributions
Sept 2022
The main harbor entrance to Duluth Harbor. All types of water traffic here, from big ocean going freighters to pleasure craft, and anything else tall enough to need the bridge raised. Shipping season usually opens in late March. People line the North and South Piers to watch the action. When the bridge is in the down position, it has a sidewalk on which one can across to the other side. it's a bit windy, but wide enough to safely cross. Great for views of the harbor and of the bridge structure. There is no charge to do this. Parking is in the Canal Park lot, and restrooms are in the US Corp of Engineering building.
Written 25 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Munir D
Toronto, Canada704 contributions
Jul 2022
It was a unique experience to see this canal bridge go up and down as a ship 'Paul R. Tregurtha' left the harbour. The bridge is beautiful and the moment ships pass under this is a sight to behold.
The technology used to raise the road-part of the bridge is impressive. Technology has been well used to turn the bridge into a human utility.
Schedules of boat timings can be seen in the museum under the bridge.
Munir D.
The technology used to raise the road-part of the bridge is impressive. Technology has been well used to turn the bridge into a human utility.
Schedules of boat timings can be seen in the museum under the bridge.
Munir D.
Written 27 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I watch the bridge going up and down all through the shipping season, but never see it move during the winter. do they test the bridge from time to time, or just before the shipping season resumes? If tested, how long before the season starts?
Written 24 March 2021
saraab15
Cambridge, Wisconsin
Are there boat tours in the area? Looking for a tour and/or fishing to do with our 6 year old.
Written 20 May 2018
There are boat tours of the harbor and lake-we've taken the Vista Fleet tours and found them interesting. You can fish from shore along the lake or harbor. Brighton Beach at the north end of town is great for picnics, rock-throwing, and splashing. Enjoy!
Written 23 May 2018
check out a website called Duluthboats. It gives the schedules of Duluth and the surrounding areas. Enjoy!
Written 4 July 2017
We are thinking of watching the bridge from the deck of Grandma's restaurant. Is this a good place to eat and watch the bridge. Do we need reservations for Sept. 5th?
Written 1 September 2015
This is a good place to eat, and there is a lot of history in mainly the top floor of the building. I don't remember if they take reservations, but think so. Strongly recommend calling them at
Grandma’s - Canal Park
522 Lake Avenue South
Duluth, MN 55802
218-727-4192
Also, make sure you can get a parking space.there is public parking, and there is other parking at the restaurant, but it fills quickly, especially on a holiday weekend.
There is also a free Maritime museum right there, which doesn't take a lot of time to see, and it is good for kids.
Enjoy yourself. Hope this helps.
Written 2 September 2015
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