Black Beach
Silver Bay, MN
Black Beach in Silver Bay gets its dark sand from taconite tailings, the waste rock from iron ore processing that was once dumped into Lake Superior. The contrast of black sand against blue water is striking. Turtle Island sits just offshore, connected by a causeway, and the city and state opened the land to the public in 2015.
An unusual black sand beach with an island to explore, though its origin is industrial.
How we score beachesWalk out the causeway to Turtle Island for photos looking back at the black sand.
A lot at the beach off Highway 61 in Silver Bay.
A short walk from the lot to the sand.
The black sand heats up fast in the sun on summer days. Fall storms bring big waves to the shore.
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