Gunflint Trail Association

It seems like we’ve had to wait an awful long time for the summer fishing season to arrive this year, but that’s just because the early ice out is playing tricks with our minds and we all think it’s a little later in the season than it really is.  After a week of drizzly, dark days, the trees and shrubs have all leafed out – spring is in full swing on the Gunflint Trail. Time to go fishing!

Fishing has always brought people to the Gunflint Trail region. For many people, summer just isn’t summer until they’ve bobbed about in the boat with rod and reel in hand and net on standby. Walleye is considered king in these parts, but many people also fish for lake trout, sun fish, and northern pike which are all also abundant in these lakes.

If you haven’t found your “secret” fishing hole on the Gunflint just yet, here are a couple of things to consider:

• Not sure where to head to find “the big one?” Check out our fishing map for some suggestions.
• If you don’t trust your own fishing luck, there are plenty of guides on the Gunflint Trail who want to make sure your fishing experience is a fun and exciting one.
• And here are a couple things to keep in mind before you move your boat from lake to lake this summer.

Whether you hit the lakes for the season opener or later on this summer, happy fishing!

We all know April showers bring May flowers, but here’s another springtime correlation for you: April spring cleaning brings May garage sales.

Call them garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, what have you, here on the Gunflint Trail, we do them right. Each spring, all Gunflint Trail businesses and homeowners are invited to join in the annual “Trash and Treasure Days.”   The event allows garage sale shoppers to drive the entire Gunflint Trail, stopping in at any sales that interest them.

This year’s Trash and Treasure Days will be held May 19-20, from 8 am – 5 pm each day.The yard sales held over this weekend are managed independently by the seller at each location. Prices and hours of each sale are set at the sole discretion of each seller. Signs announcing the various sales will be posted along the length of the Trail. For sales located down Gunflint Trail side roads, you’ll find signs with the mileage to the sale posted at the side road’s Gunflint Trail intersection

If you’re looking for a bargain, or if you just love to shop, you know where to head during the weekend of May 19 – 20.  Boats, canoes, motors, new stuff, used stuff, refreshments, and much more are all waiting for you during the Gunflint Trail Trash and Treasure Days. With 26 business owners and hundreds of homeowners on the Trail possibly participating in the sale, you truly never know what treasure you might find.

It’s been a gray, rainy week on the Gunflint Trail. But while misty, dark days might seem a bit gloomy, the Gunflint Trail is turning a lovely shade of green as it soaks up all the moisture. Trees’ leaves are unfurling, tamarack trees are putting on their needles and early season wildflowers are starting to poke up their little heads. April showers truly do bring May flowers.

Here’s what’s a brief look at what’s currently blooming on the Gunflint Trail. In order, from top to bottom: bearberry, strawberry, dandelion, and violets:

The timing of this spring green up along the Gunflint Trail is quite appropriate. Tomorrow (Saturday, May 5), marks the 5th annual Gunflint Green Up tree planting and releasing event.  Even if you haven’t registered for the event, you can still participate. Just show up at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning to be assigned a “Green Up” task. Bring water, lunch, appropriate clothing and any hand tools (such as nippers) you might have.

Sunday morning gets off to a running start with the annual Ham Run. It’s not too late to sign up for the race either!

However you spend the weekend, don’t forget to take a minute to stop and enjoy the wildflowers.

Looking to stretch your legs on the Gunflint Trail?

The Magnetic Rock Trail, located approximately 47 miles up the Gunflint Trail, is a favorite trail for residents and visitors alike. The round trip hike, from parking lot (located immediately adjacent to the Gunflint Trail on the right hand side if you’re headed up the Trail) to the rock and back again, is a little over 3 miles. The trail offers a few gentle inclines and is generally considered an easy trail, accessible to people of all ages. However, the path can be narrow and rocky in places, so closed-toe, sturdy footwear is a must.

Along the path, you’ll cross a small babbling brook which empties into a lily pad covered pond, hike past a large blueberry patch, and see sweeping vistas of the upper Gunflint Trail.  The trail experienced heavy blowdown in 1999, a prescribed burn in 2002 and the Ham Lake wildfire in 2007. As a result, there’s little shade along the path, so if you hike on a warm summer day, bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.

Native Americans in the area have always been aware of  large 60-foot tall glacial erratic we call Magnetic Rock. However, it’s said that woodswoman Justine Kerfoot was the person who rediscovered the rock in the early 1930s. Later that same decade, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the path we still hike today to reach the impressive “boulder.”

The geology you’ll encounter along this path is particularly interesting. Be sure to throw in a compass because, true to its name, the rock truly is magnetic. When you hold a compass up to the rock, the north arrow will spin around until it points to the rock. However, the large rock the trail is named for isn’t the only magnetic rock along this trail. It’s worth throwing a magnet into your backpack to test for other magnetic rock as you hike along.

A picnic bench located in the parking lot makes a great spot to grab lunch or snack after a successful hike.

