Thompson Beach

Thompson Beach is one of the lesser-known beaches along Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. This beach can be accessed by hiking or biking the Gitchi Gami State Trail or via a kayak. To access Thompson Beach via the Gitchi Gami State Trail, park at the lot for the Twin Points boat launch and Iona’s Beach Scientific and Natural Area. From there head southwest on the Gitchi Gami for about 0.6 miles, here the trail moves away from the highway toward Thompson Beach. After about a tenth of a mile look for bench and picnic table; there is a trail that leads down to the beach here.

Thompson Beach is a crescent shaped pebble beach that is a about a quarter mile long that is managed by the Minnesota DNR. There are four primitive campsites by the beach that serve kayakers of the Lake Superior Water Trail. No fires are allowed on this scenic beach.