Summer on the Gunflint Trail

     There aren’t too many places I’d rather be than on the Gunflint Trail.  Summer is a magical time on the Trail when every evening I can look outside my window and see the stars shining brightly in the sky, see the fireflies flashing and fall asleep to the sound of loons calling.  I wake up in the morning to the sparkling sun rising and the sound of the sparrow singing.  These are just a few of the reasons the Gunflint Trail is so special and I don’t even have to leave my bedroom to experience it.   

  The recreation opportunities on the Gunflint Trail are endless and it is difficult to decide what to do on each beautiful summer day.  If it were up to Josh then we would go fishing every day; in a boat, from a canoe or just from shore, it doesn’t really matter.  Abby would explore the wilderness waters like an otter swimming from shore to shore.  I would like to hike the many trails, paddle the abundant canoe routes or picnic on a wilderness campsite.  I tend to forget about my bicycle and the many logging roads that beckon to be explored and all of the berries that are waiting to be picked and made into delicious pies or jams.  Relaxing in a hammock or on a deck or dock are luxuries that I rarely take advantage of but are wonderful just the same.  

   Then there are evenings on the Gunflint when you can continue to enjoy the woods or find a great place to eat with family or friends.  A fine meal at Gunflint or Loon Lake Lodge followed by a malt at Trail Center or Gunflint Pines is a perfect way to end the day.  The sunsets are spectacular and can be enjoyed on land or in the company of friends in a boat.

     Summer on the Gunflint Trail is something everyone should experience once in a lifetime.  The woods, the water, the solitude all have a way of touching a person as they make a lasting impression.  It’s something that will stay with you forever and beckon for you to return for another visit and another summer stay on the Gunflint Trail.