Northeastern Minnesota's Gunflint Trail, a paved, two-lane road, is 57 scenic miles of corridor through the north woods of Minnesota. It is surrounded by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Superior National Forest. From the village of Grand Marais on Lake Superior's north shore, the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12) winds north and west to Saganaga Lake at the Canadian border.
To make the most of your vacation time, check out the maps below for hiking and cross country skiing before you visit. In the winter, many hiking trails can be used as snowshoe trails, and in the summer, you can hike or mountain bike most of the ski trails.
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | 275 Miles |
| Milwaukee | 500 Miles |
| Chicago | 575 Miles |
| Madison | 435 Miles |
| Des Moines | 510 Miles |
| Kansas City | 700 Miles |
In every season, you will want to take care when driving along the Gunflint Trail - wildlife is abundant in these parts, and it is not uncommon to see deer, moose, fox, bear, and assorted smaller critters crossing the road. In the winter, take your time. Moose often come up to the road to lick the salt, and the sight of a kneeling moose or two in the midst of the Gunflint Trail is a marvelous sight - and perhaps a great photo. The road is plowed and treated for safer winter driving, but a good set of tires is a must, and a full tank of gas is always a good idea. (Although gas, towing, and other emergency services are available.) Block heater plug-ins can be found at most resorts.
We now have a selection of maps and trail descriptions available online. The map you will see along with the trail descriptions is small and without detail, but you will have an opportunity to view a good quality PDF version of each map if you are willing to wait a few minutes while it loads (it prints out beautifully -- screen by screen -- if you would like to have a hard copy right away). When you visit the trail for hiking or skiing, you will be able to get a printed version of any of these maps; for making plans, the ones we offer online here are ideal. Click below to see the map of your choice.
Banadad Ski Trails
Central Gunflint Ski Trails
Upper Gunflint Ski Trails
Pincushion Mtn. Ski Trails
Hiking Trails
Gunflint Trail current snow conditions
800-338-6932 | Information Center: 218-387-3191
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