Bridge #1 on Seven Bridges Road arches over Amity Creek in Duluth, Minnesota. The stone bridge rises above rushing water and dark rocks, surrounded by dense green and early autumn foliage beneath a partly cloudy sky.

Bridge #1 on Seven Bridges Road, where Amity Creek rushes beneath a century‑old stone arch tucked into Duluth’s forested hillside.

Seven Bridges Road in Duluth, Minnesota is one of the most scenic short drives on the Lake Superior North Shore. It follows Amity Creek through a forest of pine, poplar, and birch. The 4‑mile route crosses seven matching stone‑arch bridges, each built where the road meets the creek, creating a rhythmic sequence of waterfalls, cascades, and gorge views.


Finding Seven Bridges Road:

The beginning of The Deeps at Lester Park, where a small waterfall spills over dark rocks into a narrow forested gorge. Evergreen trees and early autumn foliage frame the rushing water, with a stone arch bridge partially visible through the trees under a cloudy sky.

The beginning of The Deeps at Lester Park, where a small waterfall slips into the rocky gorge beneath a stone arch bridge framed by early autumn color.


If you drive Seven Bridges Road the way it was intended, you will follow the Amity Creek upstream. Start at Occidental Boulevard on the west side of Lester Park. The road will change to Seven Bridges Road as it curves to cross the first bridge.


Driving in the other direction, you can access the road from Duluth’s more well-known​ Skyline Parkway. Seven Bridges Road serves as the eastern terminus for that drive. Just take East Skyline Parkway from Glenwood Street, driving past Hawks Ridge.

 

​A Little History:


The road was initially conceived by Samuel Frisby Snively, a local lawyer and real estate developer. Snively is largely remembered for being the longest-running mayor in Duluth’s history, holding the job for 16 years from 1921 to 1937.


Snively owned a sizeable 400-acre farm above the Duluth suburbs of Lester Park and Lakeside, and he often hiked the hills around his farm. He was always fond of following Amity Creek as it wound through rhyolite gorges and basalt ledges, creating numerous waterfalls on its descent to Lake Superior.


Wanting to build a road through this scenic area, Samuel Snively donated sixty acres of his own property. He contacted the other landowners in the area to obtain all the necessary right-of-ways through their property for the road. After raising funds, the road was started in 1899.


While plotting the road, Snively walked the hillside to find the most scenic route without considering the ease of construction. 


A narrow forest trail covered in fallen yellow leaves winds through tall birch trees with white bark and early autumn foliage in shades of green, yellow, and orange.

One of the many hiking trails along Seven Bridges Road, a quiet birch‑lined path blanketed in early autumn leaves.


Construction of the road started north from Lester Park. It was very costly and difficult to build since many trees and stumps had to be removed, and many long, tall bridges were constructed to cross Amity Creek. Ten bridges were needed for the first planned route. They were all very rustically built out of wood. After about two and a half miles, Snively ran out of money and halted work. Luckily, enough of the road was completed to allow the people of Duluth to see the project and experience the beauty of the drive so they began contributing money to aid in its completion.


Once completed, Snively donated the road to the city of Duluth as a gift. The road was extremely popular with the locals as a scenic parkway. Sadly, it was not maintained, and within 10 years, those wooden bridges were in such disrepair that the road was impassable to vehicles. 


A small stone arch bridge crosses a rocky creek surrounded by dense autumn foliage in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. Water flows over the rocks beneath the bridge, framed by trees and shrubs in a forest setting.

A stone arch bridge along Seven Bridges Road, tucked into a burst of autumn color as Amity Creek rushes over the rocks below.


In 1910, the road was turned over to Duluth’s park commission for management. They devised a new plan to save the road. Morell & Nichols, an architectural and landscape firm out of Minneapolis, was hired to redesign the bridges.