After dark on a spring night on the Gunflint Trail, all is still except for sound of the lake softly sloshing against the shore and a pair of loons calling in the distance. Overhead, the northern lights dance between the stars overhead. But there are all sorts of critters stirring during these quiet late night hours.

The Gunflint Trail hosts a veritable menagerie of owls of all shapes and sizes.These nighttime hunters aren’t everyday sightings on the Trail, but it’s not uncommon to see owls in flight or perched in a tree, catching some daytime shut-eye.

Here’s a few of the owls “whooo” you might spy winging about at night on the Gunflint Trail.

Northern Saw-Whet Owl
Pictured above first in its fledgling stage and then as an adult, this pint-sized owl (about 8 inches in size and weighing just 4 ounces) gets its name from the sound of one of its call, which is said to sound like a saw being sharpened.

Snowy Owl
Snowy owls don’t breed on the Gunflint Trail, but during the winter months, they’ll occasionally come down from Arctic if food is scarce.

Barred Owl
“Who cooks for you?” If you hear a bird calling out that phrase in the woods during the evening hours, you know you’re close to a Barred Owl.

Great Gray Owl
With an up to 5 foot wingspan, the Great Gray Owl is the largest owl in North America.

Boreal Owl
Another little owl, similar in size to the Northern Saw-Whet, sightings of the Boreal Owl on the Gunflint Trail are quite rare. The Boreal Owl prefer deep forested areas.

Boating season is upon us on the Gunflint Trail, although boat traffic on Gunflint Trail lakes won’t pick up in earnest until the season fishing opener on Saturday, May 12. (Despite some rumblings in the Minnesota legislature earlier this spring about possibly bumping up the opener by a week, the fishing opener will remain on May 12 this year.) Before you take that first spin in the boat this spring, here are a few things to remember:

Beware of aquatic invasive species
Minnesota continues to work to educate the public about how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels and spiny water fleas.

The MN DNR asks boaters to remember to stop aquatic hitchhikers by inspecting their boat whenever they take the boat out of the water and removing any vegetation or invasive species clinging to the boat,;draining the water from the boat before leaving the water access; and throwing unused bait in the trash. Before a boater moves their boat to another lake, the DNR asks boaters to either rinse their boat and equipment with at least 120 degree water, pressure wash the boat, or let the boat dry for at least five days.

Boaters are now required to display an aquatic invasive species decal on their watercraft.  A penalty for not having the decal will begin to be enforced on August 1, 2014. The decals can be picked up for free at DNR offices or wherever you register your watercraft.

Register your watercraft
The state of Minnesota requires all watercraft to be registered. If you are not a Minnesota resident, you may register your watercraft in your home state. Minnesota honors all state registrations.

Life jacket use
And remember, while the ice may have gone off the lakes a month ago, we’ve been experiencing normal spring temperatures and water temperatures remain very chilly. While it’s always important to have a personal floatation device nearby whenever you’re out on the water — and children under the age of 10 must always wear a life jacket — it’s an especially good idea to actually wear your life jacket during these cool spring days.

Happy boating!

Wondering what this Gunflint Green Up thing is all about? Here are answers to some of your questions about the event.

When did it begin?

The Gunflint Green Up event began in the spring of 2008, when volunteers and officials from the U.S. Forest Service gathered to replant the area on the upper Gunflint Trail burned by the Ham Lake Wildfire of 2007 with pine seedlings. The event has been held on the first weekend of May ever since. Over the years, the event has evolved to not only planting tree seedlings, but also cutting away undergrowth away from trees planted in previous years (known as “releasing”) to let the sunshine in and allow the trees to grow tall.

Who’s organizing this year’s event?

Gunflint Lodge is the primary sponsor of this year’s Green Up event and registration is done either online or by calling them at 1-800-328-3325.

Do I have to stay at Gunflint Lodge to participate?

No.

What does my registration include?

Saturday lunch, Friday and Saturday dinners, planting equipment from the USFS, trees and group leaders. Registration is $48.00 per person.; taxes are additional.

What is I just want to volunteer?

If you just want to volunteer, but don’t want any of the meals that come with registration, arrive at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday May 5 to be assigned a task.

What should I bring?

Sturdy footwear, appropriate clothing for working outside in early May (aka, layers and possibly raingear), and a pair of nippers, if you have them.

What will we be doing?

This year’s Green Up will focus on clearing the Gneiss Lake Trail, which is adjacent the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center grounds. Volunteers will plant trees and release previously planted trees along the overgrown Gneiss Lake Trail. Volunteers will also work to open up the Gneiss Lake Trail up to the Blueberry Hill overlook.

The Gunflint Trail loons have returned. With such an early ice out this year, it’s been easy to wonder if seasons on the Gunflint Trail are inside out, but the return of the loons are sure sign that spring is upon us. Loons have been spied fishing in many bays of Gunflint Trail lakes and the wailing call of the loon now frequently punctuates the night as the loons communicate during the midnight hours.

