Grand Marais, Minnesota is one of the best hidden trail towns in America, with access to not one but three thru- hiking trails! Grand Maras is also close to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a ferry out to Isle Royale National Park, and of course, right on the Lake Superior waterfront.

Sometimes nicknamed “little Norway”, both for the actual Scandinavian influence and the aesthetic of a sleepy harbor town at the foothills of the mountains (well, rolling hills anyway), Grand Marais, Minnesota is easily one of the best locations for outdoor lovers to visit!

An Outdoor Lover’s Guide to Grand Marais, Minnesota

I’ve been lucky enough to live in Grand Marais for a year and a half, and I absolutely loved it! Grand Marais is a place I’ve called home, and all of my recommendations will include ways to most responsibly recreate. Keep in mind that Grand Marais is subject to a large influx of tourists in the summer. Book lodgings well in advance, and be extra respectful to service industry workers, who are likely to be working long hours in the summer season to meet high tourist demand.

Looking for detailed North Shore travel planning tips, road trip routes, the best camp spots, hiking trails, waterfalls, sea caves, and more? Check out the Exploring the North Shore eBook and Interactive Map!

Important Grand Marais Information for Tourists!

Grand Marais has a huge housing shortage! This means that everyone is generally understaffed. I encourage looking into staying at campgrounds and local lodges, and avoiding Airbnbs within city limits, as these contribute to the severe housing shortage. The housing shortage has contributed to not only a shortage of service industry workers in town, but also essential workers like teaching aids, Forest Service workers, and EMTs. This makes it extra important to recreate responsibly as the community may not have the resources to support the quantity of tourists!

This isn’t at all to say don’t come to Grand Marais! But come with patience for staff and locals, tip well, be patient with crowds, and practice Leave No Trace (more on this later!).

Note that Grand Marais is the nearest true town to the entirety of the Gunflint Trail, and for much of the entire county. Many of these trails and activities are still an hour’s drive from Grand Marais the town. You will not have dependable cell service throughout Cook County. In a backcountry emergency, it may be several hours or more before help can arrive. Plan accordingly. Take appropriate safety precautions.

Where to stay in Grand Marais, Minnesota

When visiting Grand Marais, Minnesota, State Forest Campgrounds are the cheapest option.

Throughout the summer and fall, State Park Campground reservations are likely to fill several weeks in advance, and many hotels and Airbnbs book up months in advance. Consider staying at Hungry Hippie Hostel, Hungry Jack Lodge, Clearwater Lodge, or any of the small locally owned lodges, motels, and hotels rather than Airbnbs in town, many of which (not all!) are not locally owned and are investment properties. If you prefer Airbnbs, do your research and choose locally-run Airbnbs, or Airbnbs that are clearly not bought up and flipped residential homes such as cabins, lofts, glamping tents, or tree houses.

Top Five Places to Camp in Grand Marais

Here are my top five under-the-radar camping recommendations for Grand Marais, Minnesota:

1. Grand Marais Municipal Campground: Both reservable and drop in sites. Waterfront and walking distance from downtown. Showers and RV hookups available. Nightly, weekly and monthly rates. Hiking Trail access on property. Two separate beaches. Lighthouse view, sunrise location. Slightly expensive for campsites, likely to be crowded.
2. Hungry Hippie Hostel: Glamping location with Lake Superior view, and showers. Plus friendly dogs. Both indoor hostel options and campground options. Likely to fill early. Three glamping sites, 7 tent camp (bring your own tent) sites (non reservable, walk-in only).
3. Iron Lake Campground: Located near the end of the Gunflint Trail, beautiful scenery, BWCA like experience with BWCA access. Reserve in advance online. Two walk-in sites available (often fill early). Quiet getaway, chance to see moose.
4. Sites within the Superior National Forest: Camping at certain sites within the Superior National Forest is totally free and non-reservable! I will not be sharing precise coordinates or links to prevent overcrowding to any specific sites, especially as these sites are only for 1-2 tents, BUT you can find these sites on your own via MacKenzie or Fischer Maps. I also include free camping recommendations in the PDF hiking downloads for paying blog subscribers.
5. Flour Lake Campground: A combination of both reservable and non-reservable, located mid-way up the Gunflint Trail. Here you may be able to find last minute camping. Especially peaceful in the shoulder season.

You’re in bear country! Store all food an smellable in a bear proof container overnight.

