Slag Point was part of the U.S. Steel Plant EPA Site cleanup. While it has taken a quarter of a century, the river is now pristine and this great birding walk (Slag Point Trail) was opened one year ago (June 2024). One accesses Slag Point via the small parking area in Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood (Google Maps GPS link).

Over the past few days I have repeatedly visited Slag Point (Morgan Park Mud Flats) with the intent of showing off this beautiful walk. The round trip hike out to the actual point is 1.56 miles which assumes you also take the side loop. I have personally found the birding best out near the point and on the side loop. While the area has only been open one year, the work to reclaim the site was most excellent and the birds are already voting an enthusiastic “bravo, bravo!”. Quite frankly it is during the spring and fall migrations that this area shines, and late July means Arctic shorebirds are already flying south for the winter. I hope you enjoy this introduction to Slag Point, but more importantly get out there and enjoy it yourself.

• Video links for email subscribers
  • Drone introduction to Slag Point
  • Wildflower Walk Out by the Point

And two still images representative of the videos … taken by my DJI NEO drone

Near the parking area / starting point for a walk

Looking towards the point just after sunrise on a “wildfire smoky day”

Did I mention birds?! I had a great time with Arctic Shorebirds both mornings. Each day these birds were our near the point eating bugs off log booms. The logs were only a few yards offshore.

Semipalmated Sandpipers & Plovers in Flight!

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Together Again!