Twelve must-do hikes in Grand Marais, Minn.

Brule River from Superior Hiking Trail at Judge CR
Magney State Park. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

Fantastic vistas of Lake Superior, multiple waterfalls, and Minnesota’s highest point all await day hikers on trails in or near Grand Marais, Minn.

Located on Minnesota’s famed North Shore, the small city is distant yet well worth the trip. To reach Grand Marais or the two state parks nearby, travelers should take State Hwy. 61 north from Duluth, Minn. The drive itself with its sweeping views of Lake Superior will be impressive and set the right mood for discovering all that Grand Marais has the offer.

Among the many great day hikes in the Grand Marais area are:
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Little Devil Track River area) segments – Walk 2.1 miles (4.2-miles round trip) northwest to Blueberry Lake’s shores or go southeast about 0.45 miles (0.9-miles round trip) over the Little Devil Track to the Superior Hiking Trail intersection. Park in the pullouts at the intersection of County Road 6 and Forest Road 1367 in the Superior National Forest.
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Grand Marais city) segments – Walk southwest 0.45 miles (0.9-miles round trip) to the Gunflint Trail or head northeast for the same distance to the trail’s second stream crossing in Superior National Forest. Park on the turnaround at the end of Cedar Grove Drive, north of the Cedar Grove Drive intersection in town.
g Eagle Mountain Trail – Day hikers can ascend to the highest point in Minnesota via the rugged but incredibly scenic Eagle Mountain Trail in Superior National Forest.. The 7-mile (round trip) out-and-back trail is lengthy and can be steep at spots, and parts of it also are rocky; still, if the challenge isn’t rewarding enough, the views at the top certainly are. The trailhead is at the junction of Forest Road 158 (aka Bally Creek Road) and Forest Road 170 (formerly named Forest Road 153 and aka as The Grade).
g Gitchi-Gami State Trail (Grand Marais Segment) – Park in downtown Grand Marais near the trailhead off of Minn. Hwy. 61 near Eighth Avenue. Head south/west until the trail runs out for a 3-mile round trip.
g Grand Marais Corridor Trail – An urban hike, the 1-mile (one-way) paved bike trail heads through downtown Grand Marias. It does connect with the Grand Marais segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, however, and so can be extended by 1.5 miles (one-way).
g Lake Trail – Off Cascade River State Park’s shores, the glacial lake the Ojibwe called gichigami – “the great sea” – stretches for 31,700 square miles. The trail runs 1.2 miles (2.4-miles round trip) along Lake Superior’s rocky beaches and white cedar trees.
g Lookout Mountain Trail – After Labor Day, the park’s birch leaves turn gold, making for an impressive site against the green spruce and fir. The 3.5-mile loop takes you through the forest to an overlook 600 feet above the shoreline, offering a view of the Sawtooth Mountain Range and of blue Lake Superior in the distance.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Cascade Falls – The Cascade River drops over two waterfalls as it rambles through a fern-laden gorge of 1.1 billion-year-old volcanic rock. A segment of Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail heads about 0.85 miles round trip to Cascade Falls and the Cascades, a set of small drops just above it.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Devil’s Kettle – About a mile from Lake Superior, volcanic rock splits the Brule River in a formation known as the Devil’s Kettle. One side of the divided river drops 50 feet while the other half rushes into a pothole. A 2-mile round trip segment of the Superior Hiking Trail, in Minnesota’s Judge CR Magney State Park, crosses the Brule and heads alongside it to Upper Falls and then the Devil’s Kettle.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek – Brook and rainbow trout are abundant in the Brule River and Gauthier Creek of Judge CR Magney State Park. You’re certain to see anglers landing one on either waterway. You can reach Gauthier Creek from the parking lot by taking a segment of the north to the stream for a round trip of about 2 miles.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek loop – Moose, black bear, timber wolf, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, woodchuck, red squirrel, chipmunk, warblers, chickadees, jays, nuthatches, and woodpeckers all reside in Judge CR Magney State Park. To improve your chances of a sighting, go deeper into the park; that can be done via the same Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek, except extend the walk about two miles (4-miles total round trip) by crossing the stream and doing the loop on its north side.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Lake Superior – Containing 2,903 cubic miles of water, the world’s largest freshwater lake stretches across Judge CR Magney State Park’s eastern and southern horizon. For a grand view, from the campground parking lot take a segment of the Superior Hiking Trail south along the Brule River to just above its confluence with Lake Superior. The hike is about 1-mile round trip.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Trail heads to Minnesota’s highest point

View from just below Eagle Mountain's summit. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Eagle Mountain
rises to 2301 feet

Day hikers can ascend to the highest point in Minnesota via the rugged but incredibly scenic Eagle Mountain Trail.

The 7-mile (round trip) out-and-back trail is lengthy and steep at spots. Parts of it also are rocky. Still, if the challenge isn’t rewarding enough, the views at the top certainly are.

To reach the trailhead, from Minn. Hwy. 61 in Grand Marais, take County Road 7 west. Turn north onto County Road 48. Continue west onto Forest Road 158 (aka Bally Creek Road). Take this north to the junction with Forest Road 170 (formerly named Forest Road 153 and aka The Grade). A parking area is on the intersection’s north side, with the trail heading north from the lot. As most of the trail is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a permit is required and can be obtained at the trailhead.

The trail heads through a hilly jack pine woods dotted with birch groves. If hiking during late June and early July, the forest floor is lit with colorful wildflowers, including pink moccasins and white three-leaved Solomon’s seal.

Whale Lake
Upon reaching Whale Creek, a spruce bog dominates. Yellow pond lilies usually are in bloom here during late June. Fortunately, wooden plank bridges cross the wetlands.

Leaving the bogs, you’ll catch your first glimpses of Eagle Mountain, which is the highest point on the horizon, and Whale Lake, which is to your right.

About two miles from the trailhead, you’ll come to Whale Lake, which sits on the trail’s right/east. The 21-acre lake sports bluegill, Northern pike, white sucker fish, and yellow perch.

After passing Whale Lake, the route junctions with the Brule Lake Trail. Go left/northwest toward the summit; there is a trail marker at the intersection.

The trail then turns steep as it curves upward. There’s about a 600-foot gain in elevation from the trail marker.

Billion-year-old hills
An excellent panorama of the landscape below sits just below the peak. To the west are Crow, Eagle, Shrike and Zoo lakes; to the north is Misquah Hills and the Brule Lookout Tower west of it. On a clear, dry day, Lake Superior – the lowest point in Minnesota at 600 feet elevation – can be seen 15 miles away to the south.

Surrounding Eagle Mountain is a collection of some of Minnesota’s highest points. The hill to the east is 2220 feet high and one beyond it is 2170 feet. The peak to the west is 2100 feet while the one to the northwest is 2180 feet.

To actually peakbag Minnesota’s highest point, you’ll need to continue up a little further to a rocky clearing. A plaque affixed to a rock lets you know that you’re at Eagle Mountain’s summit of 2301 feet elevation. The rocks making up Eagle Mountain and the surrounding hills were formed 1.1 billion years ago and are highly resistant to erosion.

After taking in the views, head back the way you came.

You will need bug repellent in spring through June. Also, don’t confuse this peak with the Eagle Mountain near Lutsen; the mountain at the ski resort is much shorter.

Map

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.