Last updated on May 27th, 2026
Despite the popularity of Enger Tower, Enger Park’s beautiful gardens are among the hidden gems that await visitors to Duluth, Minnesota.
Most, but not all of Enger Park’s gardens are shady escapes on a hot summer day.
Since they are not as well-known as other Duluth attractions, the sprawling gardens tucked under the trees high above the city can be an unexpected oasis of beauty and calm. But don’t think you’ll have them to yourself. While out-of-town visitors may not know about these gardens, they are popular with Duluth residents.
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Skip the tower, enjoy the gardens in Enger Park
Located on the bluff above the city, Duluth’s Enger Park is best known for its odd stone tower and sweeping views over the harbor.
Enger Tower stands above the gardens.
But don’t just climb the tower and leave.
Instead, take a hint from the flowers blooming around the parking lot and explore the gardens below the tower.
Even the parking area blooms!
Woodland perennial gardens
The area below Enger Tower includes intermixed gardens and a picnic area.
In spring azaleas bloom throughout the garden.
At first glance it might be mistaken for a natural woodland or an old cottage garden gone rogue. However, a closer look reveals carefully designed perennial gardens that include an ever-changing mix of greenery and colorful flowers.
You’ll find a green oasis throughout the growing season.
Even with limited sun, the garden’s many cone flowers look happy and healthy.
While the area nearest the parking lot might be filled with picnicking families, the farther you move into the garden, the more peaceful it becomes.
Spring is the time to enjoy gorgeous azaleas, lilacs, and other flowering trees and shrubs.
Take in the view
Paths veer off in multiple directions throughout the garden. All are lovely, but don’t miss the large gazebo on the bluff above the city.
A gazebo now marks an area long appreciated for its sweeping views.
For an even better view, step beyond the pavilion and relax for a while on one of the benches set at the edge of the bluff.
Benches make this a perfect place to admire the view — even on a cloudy day!
That bench isn’t nearly as close to the edge of the bluff as it looks. But it is close enough that you can get great views of Duluth.
Just part of the view from Enger park! (Shot with a short zoom lens.)
The Superior Hiking Trail also connects with Enger Park’s paths, giving visitors their choice of formal garden paths or a more natural hiking trail.
The Superior Hiking Trail runs through Enger Park.
Either choice is lovely.
The Japanese Peace Garden
At the other end of the park, a small Japanese garden fills a mostly-sunny spot.
The Japanese garden packs a lot of drama into a small space.
The Japanese Peace Bell Garden includes a large zen garden (a dry rock garden), some unusual evergreens, and a Japanese bell tower that houses the Ohara Peace Bell.
The garden’s focal point is the Ohara Peace Bell.
The original bell seems to date back to 1686 and once hung at the Cho-ei Temple in Ohara (now Isumi), Japan. While the temple was (apparently) destroyed long ago, the bell survived World War II. Barely. At the end of the war American sailors aboard the USS Duluth found it in a pile of scrap that was to have been melted down to feed Japan’s war effort. It became an American war souvenir instead.
By 1949 it was on display in the Duluth city hall.
However, just a few years later, scholars visiting from Japan recognized the bell. Not only had it come from a temple in Ohara, but it was the oldest surviving temple bell from that city. They asked city officials to return it to its home city in Japan. And so, the bell returned to Ohara and went on display there.
That could easily have been the end of the story as far as Duluth was concerned, as the bell’s time in city was a brief, largely forgotten bit of city history. But the bell’s return meant a lot to the people of Ohara — and they didn’t forget Duluth’s role in returning it.
Officials from Ohara asked Duluth to become a sister city in 1989. In 1993 a “replica” of the Ohara bell (now called the Ohara Peace Bell) was sent to Duluth as a gift.
Details on the Ohara Peace Bell.
While the bell in Duluth is constantly described as a replica of the ancient Cho-ei Temple bell, it really isn’t. It’s a “close replica” that displays the Duluth logo and an inscription with the bell’s history. (It’s also the second replica sent to Duluth, as the first cracked shortly after installation.)
And yes, visitors are allowed to ring the peace bell.
Plan your trip to Enger Park Gardens
Enger Park is located high above Duluth along scenic Skyline Drive and the Superior Hiking Trail.
The Duluth parks page currently doesn’t have information on the park’s hours. Explore Minnesota has a little more information, including opening hours and seasons.
The parking lot has a gate that can be closed when the park isn’t open.
- The park closes once snow falls and doesn’t usually open until May 1st.
- During the rest of the year, the park closes at 10 pm.
- There is no charge to visit the park’s tower, gardens, or picnic area.
- Parking is also free.
- Restrooms and picnic tables are available.
- Overnight parking or camping is NOT allowed.
Only a portion of the garden is fully accessible with wide, paved pathways. In other areas, paths wind over bare stone, up steps, or through woodlands via trails covered with wood chips or crushed stone. It’s easy walking, but not all paths are smooth or flat. And some paths follow the bluff edge which, while not super steep, has spots where you wouldn’t want to take a tumble or let a young child do so.
