Exploring Winter Excitement along the Gunflint Trail in Minnesota

Jan 11, 2024

We’re back with another fun wintertime travel guide, this time with a little extra serving of adventure on the side! Today, we’re highlighting the winter wonderland of Gunflint Trail, Minnesota, and giving you all the exciting details about the 2024 Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race. So gather up your friends and family, pack up the skis and snowshoes, and let’s hit the road!

For those who love a good scenic drive, the Gunflint Trail’s 57 mile National Scenic Byway takes you through the incredible Superior National Forest. While the destination is popular in warmer weather for hiking, moose watching, canoeing, and more, it’s got no shortage of entertainment and excitement when the temps drop and snow starts falling! As you drive along, you’ll find pristine Minnesota forest and landscape, unparalleled views of sparkling lake views, and plenty of cozy lodges and resorts to warm yourself by the fireside and enjoy a hot meal. Once youve recharged from your drive, it’s time to hit the trails!

Winter Day Treks are perfect for taking in the scenery and enjoying the great outdoors. Explore the forests along Kekekabic Trail on a guided tour. Take in the scenery, enjoy the wilderness lake views, and visit historic sites like the Gunflint Fire Tower.

Ice Fishing is an ever popular regional favorite activity! Whether you choose to rent an Ice Fishing cabin nearby, or head out for a day of lake trout and rainbow trout guided fishing tours, or enjoy a walkable trip from resorts like Gunflint Pines, we are sure you will pull in a catch worthy of a photo!

Make some memories to last a lifetime by hopping aboard an historic sleigh pulled by impressive Clydesdale working horses. Horse Drawn carriage rides are available all year, but in the winter, the whole family will have a blast on an Amish Pioneer horse drawn sleigh! It offers a unique perspective of the area, and an unforgettable experience.

If you love hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing, you’ll find plenty of professionally groomed trails. Grab a trail access pass from a nearby lodge or resort (Bearskin Lodge, Gunflint Lodge, or Golden Eagle Lodge are a few options!) Trails are marked by level of difficulty and terrain, so visitors of all experience levels will have a great time. For those with a need for speed, you can also take an ATV or Snowmobile tour of the area for a more exhilarating tour experience.

Take in the snowy sights, sunsets, and sunrises in the area for some unparalleled nature and landscape photography opportunities. If you’re lucky, you may spot some of the roaming regional wildlife including Moose, Wolves, Bear, Deer, Loons, Foxes, Lynxes, Swans, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and many more.

If you’re looking for cozy dining options and delicious warming foods, there’s plenty of options to choose from! The Poplar Haus Restaurant, Hungry Jack Lodge Dining & Bar, Loons Nest Coffee, Trail Center Lodge, The Crooked Spoon, Angry Trout Cafe, and Justine’s are just a few local eateries worth mentioning.

Of course, we can’t leave the dog lovers out of the loop on our list! If you’re interested in trying your hand at Skijoring with your pups or taking a dog sledding tour of the Gunflint Area, there’s plenty of options! Enter the skijoring events such as Pincushion Winter Festival Ski Race and Tour or the Dog Days of Winter Sled Dog Derbies and Skijoring Races. For those who wish a more relaxed experience, skijoring is available on a handful of cross-country trails in the area, but you’ll want to check the trailhead info at each spot to be sure it’s dog-friendly. For dogsledding, we recommend booking a tour with Points Unknown Dogsledding or Cast Outdoor Adventures.

To those who prefer to keep two feet firmly planted on the ground, you can surely enjoy being a spectator for professional dog sledding activities. The Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon are going to be right up your alley! This year the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race takes place on February 10th 2024 for a total of 65 miles distance with 10-dog teams; up to 15 teams will be competing this year, and the race is split into two 32.5 mile legs. The John Beargrease Sled Dog Race kicks off its 40th event on a postponed-due-to-weather date of January 26th 2025, so there’s plenty of time to plan your trip for next year ahead of schedule. In the meanwhile, you can help keep the race going and prepare for next season by donating the the cause!