Basics
- Length:
- 57 miles (91 km)
- Time:
- Allow at least two hours because you will have to return to Grand Marais on the same route.
Description
The Gunflint Trail passes through the northeastern corner of Minnesota near the Canadian border. The pastoral landscape of the Superior National Forest is a quiet nature destination where animals outnumber people.
Summer and winter visits offer very different attractions. Many adventurous outdoor opportunities are available to visitors in the summer, including hiking Eagle Mountain or some of the designated trails along the byway, biking the trails, canoeing down the border lakes, or horseback riding through the woods. Or, if relaxation iswhat you are looking for, visitors can look for birds and other wildlife, fish the many surrounding lakes, enjoy a night camping in the Pat Bayle State Forest or just appreciate nature by driving along the byway. Winter provides chances to see more wildlife, such as deer and moose that frequent the byway, along with several different species of birds. The Gunflint Trail area gets a great deal of snow, making cross-country and downhill skiing favorite activities of winter visitors. Other winter activities in the area include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, and ice-fishing.
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Ancient Indian Cave (MN)
North of Gunflint Lake is an ancient Indian cave. The cave is one of the only Indian sites that has been discovered in the area available for visitors to tour.
Directions
The cave is across the Canadian border just north of Gunflint Lake.
Paulsen Mine (MN)
Opened by John Paulson in 1888, the mine was known as “the most promising mine in 1893.” It closed within months due to competition but remains a historical piece of evidence of northeastern Minnesota’s early mining culture.
Directions
The Paulsen Mine is located 45 miles north of the byway entrance at Grand Marias.