The best time to visit the gardens
Enger Park’s gardens are open from May through October.
The blooming season starts when daffodils fill the woodland floor with spring color and continues through the first hard frost of autumn. The best time for flowers is spring through mid-summer. The best time for fall leaf color is late September into October.
Local families come here for picnic lunches, so don’t be surprised to find lots of children in the picnic area near the parking lot. It can be surprisingly busy mid-morning through early afternoon on week days.
It’s also a popular spot for weddings. That means Saturdays also tend to be very busy.
The flower girl makes her entrance at a family wedding in Enger Park.
Learn more about Enger Park
Want to know more about Enger Park? The Wayback Machine preserves Zenith City’s detailed three part article on the history of Enger Park.
Want to know about the temples of Ohara-Isumi? The Japan Visitor has a page on the village’s remaining temples.
More things to do in Duluth
Duluth is both a great tourist destination in its own right and the first stop on a road trip along Minnesota’s spectacular North Shore.
The city truly offers something for everyone: Outdoor adventurers will find ample hiking, biking, skiing, and water sports available right in and around the city. Meanwhile, urbanites will discover a range of arts, cultural events, shopping, dining, drinking, and historical sites throughout the city. There’s even another (very different, but very wonderful) garden along the waterfront.
Lodging in Duluth
Most visitors in Duluth want to stay right down by the waterfront in or very near Canal Park.
That’s completely understandable, as it puts you close enough to the lake to hear the waves on a windy day and within easy walking distance of the lift bridge, parks and gardens, tourist shops, and lots of places to eat and drink.
The Canal Park area is the best place to stay for most tourists. Not only because it puts you right where you’ll probably want to spend a lot of time, but because you have a place to park.
Parking can be an issue around Canal Park because it isn’t a particularly pleasant walk between the waterfront and downtown. It’s not a horrible walk, but going up to downtown is a hike up a pretty good hill and over the freeway while fully exposed to whatever weather is blowing through Duluth at the moment. That means even if you are staying in a downtown hotel, you may well end up driving down to the waterfront anyway.
Here’s a map with some of your options in and around the city. I’ll give you a little more info about your lodging options around the city and each neighborhood’s advantages and disadvantages as well.
Put your travel dates in to find current prices.
Lodging options in Canal Park
If you want to stay in or near Canal Park and the waterfront, you’ll need to look for lodging on the lake side of I-35. The best location is right at the base of the peninsula, as that is where most of the cool stuff is.
Of course, not all hotels can be booked through third-party sites. SOMETIMES you can find other options (like the Canal Park Lodge) listed on sites like TripAdvisor, even though you can only book by going directly to the hotel. So, it can be worth checking. There are very few homes in this area (it used to be an industrial area), so don’t expect to find a VRBO or Airbnb lakeside right by Canal Park.
The downside to staying right along the waterfront is the cost. In summer it is cheaper to stay in a nice hotel in the heart of San Francisco than in any hotel near Duluth’s Canal Park! (Believe me. I priced it.)
But if you look farther north past the gardens and just across the highway, you may be able to snag a private rental or a more affordable hotel room. And you can still get great lake views with reasonably good access to the parks.
Other (usually lower-priced) lodging options
If you are willing to stay somewhere other than the Canal Park area, there are plenty of other options.
Lincoln Park
If you’re interested in Enger Park and an interesting neighborhood that isn’t completely overrun with tourists, check the Lincoln Park area. Hotel options are limited, but you should be able to find a VRBO or Airbnb. (I was lucky enough to stay at a friend’s house in this area once while she was out of town.)
Lincoln Park has a handful of good places to eat, a brewery, and a few fun shops. It’s mostly a leafy neighborhood with an old-fashioned business district.
Downtown Duluth
Duluth also has a couple of downtown hotels that are usually cheaper than staying in or very near Canal Park.
- The last time I stayed at the Radisson it was in SERIOUS need of updating. That’s been several years now, but recent reviews seem to indicate it hasn’t gotten any better. (If you can’t do stairs, avoid this hotel, as the elevators are inadequate.) It wouldn’t be my choice, but if you are in town for something at the DECC (the convention center), the Radisson is connected by a very, very long enclosed skyway. And some rooms have stunning views over the harbor. However, it’s a very long walk to Canal Park from this hotel. It’s also very near the really wonderful railroad museum in the old Depot.
- I’ve always liked the downtown Holiday Inn. It isn’t a new hotel either, but it seems better maintained than the Radisson. It also has easy parking, is convenient to almost anywhere in Duluth, and has both a few places to eat and a nice art gallery within easy walking distance. The neighborhood can feel a little sketchy, but we’ve never had any issues.
- There’s also a hostel downtown and a couple of VRBOs.
You can find more photos of Enger Park’s gardens on CindyCarlsson.com.
