Grand Portage National Monument is jointly managed with an Indigenous nation. It covers 710 acres and consists of two districts connected by the Grand Portage Trail. This means the focus is not just a single site, but a historic corridor with a range of visitor experiences.
History and Experiences at Grand Portage
The western district, Fort Charlotte, has primitive campsites and a landing for canoeists. It is also a destination for hikers coming from the lakeshore. Camping, arriving by water and hiking from the shore offer different perspectives on the site. During Rendezvous Days, costumed interpreters recreate life in the 18th-century fur-trading era. Event dates vary from year to year; check them before making plans.
Culture, Craft and Maritime History
North House Folk School combines traditional crafts with offerings for a range of interests. Its program includes family programs, craft demonstrations, workshops and artist residencies; individual offerings may vary. The school also offers daily two-hour sailing trips aboard the traditionally rigged schooner Hjørdis from late May through late September. Check the current schedule before your visit.
Museums also offer distinct perspectives. Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center presents the cultural and natural history of the Gunflint Trail. Cross River Heritage Center is located in the only building in Cook County with Tudor-style architecture. North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum explores the maritime heritage of the North Shore. Together, these places cover topics ranging from regional cultural history and architecture to the history of fishing.
Gorges, Rivers and Trails
The landscape is also defined by its gorges: the river rushes through Temperance River Gorge, a fissure in the earth, on its way to Lake Superior. A two-mile, one-way hike leads to Devils Track Falls State Wayside. Devils Track is accessible from the Gunflint Trail via the Superior Hiking Trail. Kodonce River Gorge can be reached via a spur off the Superior Hiking Trail. At Kodonce River, a walk from the rest area follows the river mouth to a stretch of beach on Lake Superior.
At Ray Berglund State Wayside, an unpaved, 0.5-mile trail runs along cliffs overlooking the Onion River. Another viewpoint offers a view of Lake Superior from the opposite side of U.S. Highway 61 and the Gitchi Gami State Trail. The distances help put the scale of the routes in perspective: here, the 0.5-mile trail is contrasted with a two-mile, one-way hike to Devils Track Falls State Wayside.
Forest and Coastal Routes
The Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway is a 57-mile paved road through boreal forest and glacially formed lakes to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at Saganaga Lake. The North Shore Scenic Drive runs for 154 miles along the shore of Lake Superior and is Minnesota’s only designated All-American Road. The two routes offer different highlights: the Gunflint Trail passes through forest and lake landscapes, while the Scenic Drive follows the coast.
Hiking in Every Season
Hiking is possible year-round in Cook County. The landscapes and experiences described include views of Lake Superior, waterfalls, peaks, river hikes and loop trails in the national forest. Guided hikes on the trails along the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway pass through Superior National Forest, along wild rivers and lakes, and over ridges and rocky cliffs.
In winter, more than 400 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails add to the options. Local groups and the U.S. Forest Service maintain these trails. The activities vary as much as the landscapes, from hikes and guided tours to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Discover more destinations: Lutsen, Tofte, Grand Marais, Carlton County, Clay County, Todd County, Rock, Polk County.
For the main travel overview: Minnesota.
