Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Area Status: Open

Welcome to the Gunflint Ranger District! This area is the most Northeastern portion of the Forest, stretching from near Lake Superior all the way to the Canandian Border. The district office is located right in the town of Grand Marais. Follow the Gunflint trail which is a designated National Scenic Byway to one of the many opportunities this district offers.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Office hours and information
Closest Towns:	Grand Marais
Information Center:	Gunflint Ranger District Email \| Call \| Address

General Information

Directions:

The Gunflint Ranger District Office is located on MN Hwy 61, just southwest of Grand Marais. It is approximately 110 miles, or two and a quarter hours, from Duluth.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Areas for Campground Camping at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

RV Camping

Areas for RV Camping at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Dispersed Camping

Areas for Dispersed Camping at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Cabin Rentals

Areas for Cabin Rentals at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

East Bearskin Lake Campground

Lake and Pond Fishing

Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Ice Fishing

Areas for Ice Fishing at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Day Hiking

Areas for Day Hiking at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Backpacking

Small Game Hunting

Areas for Small Game Hunting at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Game Bird/Waterfowl

Areas for Game Bird/Waterfowl at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Viewing Wildlife

Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Moose Viewing Trail

Viewing Scenery

Areas for Viewing Scenery at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Visitor Programs

Naturalist programs are offered at a variety of resorts and campgrounds along the North Shore through the Resort Naturalist Program. This program is cooperatively funded by the USDA Forest Service and Visit Cook County. All naturalist programs are free of charge and open to everyone. Activities including hikes and campfires are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday every week during the summer.

For a complete schedule of programs and locations, click here.

An additional programs titled Becoming a Boundary Waters Family is presented at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center each week on Tuesday at 2 pm. The topic of this program changes weekly. Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is operated in cooperation with the Gunflint Trail Historical Society and the USDA Forest Service.

Visitor Centers

While the Gunflint Ranger District office is not a Visitor Center, there are some interpretive displays and staff is on hand to supply information, issue BWCAW permits, and otherwise answer visitor questions.

Picnicking

Areas for Picnicking at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Pincushion Mountain Trails

Rockhounding

Areas for Rockhounding at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Scenic Driving

Areas for Scenic Driving at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway

Boating - Motorized

Areas for Boating - Motorized at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Boating - Non-Motorized

Areas for Boating - Non-Motorized at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Swimming

Areas for Swimming at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

Mushing/Skijoring

Dog sledding and skijoring (cross country skiing behind a dog) are both popular in the north country. The Gunflint Ranger District hosts the northern turn around point of the annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

Areas for Mushing/Skijoring at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

There are many locations for cross country skiing on the Gunflint Ranger District. As for snowshoeing, almost anywhere there is snow is good for snowshoes! Be aware though that there are some areas that are off limits for snowshoers such as many of the ski trails and snowmobile trails.

Areas for XC Skiing/Snowshoeing at Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais MN)