Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway

Grand Marais to Trail’s End / Seagull Lake

Northeastern Minnesota · Minnesota · United States

Key measurements

Distance

56.4 miles

Elevation gain

3,120 ft

Elevation loss

2,295 ft

High point

1,973 ft

Low point

610 ft

Net change

826 ft (620 ft to 1,446 ft)

Surface

Paved

Route type

point-to-point

Route Overview

Departing the harbor town of Grand Marais on the North Shore of Lake Superior, this route trades the maritime climate of the big lake for the deep boreal wilderness of Minnesota’s Arrowhead region. Following Cook County Road 12—nationally designated as the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway—the journey climbs sharply out of the Lake Superior basin, ascending over 1,300 vertical feet into the granitic, lake-dappled interior of the Superior National Forest.

The route runs 56 miles inland, terminating at Trail’s End near Seagull Lake, on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and deep in Minnesota’s Canadian border country. It is a point-to-point ride through ancient glaciated terrain characterized by dense stands of white pine, birch, and aspen, interspersed with exposed Canadian Shield bedrock and wild glacial lakes.

Key Segments & Geographic Transitions

Lake Superior Shoreline Exit — Miles 0.1–0.8

The ride begins along Minnesota State Highway 61 in downtown Grand Marais at an elevation of 610 feet. This brief initial stretch skirts the edge of the harbor before making the decisive inland turn onto Cook County Road 12.

The Highland Climb & Central Gunflint — Miles 0.8–40.6

Turning north, County Road 12 immediately begins a steep, sustained climb up the ridgeline of the Sawtooth Mountains. Within the first few miles, the lake effect recedes and the temperature often shifts noticeably. The road levels out into a two-lane asphalt corridor that winds through rolling, heavily forested terrain. Crossing public forest lands and passing near numerous glacial lakes, this section features sweeping curves, gentle elevation shifts, and long, tree-lined sightlines.

Boundary Waters Approach & High Divide — Miles 41.4–56.4

Reaching its summit near Mile 41.4 at an elevation of 1,973 feet, the route crosses the high interior divide before turning west toward the terminus. Here, the landscape feels increasingly isolated. Glacial rock cuts flank the road, and the surrounding canopy transitions into a colder boreal mix of black spruce, balsam fir, and jack pine. The pavement tracks past remote access points for the BWCAW, dead-ending deep in the borderlands.

Seasonal & Environmental Context

Microclimates vary significantly between the start and end of this route. The first mile in Grand Marais is strongly regulated by Lake Superior, often keeping conditions cool, damp, or foggy well into summer. As you climb inland, temperatures can rise by 10 to 15 degrees in midsummer or drop precipitously during spring and autumn evenings.

Spring arrives late in the Arrowhead; snowpack in the forest understory frequently lingers into May, and early-season pavement can hold residual sand and frost-heave damage. Autumn brings vibrant foliage from mid-September through early October, drawing heavy leaf-viewing traffic. Winter conditions arrive early, often closing down minor access points by November.

Logistics & Services

Grand Marais serves as the primary supply hub for the entire region. Full fuel, food, and cell coverage are available before turning onto the Gunflint Trail.

Once on County Road 12, cell service drops off quickly and is virtually nonexistent for most of the ride. While a few remote lodges and outfitting hubs operate off side roads along the corridor, public gas pumps are rare and far apart. Starting the ascent with a full tank of fuel is essential.

Important Considerations

Large wildlife poses a constant hazard on the Gunflint Trail. Cook County supports a dense population of moose, black bear, and deer, all of which frequently cross or stand along the roadway, particularly near marshy lowlands around dawn and dusk.

Pavement quality is generally good, but northern winters take a toll: remain alert for frost heaves, mid-corner pavement seams, and gravel washed onto the road from unpaved forest service roads and resort driveways.