Cook County: Trails, Water and Cultural Heritage

The Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway follows a paved road for 57 miles through boreal forest and glacier-formed lakes to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at Saganaga Lake. For a different perspective, take the North Shore Scenic Drive: this 154-mile All-American Road runs along the shore of Lake Superior. You can plan your trip around forest and lake scenery or the shoreline.

Hiking Between Gorges and Rivers

Cook County offers hikes ranging from views of Lake Superior and waterfall experiences to summits, riverside walks and loop trails in the national forest. Hiking is possible year-round. Guided hikes on trails along the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway lead through Superior National Forest, along wild rivers and lakes, and over ridges and rocky cliffs. The Laurentian Divide, a continental divide, also runs across the Gunflint Trail.

On Lake Superior, Temperance River Gorge reveals a different kind of landscape: the river rushes through a fissure in the earth on its way to the lake. Devils Track is accessible from the Gunflint Trail via the Superior Hiking Trail. Devils Track Falls State Wayside can be reached by a two-mile hike each way. These examples combine gorges and waterfalls with different hiking routes, without assuming there is one standard type of route.

At the Kodonce River, a gorge and a riverside trail are also found side by side: Kodonce River Gorge is accessible via a spur of the Superior Hiking Trail. From the riverside rest area, a walk near the mouth of the Kodonce River leads to a stretch of beach on Lake Superior. At Ray Berglund State Wayside, a 0.5-mile unpaved trail runs along cliffs overlooking the Onion River. From the opposite side of U.S. Highway 61 and the Gitchi Gami State Trail, the wayside offers a view of Lake Superior.

Cultural History and Craftsmanship

Grand Portage National Monument is jointly managed with an Indigenous nation. It covers 710 acres in two districts connected by the Grand Portage Trail. Fort Charlotte District has primitive campsites, a canoe landing and a destination for hikers arriving from the lakeshore. During Rendezvous Days at the monument, costumed interpreters recreate life during the 18th-century fur trade. Event dates vary from year to year, so check the current dates before making plans.

Several museums focus on different topics. Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center presents the cultural and natural history of the Gunflint Trail. North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum explores the maritime heritage of the North Shore. Cross River Heritage Center is housed in the only building in Cook County designed in the Tudor architectural style. These places take you from the history of a specific trail to commercial fishing and an architectural distinction.

North House Folk School also offers different ways to explore craft and culture: its program includes family programs, craft demonstrations, workshops and artist residencies; individual offerings vary. On the traditionally rigged schooner Hjørdis, the school offers daily two-hour sailing trips from late May through late September. Since trips are seasonal and date-dependent, check the current schedule before planning.

Winter Trails and Trip Planning

For a cold-season trip, Cook County has more than 400 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Alongside year-round hiking, these offer dedicated winter activities. When planning, you can first decide whether to focus your time on hiking trails, seasonal sailing trips, museums or groomed winter trails.

Discover more destinations: Lutsen, Tofte, Grand Marais, Koochiching, Todd County, Cass County, Rice County, Murray.

For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.