8 Best Things to Do on The Gunflint Trail Minnesota (The Ultimate Guide)

The Gunflint Trail is one of the most untouched wilderness areas in Minnesota. With chances of wolf and moose encounters around every bend, this is one of our favorite places in Minnesota to explore. Not only does the Gunflint Trail have some of the best hikes in Minnesota, but there's endless opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, fishing, and even a chance to see the incredible Northern Lights.

Our Essential Travel Resources :
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For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates.
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Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you!

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To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.

Getting to the Gunflint Trail & Where to Stay

The Gunflint Trail begins in Grand Marais, and ends about 57 miles down the road. This area is one of the best places to explore in Minnesota, and it’s not too crowded yet (looking at you North Shore). If you plan on doing some portaging, we would recommend visiting during warmer, summer months. Whereas if you're looking to have the area to yourself, we recommend visiting in October when it's a bit chilly, but still gorgeous.

The only downside to visiting in the Fall was a majority of lodges and restaurants and cafes were closed for the season, so it’s important to bring your own food if you're staying for more than just one day - otherwise you'll have to drive into Grand Marais each time you want to eat. After spending one week on the Gunflint Trail, we can confidently say the best place to stay is with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Their cabins are so cozy and they have direct hiking, fishing, and canoeing access. In the summer months, they do guided canoeing trips as well.

Before you keep reading, let’s talk permits. Some hikes and lakes on the Gunflint Trail require you to have a permit before you head out. This is why we highly recommend going through an outfitter like Voyageur Canoe Outfitters - they’ll be able to answer all the questions you have about permits and where to get them. The only areas we've included on our list are places that did not require a permit for use, but it’s always important to double check since these things can change. The most common permit needed is the self-issued BWCAW day permit that is required for hiking - if required these should be located at the trailhead, all you need to do is fill one out and bring it with you.

​Our Favorite Tours on the North Shore : 
- Two Harbors Kayaking Tour
- North Shore Helicopter Ride
- Paddleboard Day Rental

8 Best Things to Do on the Gunflint

Gunflint High Cliffs

Honeymoon Bluff

Gunflint High Cliffs

Magnetic Rock

1. Hiking
One of the best areas in Minnesota for hiking, but be prepared for lots of rocks and slippery surfaces. We recommend wearing grippy hiking shoes when you’re getting out to explore, and of course any other hiking essentials. Starting with trails closest to Grand Marais, these are some of our favorites : 

• George Washington Memorial Pines : Located 7 miles north of Grand Marais, this 3 mile easy loop brings you through a white and red pine forest with some beautiful wildflowers in the summer months.
• Moose Viewing Trail : Located 22 miles north of Grand Marais, this easy 1 mile loop leads you to a wildlife viewing platform. We didn’t see any wildlife here ourselves, but there’s always a chance!
• Honeymoon Bluff : One of our favorite hikes in Minnesota! This hike is a 1.5 mile loop and although we thought it was pretty easy, the stairs during the first half of the hike designate it as “difficult.” Located about 27 miles north of Grand Marais.
• Gunflint High Cliffs : Located about 44 miles north of Grand Marais, you’ll park in the Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters lot. You can stop in the lodge for directions to the trailhead, which is about a 1.5 mile hike out and back hike to some incredible views overlooking Gunflint Lake and on a clear day you can even see Canada!
• Centennial Loop : This 3.3 mile loop is considered moderate and brings you to the Paulsen Mine. Tyler liked this hike but said it was pretty steep and rocky - but the views were beautiful. Located about 48 miles north of Grand Marais.
• Magnetic Rock Trail : Tyler’s favorite hike during our recent trip up the Gunflint. This 3 mile round trip easy hike brings you to a giant magnetic rock, seriously. We were actually pretty amazed at how big this rock was. We highly recommend bringing a compass too - we didn’t have one with us but were told that the needle will spin in circles once you get close! Located about 48 miles north of Grand Marais.​​​

2. Canoeing
You can’t take a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness without spending at least a few hours out on a canoe. We based our trip at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and were provided with canoe access during our stay. Some of the easiest lakes to visit in this area are :

• Gull Lake : Starting at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, paddles down the Seagull River into Gull Lake.
• Gulf & Romance Lakes : Starting at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, paddle across the river, then hike their trail to Gulf Lake. From here you can paddle across and then portage 10 yards to Romance Lake.
• Silver Falls : Starting at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, take their tow boat service to Hook Island. From there you can paddle to the ranger station and visit Quetico Park for the day!​

3. Fishing
Just like canoeing, a trip to the Gunflint Area isn't exactly complete without some fishing!  You can find all kinds of species in these lakes, just make sure to get your license before you head out.

• Kimball Lake : A 2 mile easy hike at a designated trout lake. Located about 10.9 miles north of Grand Marais on the Gunflint Trail this hike goes around the entire lake with dozens of fishing spots along the shoreline.
• Saganaga Lake : This is one of the only lakes in the area that allows motors (up to 25 horsepower) and is known for having Walleye, Lake Trout, Northerns and Smallmouth Bass. It is a pretty large lake, so we recommend asking your outfitter or guide where the best spot to go would be. Located at the end of the Gunfling about 57 miles north of Grand Marais.
• Gulf & Romance Lakes : Located about 56 miles north of Grand Marais, this adventure begins at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters! Paddle across the river then follow their trail to Gulf Lake and fish for northern! From here you can also portage 10 yards to Romance Lake for Northerns and Smallmouth Bass.
• Seagull Lake : Also located about 56 miles north of Grand Marais, this larger lake has Walleye, Northerns, Lake Trout, and Smallmouth Bass.

​4. Snowmobiling
​Did you know there are about 700 miles of snowmobiling through the Superior National Forest? Us either. Snowmobiles are permitted to travel on any snowmobile trail or service roads that haven’t been snowplowed or closed. They can also go off trails and roads as long as the area isn’t restricted or closed, you'll just have to wait until there's enough snow.

5. Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing
Did you know there are over 200 kilometers of groomed trails? Again, us either. The Gunflint area also gets over 100 inches of annual snowfall, making it the perfect spot for some winter activities like snowshoeing and cross country skiing!

6. Dogsledding & Sleigh Rides
We always thought dog sledding was a thing only in Alaska, but turns out you can enjoy this activity right here in Minnesota! Voyageur Canoe Outfitters can arrange a day trip, half day trip, or even a chance for you to learn how to mush your own team of dogs. Looking for something a little calmer? Have them arrange an old fashioned sleigh ride and hot chocolate by a warm fire.

7. Northern Lights
The BWCAW and Gunflint Trail areas are the best in Minnesota for Northern Lights viewing. Head out on a clear night and check the Aurora Alerts App for the KP index - the higher the better. Our favorite spot to head out to watch is the Trails End Campground at the very end of the Gunflint Trail, make sure to check out our best tips for viewing the Northern Lights!

8. Wildlife Watching
While exploring the Gunflint Trail make sure to keep your eyes out for wildlife. During our visit we saw 4 moose and a wolf - but you also have the chance to see deer, black bears, lynx, fox, loons, owls, eagles, beavers, and river otters! It's important to keep your distance from wildlife and never approach.

Watch our Gunflint Adventures here : 

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Other Minnesota Blog Posts :
-> 9 Best Winter Things to Do in Duluth
-> 9 Best Things to Do in Nisswa
-> 9 Best Things to Do in Ely

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