There are very few places that inspire my creative eye like Minnesota's North Shore. While Superior is a freshwater lake, the adjacent boreal forest and rugged rocky coast is reminiscent of the Atlantic Ocean's juxtaposition to Maine's Acadia National Park.

Bordered by jagged igneous rock, the ancient Sawtooth Mountains that once stood as grand as the mid-continental Rockies, are the perfect corridors for wildlife and water. Heavy rains and snowmelt produces a cornucopia of ephemeral streams as water flows downhill towards the Great Lake.

Swirling Fals - Sawtooth Mountains, Minnesota

Weather during spring and early summer is as unpredictable as winter in this border region of state. Temperatures can soar as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit to only fall into the mid 40's within a single hour. Unpredictability is the charm and curse of this area. Often enveloped by clouds, fog, or rain, predicting climate patterns in the Arrowhead region is an exercise in futility. So if you are planning to travel to Minnesota's North Shore, be prepared and pack a bit of everything.

Fern Falls - Cascade State Park, Minnesota

Photographer's Notes - All images were made between June 24th and June 28th, 2017. The weather was an unpredictable mix of rain, clouds and sunshine. During our stay, temperatures hovered between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. An unusually wet spring produced stunning fields of lupines and numerous ephemeral waterfalls. All pictures were made from a sturdy tripod with my Nikon D810, 16-35mm f/4VR lens.