Here are some hikes in the Gunflint Trail area you may want to try:
1. CARIBOU FALLS Moderate; 1.5 mile
Access: Wayside rest off Hwy. 61, 8 miles south of Schroeder
A pleasant walk along the Caribou River leads to Caribou Falls. Continue along the Superior Hiking Trail or return to the wayside parking area.
2. SUGARLOAF INTERPRETIVE TRAIL Easy; 1.5 mile
Access: Hwy. 61, 6 miles south of Schroeder
Trail travels through woods and along ledge rock to Sugarloaf Beach. Trail guide available at parking area.
3. CROSS RIVER TRAIL Moderate; 0.5 mile
Access: Cross River wayside rest, Highway 61
Here's a gradual climb with great views of the river gorge. Continue up river over the snowmobile trail to explore further, or return on the hiking trail to Highway 61.
4. TEMPERANCE RIVER Moderate; 6 miles, various trails
Access: Temperance River State Park
Trails wind along both sides of the river past eight pools and seven overlooks with sheer rocky ledges. It's easy hiking, but use caution. Maps are available at Temperance River State Park.
8. OBERG & LEVEAUX MOUNTAIN NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAILS Moderate; Oberg 2.2 miles, Leveaux 3.4 miles
Access: Forest Road 336
Both trails begin at the same parking lot off Forest Road 336. High overlooks along Oberg give great views of Lake Superior, Oberg Lake, and Moose Mountain. Steep cliffs at top; use caution with small children. Leveaux Trail follows a ridge rising 1,000 feet above Lake Superior. Fall color is fabulous on both trails.
9. WHITE SKY ROCK Moderate; 1 mile
Access: Caribou Trail (Co. Rd. 4)
A steep hike to the cliff tops offers a panoramic view of Caribou Lake. It's a spectacular fall color hike.
10. CASCADE RIVER HIKES Moderate to difficult; 18 miles, various loops
Access: Cascade State Park, Highway 61
Hiking along both sides of the river gorge with views of the waterfalls. other trails follow the rocky terrain along Lake Superior or wind through the forest to Lookout Mountain. Maps are available at Cascade State Park.
11. EAGLE MOUNTAIN TRAIL Moderate to difficult; 7 miles
Access: Forest Road 170
Requires self-issuing day permit or overnight camping permit
Eagle Mountain, at 2,031 feet, is the highest point in Minnesota. The trail is rocky at its beginning and climbs in the last mile for a view of the surrounding hills, lakes, and creeks. Most of the trail is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Two developed campsites are found on Whale Lake at the base of the mountain.
12. SWEETHEARTS BLUFF Easy to difficult; 1 mile
Access: Grand Marais Municipal Recreation Area
The trail starts at the far west end of the city campground. It's a one-mile hike with picnic shelters and beautiful views of the harbor and shoreline.
13. ARTISTS POINT & LIGHTHOUSE Easy; 0.5 mile
Access: U.S. Coast Guard Station, Grand Marais
Exploring the shoreline rocks beneath the breakwall will reveal names of visitors back to 1892. Walk the trails to the east along Artist's Point and enjoy the sights and sounds of the boreal forest. Walk west along a wide cement pier to the lighthouse. Be sure to take your camera.
14. PINCUSHION MOUNTAIN TRAILS Easy to difficult; 15 miles, various loops
Access: Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12), turn right on Co. Rd. 53
Take the loop to Pincushion Mountain for a view of the Devil Track River gorge and a panorama of Lake Superior. Connections can be made here with the Superior Hiking Trail.
15. DEVIL TRACK RIVER TRAIL Moderate; 10 miles
Access: 4 miles east of Grand Marais on Hwy. 61 with a left on Lindskoog Rd. (Co. Rd. 58) for one mile
Hike 1.5 miles to the canyon, 2.5 miles to the foot bridge, or 5 miles to Pincushion Mountain.
16. GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PINES Easy; 3 miles
Access: Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12)
The trail is an old road through a tall pine stand. It turns at Elbow Creek and follows the creek before winding back into the forest. The trail crosses a swamp; if you don't want to get your feet wet, you'll have to turn around.
Climb one-half-mile to the top of Blueberry Hill. Outstanding vistas in several directions above Northern Light Lake.
18. DANIELS LAKE TRAIL Easy; 1.5 mile Trailhead at West Bearskin Lake Boat Landing or Clearwater Lake Boat Landing Requires self-issuing day permit
Access to the Border Route Trail. Public parking is available 3/4 mile from either trailhead.
19. HONEYMOON BLUFF TRAIL Difficult but short; 0.6 mile
Access: Co. Rd. 66, near Flour Lake Campground
Here's a short but steep walk to a beautiful overlook above Hungry Jack Lake. Try a sunset hike, and be sure to take in the colorful view in autumn.
20. CARIBOU ROCK TRAIL Moderate to difficult; 7 miles
Access: Hungry Jack Lake Road (Co. Rd. 65) Requires self-issuing day permit
A 3/4 mile well-traveled walk takes you to a beautiful overlook of West Bearskin Lake, another 3/8 mile hike and you are at an overlook of Moss Lake. Continue walking over rugged and scenic terrain to Stairway Portage and Rose Lake.
21. SOUTH LAKE TRAIL Moderate; 7 miles
Access: Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12) near Poplar Lake Requires self-issuing day permit Entry point permit required for overnight use
Extending from Poplar to South Lake, a portion of the trail is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The trail passes over Partridge Lake with a developed overnight campsite. Tall red and white pines watch over the trail in the sections where it passes through the old forests.
22. TOPPER LAKE TRAILHEAD/MUCKER LAKE TRAIL
Easy; 1.5 miles; or 6 miles to Mucker Lake
Access: End of Forest Road 317 Requires self-issuing day permit
Topper Lake is nestled among hills. Mucker Lake Trail intersects the Border Route Trail at South Lake.
23. CRAB LAKE TRAIL Easy; 8 miles
Access: Loon Lake Lodge side road (just past lodge) Requires self-issuing day permit.
Access to Border Route Trail.
24. GUNFLINT LAKE TRAILS Moderate to difficult; 26 miles, various loops
Access: Loon Lake Landing or one of the resorts along Gunflint Lake
High Cliffs Trail and South Rim Trail have spectacular views of Gunflint Lake and the Canadian shore. Get the feel of the forest as you hike through dense growth between ridges. Maps are essential. Pick one up from an area resort before starting out.
25. MAGNETIC LAKE TRAIL Easy; 3 miles
Access: Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12)
Requires self-issuing day permit
Hike across Larch Creek, through the burn of 1974 to Magnetic Rock. This 60-foot rock with strong magnetic attraction is a unique phenomenon of the Glacial Period. Bring your compass and test the magnetism. The trail continues on and connects with the Gunflint Lake Trails. Pick up a trail map if you want to hike past Magnetic Lake.
26. THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL Moderate to difficult; 200 miles
Access: Various locations
This long distance trail follows the Lake Superior shore from Two Harbors to the Canadian border. Spring brings a carpet of wildflowers, summer brings a harvest of berries, and fall offers a panorama of color. There are spectacular vistas of Lake Superior, memorable silhouettes of the Sawtooth Mountain Range, and breathtaking glimpses of wild rivers as they cascade over waterfalls through rocky gorges. Trailheads are located at most County Road crossings and state parks. Current maps are available at U.S. Forest Service offices, state park offices, local resorts and businesses, and from the Superior Hiking Trail Association in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
27. KEKEKABIC TRAIL
Moderate; 37 miles, various loops
Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12), 40 miles from Grand Marais
Requires self-issuing day permit; entry point permit require for overnight use.
The trail extends from the Gunflint Trail to County Road 18 near Ely.