Where to eat in Grand Marais, Minnesota

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Lucky for morning people, Grand Marais has several adorable little breakfast nooks. Cascade Lodge Restaurant is the perfect place for a chorizo sandwich and a morning hike. Blue Water Cafe in town is right on the Harbor and has a classic, Lake Superior diner feel. South of the Border Cafe has cheap, good food and all of the positive vibes of a diner straight out of an 80s movie (cash only). For a morning adventure, hop in the car and cruise the Gunflint Trail up to Trail Center Lodge for a hearty breakfast in the woods.

For coffee and a quick bite, visit Java Moose.

For lunch and/or dinner, visit Angry Trout Cafe for a nice sit down meal with vegetarian options. If you love unique burgers, head over to My Sister’s Place. The Fisherman’s Daughter has the best fish and chips in town (and the best bang for your buck on meals), and Popular Haus up the Gunflint Trail has the best cocktails and overall menu.

Where to Hike in Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais and the entirety of the North Shore has INCREDIBLE hiking trails for all skill levels! The Superior Hiking Trail runs 300 miles from Duluth, along the shore, up to Grand Portage, with several day hiking access points near Grand Marais. State Parks like Cascade River and Judge CR Magney offer family-friendly and well maintained paths out to impressive waterfalls, and the remote Border Route Trail through the Boundary Waters offers a challenge for experienced backpackers.

For a list of Grand Marais day hikes, click here. For a list of Gunflint Trail day hikes, click here.

Looking for even more of a challenge? The Kekekabic Trail (“the Kek”) runs from near the end of the Gunflint Trail out towards Ely, MN and makes for the perfect off the beaten path through hike.

A detailed, 24-page PDF download of hiking trails on the North Shore is available here, including overnight camping routes and recommendations.

Please pick up all trash on the trail, never leave toilet paper on trail, stay on trail rather than bushwhack through the woods. Never feed wildlife, and generally follow the principles of Leave No Trace when recreating outdoors (check out this handy graphic!)

Where to Canoe in Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais, Minnesota has the Boundary Waters, a world-class canoe destination, right in its backyard! A permit is required for all overnight trips and day trips into the Boundary Waters from May 1st – September 30th. Permits help reduce strain on high-visitation areas, and help fund macitence and restoration projects.

For guided, beginner-friendly over night canoe trips and day trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, check out Border Lakes Tour Company.

Great day canoe/kayak options in the BWCA include Clearwater Lake (permit required) with cliffs and islands, Brule Lake (permit required), and McFarland Lake to Pine Lake (permit required if eating the BWCA). Day permits are self issue at the entry point. There is no cell service in the BWCA. If parking is not available at your chosen entry point, choose an alternate route rather than park in the road.

For more alternates to the BWCA that don’t require a permit, look to the hundreds of lakes in the Superior National Forest! Recommendations for day paddling near Grand Marais include Two Island Lake, Caribou Lake, and Crescent Lake.

*note: open top canoes and recreational kayaks are not suitable for use on Lake Superior.

Where to Kayak in Grand Marais, Minnesota

While canoes are most popular in the BWCA, kayaks are also suitable for day trip routes that don’t involve portaging! Clearwater Lake, Saganaga Lake, and Brule Lake are all excellent for kayakers.

Still, the best kayaking is found right in town on Lake Superior! Lake Superior is not a beginner kayaking trip, and should not be paddled with out a sea kayak, wetsuit, VHF, ACA Coastal Kayaking certifications/training and/or an experienced guide. NO OUTFITTERS in the area will rent kayaks or canoes for use on Lake Superior. People die kayaking on Lake Superior every year.

If you’re going to completely disregard this warning* wear your life jacket, tell someone where you’re going, bring a whistle, and only paddle with in swimming distance of a safe place to land.

*please don’t, I’ve guided on Lake Superior for three years and seen some pretty scary situations.

Coastal Kayaking near Grand Marais

Launch from East Bay in downtown Grand Marais. Paddle around Artist’s Point and head southwest toward Fall River for a paddle featuring a waterfall at Fall River, then paddle back to Grand Marais (6 miles round trip). Continue south for more small falls and eventually reach Cutface Creek wayside. Cutface Creek is either a good lunch spot, or a good spot to pull out and wait for someone to shuttle you back to Grand Marais. Paddling from Grand Marais to Cutface Creek is about 10 miles roundtrip, five miles one way.

Alternately, launch from Cutface Creek and head southwest towards Butterwort Cliffs Scientific and Natural Area for a paddle featuring one sea arch, cliffs, a small seasonal waterfall, and one sea cave. There is no emergency landing on this paddle.

