Hiking

Go for a walk in the woods…
Breathing in (and appreciating) our fresh, crisp air is the #1 activity in Grand Marais – everyone does it. Hiking is #2 – it incorporates #1 and leads directly to #3 – eating a great meal. Some hike, in segments, the 200-mile Superior Hiking Trail that follows the Lake Superior Shore from Two Harbors to Canada, every time they visit. In fact, Backpacker Magazine has named this trail one of the nation’s “10 prime trails that leave all others in the dust”. Some choose from the thirty or so designated hiking trails in the area. The decision can be tough! How far to go? Will it be a pleasant walk in the woods, a more difficult climb for amazing vistas? Take a picnic lunch, a fishing pole, a sketching notebook, binoculars? Request our Hiking Trails brochure for lots of detailed information, and you’ll be on your way, solo, with a companion, or with family members that span generations.

Just to get you thinking…let’s consider some options right along Highway 61, the North Shore Scenic Drive. Eight miles south of Schroeder, the wayside rest is the access to a pleasant walk along the Caribou River that leads to Caribou Falls. Round trip is 1.5 miles, unless you choose to continue along the Superior Hiking Trail. The Ray Berglund Wayside Rest gives you an opportunity to stretch legs (.5 mile roundtrip along the scenic Onion River), or you might opt for one of the loops at the beautiful Cascade River State Park – the perfect choice for waterfall fans. The Kadunce River Trail (1.5 miles round trip) is nine miles east of Grand Marais. This is one for the fishing pole, or for connecting to the Superior Hiking Trail for more exercise. The Devil’s Kettle Trail at Judge C.R. Magney State Park, 14 miles east of town, follows the Brule River. There are vistas of waterfalls and rapids, lots of stairways, and the 50-foot waterfall right at Devil’s Kettle mysteriously disappears into a hole in the basalt bedrock. Finally. still on the scenic drive at the Canadian border (40 miles from Grand Marais), explore Grand Portage State Park. The first portion is handicapped accessible and leads to the High Falls, the 120-foot waterfall we share with Canada. The Middle Falls Trail takes you over ridge tops, through heavily wooded forest, and along the river bank. The terrain is semi-mountainous, and the views of the river gorge and Lake Superior are breathtaking. Ready to go?

Biking

How about a great ride?
Bikers have over 2,000 miles of trails to explore, along Lake Superior, within the Sawtooth Mountain Range and the Superior National Forest. Although biking is not allowed within BWCAW, many of the Forest Service roads and old logging roads are fair game. Pick your surface and test your mettle! Some of the more difficult routes begin with steep ascents to reach mountain ridges, but easier routes on gravel roads and hard surface trails are plentiful. Either way, you’ll wind through forest, pass by lakes and streams, and perhaps ride by moose. Plan a day trip, for the weekend or even several days; the folks at Superior North Outdoor Center in Grand Marais will help you with routes, equipment, meals and lodging.

The Gitchi-Gami State Trail is being developed in sections, and already segments at Split Rock River, Temperance River State Park and Silver Creek Cliff are in use. One Grand Marais portion is complete, beginning at Co. Rd. 13, about two miles west of town. The Gitchi-Gami Trail is a great option for families to bike together, and the vistas of Lake Superior are stunning. When the whole trail is complete, it will connect five state parks, four scientific natural areas, many historic sites and several communities. You can track the progress of the trail at www.ggta.org and start a new tradition for your North Shore visits.

For additional information, call the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association:
1-888-922-5000 or 218-387-2524