Gunflint Trail - Grand Marais - Minnesota
Gunflint Trail Website Information
Ask a Question Alphabetical Listing FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions: For Frequently Asked Questions about canoeing and canoe trip outfitting, click here. General Gunflint Trail Questions When was the Gunflint Trail built? The original path that has today become the Gunflint Trail was originally an overland footpath used to travel from the inland lakes to the shore of Lake Superior. No one knows precisely when the footpath was established, but we can guess that it was hundreds of years ago, and it was first used by the native Ojibwe who have called this area home for thousands of years. As more people discovered the recreational possibilities (and natural resources) in this area (and as cars became popular and available), the path was widened to a road in stages. An overland road existed from Grand Marais to the eastern end of Rove Lake in the 1870s (Rove Lake Road) where a trading post was located. The road was extended from Hungry Jack Lake to Poplar Lake to Gunflint Lake and the Cross River from approximately 1891-1893. For decades it was a primitive dirt, then gravel road, and it was navigated rather slowly so as not to damage one's car. (Source: Pioneers in the Wilderness by Willis H. Raff, 1981, Cook County Historical Society) Today it is a paved, 57-mile road that is well maintained throughout the year. The speed limit is 50 miles per hour, and it is best to stick to (or below) this speed limit as the possibilities for seeing (or bumping into) wildlife are numerous and frequent. Can we get to Canada from the Gunflint Trail? While the Gunflint Trail is very near the Canadian border (some of the lakes along the Gunflint Trail are partially in the U.S. and partially in Canada), driving to Canada is accomplished only via Highway 61; the Canadian border is about 50 miles or so from Grand Marais (where the Gunflint Trail begins). You can, however, boat or canoe into Canada, but you will need a valid Remote Border Crossing Permit. To obtain a Remote Border Crossing Permit, contact the resort at which you will be staying or the outfitter you will be using (well in advance of your trip) for details or click here to do it yourself. Is the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area? The Gunflint Trail itself is not in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), but surrounded by it. Self-issuing day permits are available at trail heads for those who wish to hike, canoe, fish, ski, snowshoe or picnic in the BWCA. (Motorized vehicles and bicycles are not allowed in the wilderness area.) For overnight camping and canoeing trips, you must obtain a permit based upon a specific entry point and route; contact your resort, outfitter, or click here for more information. Is the Gunflint Trail on Lake Superior? The beginning of the Gunflint Trail is in the town of Grand Marais, which is located on the shore of Lake Superior. Once you leave Grand Marais on Country Road 12 (The Gunflint Trail) you will be driving away from Lake Superior, but in the first few miles of your drive up the Trail, you will have some stunning overlooks of Lake Superior and the Grand Marais harbor. How far is the Gunflint Trail from the Twin Cities? From Chicago? From Duluth? The beginning of the Gunflint Trail is 275 miles from the Twin Cities, 110 miles from Duluth, and 575 miles from Chicago. How many people live on the Gunflint Trail year round? About 200 people make their year-round home on the Gunflint Trail. Are there places to get gas and groceries? Yes, there are places to get gas and some groceries and supplies. (Full-service grocery stores, drugstores and gas stations are located in the town of Grand Marais.) There are a couple of locations (Trail Center and Nor'Wester) where gas is available but there are no actual gas stations on the Gunflint Trail. Also, most places on the Gunflint Trail close by 9 or 10:00 p.m., so it's a good idea to fill up before you head up the Trail. What should we bring? Bring the clothing that the season suggests, and plan for a broad swing of temperatures in the spring and fall. It can be hot in the summer and quite cold in the winter, so come prepared. (As we say, there is no bad weather, just bad gear.) If you are taking a canoe trip, your outfitter will have specific recommendations of what to bring. You will want to have a full tank of gas, a spare tire and jack, your groceries (if you are staying in a housekeeping cabin or campground), medicines and personal supplies, skip the cell phone (they don't work up here), and be sure to bring an appetite for great scenery, relaxation, and adventure. (And, of course, bring your camera!) Recreation Questions What is there to do on the Gunflint Trail? Plenty. The best way to find out is by visiting out "What to Do" page; click here and we'll take you there. What is a Remote Border Crossing Permit and how do I get one? A Remote Border Crossing is a permit that allows you to access Canadian waters or shores (via canoe, boat, snowmobile, or on foot). It is issued by Canadian Customs. To obtain one you will need to make an application, provide proof of U.S. citizenship, and file your application 3-4 weeks before you plan to go to visit Canada. Contact the resort at which you will be staying or the outfitter you will be using for details or click here to do it yourself. Where are the ski trails? There are nearly 200 km of groomed, tracked cross-country ski trails along the Gunflint Trail, and the skiing here is legendary. Some trails can be accessed right from your cabin door, depending upon where you are staying. To see a complete set of Gunflint Trail ski trail maps, click here. (Printed pocket versions of these maps are available at the resorts where you can purchase a Gunflint Trail ski pass for a day, weekend, or the season; to see a list of participating resorts and businesses, please click here.) Where are the hiking trails? There are trail heads at many points along the Gunflint Trail. Hiking is one of the most popular activities here, and the trails run the gamut from leisurely and relatively flat walks to challenging hikes that rise quickly in elevation to stunning overlooks. Where are the mountain biking trails? You can mountain bike on most cross-country ski trails, on Forest Service roads, abandoned (grown over) logging roads and railroad beds, and most snowmobile trails. Biking on the Gunflint Trail itself is not specifically prohibited, but it is dangerous and not recommended, due to the large vehicles (large trucks and the occasional RV and trailer) on the road and the fact that people are not used to seeing bikers on the Trail. The trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) are also off limits to bicycles. Can I mountain bike in the BWCA? No. Both motorized vehicles and non-motorized vehicles or conveyances with wheels are prohibited in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Can I hike in the BWCA? Sure. All you need to do is to fill out a (free) self-issuing day permit at any of the trailheads that offer access to the BWCA. Some information will be found on our hiking map, or ask your resort host or outfitter for more information. When do the fall color peak? There are sort of two seasons for color. The moose maple in the forest understory and the mature maple trees will take on their brilliant color early in the fall (around the first part of September). In the latter part of September, the birch, aspen and tamarack trees turn various shades of gold and, against the greens of the resident conifers, make quite a scene. Here's a tip: come midweek if you can during the color season: accommodations are easier to find than on weekends (and more modestly priced, too), and you'll have the place to yourself as you hike, bike, canoe, or drive through this spectacular season on the Gunflint Trail. FAST FACTS State: Minnesota Region: Northeastern Minnesota Nearest Town: Grand Marais, Minnesota Location: County Road 12 (begins in the town of Grand Marais, MN and winds north and west in a corridor between the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and the Superior national Forest County: Cook Surface: Paved, two-lane road Designation: The Gunflint Trail is a Minnesota Scenic Byway Distance from Twin Cities: approximately 260 miles |
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© 2007 Gunflint Trail Association
Information Center 1.218.387.3191
Contact us by email
info@gunflint-trail.com
© 2007 Gunflint Trail Association