Today, the Gunflint Trail in Minnesota is a 57-mile paved road, but its name reaches much further back.
A gunflint is a small piece of flint or similar stone used to create the spark that ignites gunpowder in a flintlock firearm. The area got its name from the flint, or chert, that French traders gathered for that purpose. Local lore holds that an Ojibwe footpath connected the Gunflint Lake area with Grand Marais by 1800. Beginning in the late 1800s, portions of that route were developed into a wagon road. The entire Gunflint Trail wasn’t paved until 1979.
Prepare before leaving Grand Marais
Resorts, outfitters, campgrounds and places to eat are scattered along the road. You can buy gas at Trail Center, roughly halfway up. But services thin as you go, and hours can be seasonal. Cell service comes and goes, but mostly goes. Fill your tank in Grand Marais and download your maps before leaving. Don’t count on Google Maps loading when you need it. Bring water, snacks and an extra layer, even if you’re only planning to be gone for the afternoon.
Weather deserves respect in every season. Storms can arrive quickly. Spring roads and trails may be wet and muddy. In winter, temperatures can be much colder inland than they are beside Lake Superior. Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
Take your time on the Gunflint Trail
The Gunflint Trail is not a road to hurry. Along the way, the Guardians of the Gunflint, a stand of old-growth white pines, rise on either side. The road climbs away from Lake Superior, up and over the Laurentian Divide, curling past rock outcrops, dark spruce bogs and glimpses of water through the trees. The road narrows and bends, sometimes sharply, and the weather inland may bear little resemblance to what you left behind in Grand Marais.
Moose, wolves, white-tailed deer, black bears, foxes, bobcats and the occasional Canada lynx all roam this country, though most will see you before you see them. Keep your speed down and your eyes up, especially around dawn and dusk. A moose can step out of the alders with remarkably little warning. If you encounter one, stay back and never crowd it for a photograph. They are very large animals with no obligation to behave.
Know where you’re going before heading out
Remember, too, that the Gunflint is not one big park. It is a working community and home to year-round residents, seasonal cabin owners, outfitters and resort guests. Public land sits alongside private property. Pay attention to signs, park only in designated areas and don’t assume every path is public.
If you plan to hike, paddle or camp, learn the rules for your chosen destination before setting out. A short walk to an overlook is very different from entering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where a permit is required year-round and wilderness regulations apply. An outfitter can be an invaluable source of current information about routes, conditions and equipment.
Finally, leave room in your plans for the unexpected. Stop at an overlook. Walk down to a lake. Listen for loons. Stand quietly beneath the pines and breathe.
Though the Guardians stand like a threshold, the Gunflint Trail reveals itself mile by mile. Somewhere along the way, without quite noticing when, you stop driving toward wilderness and realize you are in it.
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