The firm proposed that the bridges match and be constructed from reinforced concrete in a filled-spandrel barrel-arch design. They would have a Neoclassical stylistic treatment and be decoratively faced with native basalt, and bluestone collected locally from the creek beds or blasted from nearby outcrops. The bridges would be capped with pink opal granite to be quarried in St. Cloud, Minnesota.


In 1911, the road was regraded and graveled. Several of Duluth's finest stone masons were hired to simultaneously build all the bridges. The number of bridges planned was reduced to nine; the tenth bridge was simplified since it simply connected the parkway to the driveway at Snively’s farm.


Snively’s road was renamed Amity Parkway and reopened on July 6, 1912. It once again became a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Beautifully landscaped, the drive presented many scenic sights along the creek. Flowers lined much of the drive’s curves in spring and summer, and the fall colors through the forest were spectacular.


A cascading waterfall flows over dark rocks beneath Bridge #6 on Seven Bridges Road. The stone arch bridge rises above the stream, surrounded by dense autumn foliage in shades of orange, yellow, and green.

Bridge #6 on Seven Bridges Road, where a tiered waterfall tumbles through the autumn woods beneath its graceful stone arch.


In 1939, with the completion of the Hawk Ridge extension, Amity Parkway was finally connected to Skyline Parkway. This led to some navigational changes to the road, and it was diverted around two of the bridges from Snively’s original roadway.


These two bridges still exist and can be visited. They are part of a hiking and cross-country ski trail through Hawks Ridge. Bridges #8 and #9 can be found just off the parking lot on the right side of the road after crossing bridge #7.  


A leaf‑covered forest path crosses a small stone bridge beside a flowing creek, surrounded by late‑autumn trees and rocky terrain.

The short hike to Bridges #8 and #9 begins along this quiet leaf‑strewn path and its rustic stone bridge tucked beside the creek.

Bridge #8 on Seven Bridges Road, an original early‑1900s stone arch, spans a rocky stream in a steep forested gorge. Water rushes beneath the bridge, surrounded by autumn leaves and rugged terrain.

Bridge #8, one of the two fully original stone arches on Seven Bridges Road, rising over the rushing creek in its steep autumn gorge.


The seven bridges that are still in use were once again restored in the mid-1990s. Work was done in order from most damaged to least and completed in 1997.


Bridge #7 on Seven Bridges Road, a recently renovated stone arch, spans a rocky stream lined with autumn foliage. Water rushes beneath the bridge, surrounded by trees in shades of yellow, orange, and brown.

The final bridge on Seven Bridges Road — Bridge #7 — its renovated stone arch standing over the rushing creek amid peak autumn color.


Consider Seven Bridges Road a “must-see” if you are visiting Duluth and the Lake Superior North Shore. The drive is beautiful in every season! In summer, you’ll find the busiest spots at the first bridge waterfall called The Deeps, and at Bridge #6, where there is a popular swimming hole. Seven Bridges Road is closed in winter but open for snowshoes and skiers.  Don't just drive it, get out and explore a bit! You'll be glad you did!


Be sure to watch for joggers and hikers along the drive.


If you are planning a trip to Duluth or the Lake Superior Area, don't miss my other blog posts...


The Best of Duluth Minnesota


Amnicon Falls State Park - just 15 miles east of Superior, Wisconsin



Autumn on the Bayfield Peninsula: The Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway




Not every image makes it into my blog. If you enjoyed the photos in this article, please check out my Minnesota Collection for more pictures from this amazing state, or visit my Image Gallery with over 4000 images of locations around the United States.


A framed photograph of Bridge #6 on Seven Bridges Road hangs above a brown sofa in a cozy cabin living room. The artwork features a cascading waterfall beneath a stone arch bridge surrounded by autumn foliage. It is double‑matted with a beige top mat and a dark brown bottom mat inside a wood frame.

An elegant, double‑matted presentation of Bridge #6, capturing the iconic stone arch and waterfall of Seven Bridges Road. A perfect statement piece for anyone who loves historic craftsmanship and fall landscapes.

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