28. KADUNCE RIVER TRAIL Easy; 1.5 mile
Access: Highway 61 East at Kadunce Wayside, 9 miles from Grand Marais
A half-mile of easy hiking takes you through the woods and along a river gorge. Take a fishing pole along -- stream fishing is good. Connects to Superior Hiking Trail.
29. DEVIL'S KETTLE TRAIL Moderate; lots of stairways; 2.5 miles
Access: Highway 61 at Judge C.R. Magney State Park
The trail follows the Brule River with vistas of waterfalls and rapids. The 50-foot waterfall at Devil1s Kettle mysteriously disappears into a hole in the basalt bedrock. Connects to Superior Hiking Trail.
30. THE BORDER ROUTE TRAIL Moderate to difficult; 70 miles Access: Gunflint Trail (Co. Rd. 12)
The trail extends from a trailhead on the Gunflint Trail to the Pigeon River below South Fowl Lake. Most of the trail passes through the BWCAW (requires overnight permits for camping. It's moderately rugged terrain, with many rock ledges and spectacular views. Windfalls are to be expected, and it may be difficult to follow the trail. Campsites can be found along lakeshores. For current trail conditions and maps, contact the U.S. Forest Service in Grand Marais.
31. THE GRAND PORTAGE Moderate to difficult; 16 miles
Access: Grand Portage National Monument
This historic trail, in use for hundreds of years, was used by Native Americans, European explorers, and fur trade-era Voyageurs. It winds through heavily wooded terrain and rises 630 feet from Lake Superior to the Pigeon River. A one-way hike takes approximately five hours. Campsites at historic Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River require a permit, obtained free from the National Park Service. A separate brochure describing the portage is available at the Great Hall inside the historic stockade area.
32. MOUNT ROSE TRAIL Difficult but short;1 mile
Access: Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Portage
A self-guiding brochure is available for the hike. Climbing 300 vertical feet along a paved pathway, many fine vistas of the bay and historic fur trade headquarters are found. Wayside exhibit panels explain the history of the fur trade at Grand Portage.
33. PARTRIDGE FALLS Easy; 10 miles
Access: Mineral Center Rd. (Co. Rd. 72) to Partridge Falls Rd.
A five-mile walk along the Partridge River flats brings you to a beautiful 40-foot waterfall.
34. GRAND PORTAGE STATE PARK Easy and handicapped accessible
High Falls Trail - 0.5 mile; Middle Falls Trail - 3.5 miles
Access: Grand Portage State Park
The High Falls Trail begins at the park office and goes north along the Pigeon River. A 700-foot boardwalk provides easy access on the last part of the trail. Three overlooks (one wheelchair accessible) give awesome views of the 120-foot waterfall. The Middle Falls Trail (under construction in 1999), begins at the park office and is a winding scenic trail that takes visitors over ridge tops, through heavily wooded forest, and along the river bank. Visitors will appreciate the semi-mountainous terrain with its breathtaking views of the river gorge and Lake Superior.
35. MOUNT JOSEPHINE TRAIL Difficult; 1.5 mile
Access: Co. Rd. 17, Grand Portage Village
After parking in the lot adjacent to Co. Rd. 17, walk one-quarter mile to the trailhead. From there, a difficult 30-minute switchback climbs 800 feet, but it1s worth the effort. The top is a glorious panorama of Lake Superior, Pigeon Point, Isle Royale, and the Susie Islands.
TRAIL SAFETY Be prepared for rough and slippery surfaces, especially on ledge rock.
Wear comfortable boots or a well-built jogging shoe with non-skid soles.
Allow about 45 minutes per mile.
Take along these safety essentials: food and water for longer hikes, first aid kid, compass and detailed maps, sunscreen, and bug repellent.
WILDERNESS PERMIT Permits are required to enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
Self-issuing day use permits are available at trailheads.
Overnight campers must have an entry point permit.
Inquire at Forest Service offices, or call 1-877-550-6777.
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