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 BWCAW Wilderness FACTS Wildlife Viewing/Birding Scenic Touring Seasons Outfitters Links 
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 Scenic TouringTouring the greater Grand Marais area can be done many ways. Nothing wrong with sitting in the comfort of your car in the fall, when just about every road is a scenic drive. Look to the ridgelines for the sensational maples, blazing red and orange, in September. Along the Lake Superior shore and in the forest, the birch, tamarack and evergreens provide a rich palette of golds and greens into October. One especially popular route starts at County Road 4 (Caribou Trail), just off Hwy 61 north of Lutsen. Pass Caribou Lake, go left on Forest Road 164 (Honeymoon Trail), left again on County Road 2 (Sawbill Trail) and return to Highway 61. Other routes begin on County Road 7 or up the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, or up the Arrowhead Trail in Hovland. Just request the Fall Color Drives brochure, and you’ll have a glorious fall. A trip up the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12, paved, about 58 miles) is rewarding year-round. The Trail is a Minnesota Scenic Byway, and it’s the inland route from Grand Marais that takes you to the lakes bordering Canada. You’ll pass by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as you travel through the Superior National Forest, with several opportunities to stretch you legs on a hiking trail. Travel at dusk, and you may spot a moose. If you continue your drive northeast on Highway 61, the North Shore Scenic Drive, the view becomes more spectacular as you approach the Canadian border. (It’s just 40 miles to the border, and the drive is perfect for a morning or afternoon.) You will want to stop at Judge Magney State Park to hike and observe the mystery of the waterfall at Devil’s Kettle. The overlook at Mount Josephine provides a stunning panorama of Lake Superior, Isle Royale and the Susie Islands. Some say this is the best section of the entire Lake Superior Circle Tour. Consider scenic touring from the air! “Skydan” Anderson of Anderson Aero departs from the Cook County Airport, just 8 miles from town. He’ll take you past the pounding waves at the shore, over the Sawtooth Mountains, and past several points of interest. It’s a way to capture the beauty and remoteness of Cook County and see many forms of wildlife. In fact, ask about his guaranteed moose ride. 218-370-0645 218-387-1687 
For additional information, call the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association: |