If you yourself happen to be up at the midnight hours, it’s worth looking to the northern horizon to see if you can spy the warm green glow of the Northern Lights. The Aurora were visible on Friday night and according to the website Space Weather:  “For the third day in a row, a high-speed solar wind stream is buffeting Earth’s magnetic field. NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% to 15% chance of more geomagnetic activity during the next 24 hours as the solar wind continues to blow.”

Although we’ve been getting a bit of rain and/or snow each week since ice out, fire danger is always a concern on the Gunflint Trail before the spring green up. The MN DNR issued this notice about fire danger last week which contained this important reminder: “While campfires are allowed, please use caution so they do not escape. Clear an area around the campfire, attend it at all times and make sure it is cold to the touch before leaving it. Also, use caution when operating equipment or recreational vehicles to prevent sparks from igniting dry vegetation.”

For the time being though, Gunflint Trail residents are more concerned about the current winter weather advisory.  Although April snow is always a little shocking, the snow (or rain) will happily raise lake levels and increase moisture levels in the woods.

Permit season for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness begins on May 1.  Do you have your spring canoe trip planned?

Minnesota’s fishing opener remains May 12. We’ll let you know as soon as we can if it gets bumped up a week, as is currently being debated in the Minnesota Houses.

The moose have been moving about recently. This lady was spotted camouflaged in the undergrowth near Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

What better way to soak up the spring sunshine than with a picnic in the great outdoors with family and friends at a favorite Gunflint Trail location? If your picnic basket is all packed, but you’re not sure where to go, consider these suggestions:

If you’re looking to roast some marshmallows and weenies, you can’t do better than popping into one of  sites at of the  several Federal campgrounds along the Trail. You’ll find a picnic table, fire grate and a nearby latrine at whichever site you choose, not to mention a nearby lake or river:
East Bearskin (25 miles up the Trail)
Flour Lake (26 miles up the Trail)
Iron Lake (38 miles up the Trail)
Trail’s End (56 miles up the Trail)

If you don’t need a fire grate, but would prefer a picnic table to spread your vittles out on, there are plenty of picnic benches scattered along the Trail. If you’re looking for a view and a spot to get a bite to eat you can pull off at:

• Swamper Lake (23 miles up the Trail, picnic area on the left-hand side if you’re driving up the Trail)
• Little Iron Lake (38 miles up the Trail, past the Old Gunflint Trail road, on the right hand side if driving up the Trail. Follow trail over bridge to picnic table.)
• Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center (55 miles up the Trail, at 28 Moose Pond Drive. Several picnic tables at various locations on grounds.)

If you pack a bag lunch, you can take your picnic just about anywhere. Check out the Gunflint Trail hiking trail brochure for some ideas, or consider some of these breathtaking places to pause, soak in the view, and have a snack (or more).

• Blueberry Hill/Northern Light Lake overlook (13 miles up the Trail)
• Honeymoon Bluff (26 miles up the Trail, on the Clearwater Road )
• Lima Mountain Trail (21 miles up the Trail, accessed off the Lima Grade)
• Gunflint and Magnetic Lakes overlook (45 miles up the Trail)

Where’s your favorite spot to picnic on the Gunflint Trail?

The early ice out on the Gunflint Trail has heralded in a wide variety of waterfowl.  Recent sightings up and down the Trail include pied-billed grebes, common goldeneyes, hooded mergansers, blue-winged teals,  buffleheads, Mallards, Canada geese and more.

Mallards are perhaps the most recognizable duck on the Gunflint Trail. These omnivorous birds are so adaptable that they thrive pretty much anywhere, be it a city park or a forested wilderness. It will likely be at least another month before we spy ducklings trailing behind their Mallard mamas on Gunflint Trail lakes. Mallards incubate their eggs for 27-28 days before hatching up to 13 (!) ducklings. No wonder we see them all over the place!

Another common duck sighting on the Gunflint Trail is the hooded merganser.  They’re easy to identify too, because the female’s red feather crest on the back of her head looks a bit like a punk hairstyle.  This time of year, the male mergansers have on their breeding plumage, which features a dark colored, white striped crest,  seen in the picture above. During the summer, you’ll often see merganser females with a long line of ducklings behind them. Like Mallards, mergansers can lay up to 13 eggs, but multiple females may lay eggs in the same nest and mergansers often adopt other abandoned ducklings over the course of the summer.

We still haven’t spotted the first loon on the Gunflint Trail this spring, but according to the loon migration tracker from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, as of April 9, many loons had returned to lakes in central Minnesota. Those Gunflint Trail loons should be back any day now!

Of course, we don’t think we’ll be joining these water loving birds to take a dip in the area lakes any time soon. Although all Gunflint Trail lakes are now ice-free (Saganaga went out on April 2), the estimated temperature of the lakes is currently a chilly 42 degrees. We’ll let that warm up a degree or 20 before even dipping our toes in!