Gunflint Trail in a class of its own

Any time spent on the Gunflint Trail is time well spent. It’s a vacation destination in a class of its own with very few places like it on earth. The 57 mile paved scenic highway winds through the Superior National Forest past tall pine trees and sparkling lakes. Turn onto any one of the side roads and you’re sure to find a lake or hiking trail to suit your needs. The side road you drive will end quickly and just beyond it the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness begins. Whether you stay in a resort, camp in a campground, hike a trail or venture into the BWCAW for a canoe trip there’s no better place to experience solitude and beauty than the Gunflint Trail.

I’ve traveled quite a bit over the years and every time I visit somewhere I compare it to the Gunflint Trail. We are so lucky to have this gem of a place and to have raised our kids at the end of the Trail. Other places in the world may have some of the allure but they also have tons of people. Our National Parks are nice but with timed entries, bumper to bumper traffic, no parking spaces at the scenic overlooks and trails where you shuffle past people shoulder to shoulder are not my idea of fun. There are a number of rivers and lakes in the world you can paddle but how many of those can you drink the water from or even swim in? Other countries offer unique landscapes and wilderness areas to experience but unlike the Boundary Waters there might be roads, cabins and airplanes that fly overhead. Everything I compare to the Gunflint Trail comes up short.

The Gunflint Trail doesn’t have guaranteed cell phone coverage, a plethora of fancy restaurants to choose from, lively bars or wax museums but that’s fine with me. There’s no place I’d rather be than on the Gunflint Trail or beyond enjoying the peace and quiet of the woods and water.