Is there a route that avoids the steep hill on highway 53 as you head north out of Duluth to International Falls? That hill is just brutal on the old suburban when its hauling a full load and a canoe trailer. Would taking the Oliver Bridge to Becks Rd/Midway road straight up to Highway 53 be a good option?

thats a good option. there is probably an option out of cloquet, as well.

Steve, sure it's a steep hill, but your Suburban with a 350 engine (or similar) has trouble with it? Aren't you driving from Tennessee? With all those miles before you get there, it seems like it should make that climb without even breaking a sweat.

Do you need to stop in Duluth? If not its much faster to take 33 through Cloquet and meet back up with 53 at the Cloquet river. There is a hill coming out of Cloquet as well but I don't think its quite as steep

I don’t know if you could call it a good option, but Becks to Midway has a milder grade. Just north of I35 by the Dry Dock is the steepest. You’d be in for thrill if a train uses the Oliver bridge the same time you do.

I35 to Hwy 33 through Cloquet might be better if you cut over to I35 from US 53 somewhere in Wisconsin. (Maybe Hwy 77/ Hwy 48) Hwy 33 at Cloquet is currently under construction however.

I always avoid hwy 53 by taking I35 south/use the truck lane up the grade...turn off on hwy2/Proctor exit, then take hwy 2 to hwy 33 which hits hyw 53 by the Cloquet River

If you go through Duluth, you will climb a hill no matter which way you go. It’s the topography.

If you want to avoid the hills, and use interstate, take I94 to 694 to I35E to I35. Use the 2nd Cloquet exit to avoid construction and follow 33 to 53. It’s a bit longer but will avoid any challenging hills.

Thanks for all the info everybody. Looks like I can find some route that will work.

Jackfish - the vortec 6.0L in our suburban Will get us there, but it tdoesn’t like hills.