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Other, arguably more impressive routes are father south. Tettegouche State Park offers excellent coastal paddling, A 10-mile advanced costal paddle to Manitou Falls is also bucket-list worthy.

Best Sunrise Locations in Grand Marais

Grand Marais is known for it’s beautiful winter sunrises, and lovely east facing overlooks! For the best year round sunrise in Grand Marais, visit Artist’s Point right downtown. Throughout most of the year, the sun rises over Lake Superior from this vantage point.

Other excellent sunrise overlooks include Pincushion Mountain Overlook, Bearskin Lake Overlook, Mount Rose Overlook, and Wayswaugoing Bay Overlook.

Best Sunset Locations in Grand Marais

In the winter, the sun both rises and sets over the Lake in Grand Marais. In the summer, the sun sets much farther to the Northwest. For best sunset views, you’ll have to head inland.

Oberg Mountain Trailhead is nearly unhikable in the fall due to the crowds (think 150 cars lined out of a 20 car parking lot), but it’s the perfect location for a summer sunset! Throughout June and July, the sun sinks low right behind that beautiful circle of a Lake.

If you’re up for a little drive, Fantasia Overlook on the Superior Hiking Trail makes for an excellent sunset spot, but bring headlamps and allow plenty of time to climb up. For reference, with trekking poles and in decent shape it takes me about an hour and a half to reach the top, but only about thirty minutes to come back down!

Head up the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake for a classic BWCA sunset.

For detailed, PDF downloads of hiking guides for the Gunflint Trail and the North Shore, AND a download of Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes, a full length book and outdoor guide to the Upper Midwest, become a paying subscriber of Hello Stranger. Paying subscribers help fund free trail guides like the one you’re reading right now, and make it possible for me to work as an indie writer!

What to do in Downtown Grand Marais

Time to take a break from the trails? Head to North House Folk school to learn a little more about Grand Marais culture & traditions. Visit Dappled Fern Fibers to support a local yarn shop, or head into Drury Lane bookstore take a little bit of Grand Marais lore home with you.

Looking for an outdoor activity that doesn’t involve hiking? Head to Sisu and Löyly Nordic Sauna to sauna right on Lake Superior in downtown Grand Marais.

Visiting Isle Royale National Park from Grand Marais

Isle Royale National Park is a remote island 18 miles offshore from the nearest land. This remote national park is commonly sited as one of the least visited national parks, but most revisited. It’s a destination for backpackers, wildlife enthusiasts, canoe campers, and sea kayakers.

From Grand Marais, access is available via floatplane. From Grand Portage just a half hour or so north, access to the island is available via ferry (bring a ginger ale).

For more basic information on travel to Isle Royale, click here. For detailed trip advice and route planning, check out my book Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes: A Hiking and Paddling Guide available in print or as a download bonus for paying subscribers of Hello Stranger.

What to do in the Winter in Grand Marais

Grand Marais sees most of its visitors in the summer, but did you know the town is just as magical in the winter? Winter activities in Grand Marais include cross country skiing, frozen river hikes, backcountry skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, sunrise chasing, skijoring, winter camping, watching dogsled races, and more!

While the rest of the world hunkers down for the winter, Grand Marais is the perfect place to stay active and outside. For a winter adventure list for Grand Marais, click here.

Grand Marais Artists to Support!

Love Grand Marais and looking for a souvenir or meaningful gift? Here are some wonderful local artists to support!

• Hannah Palma Ceramics – Hannah makes beautiful ceramic plates, bowls, mugs, and more featuring Lake Superior. @hannahpalmaceramics

• North Woven Goods– Emily weaves wall hangings, coasters, placemats, and other fine art pieces inspired by Northern Minnesota. @emily_wick_

• North Road Knits– Jamie knits and designs chunky hats, headbands, and cowls. @northroadknits

• Katie Mumm Photography– Katie is a wildlife photographer with fine art prints available. @kemofthenorth

• Laura Muus Photography– Laura is a wedding and lifestyle photographer in Grand Marais. @laura.muus

• Up North Fiber Co– Liz creates naturally dyed yarn and is a fiber artist in Grand Marais. @upnorthfiberco
• If you know a local Grand Marais artist who should be added to this list, please email me to let me know!

Supporting local artists is the perfect way commemorate your trip and support the community!

Consider donating to the Grand Marais Food Shelf, Violence Prevention Center, or Friends of the Boundary Waters.

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