Gitchi-Gami Trail Maps

Trail Mail (350kb)

When completed, the Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) will be a premier 86 mile non-motorized trail running between Two Harbors and Grand Marais, Minnesota, along the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior.

GGST segments are being completed through a joint effort of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) and the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA). Construction of the 86 mile GGST has been divided into several segments. Listed below are 5 trail segments that are either completed or are nearing completion. You may follow planning and construction of other trail segments by clicking on The Trail thumbnail on the Home Page of our web site. We hope the information provided below about parking and other available amenities will be helpful to you.

Silver Creek Cliff Segment

This one mile isolated segment circumnavigates the Silver Creek Tunnel and is constructed on the old scenic Highway 61 road bed. This segment offers 4,000 feet of continuous vistas of Lake Superior. This segment is also the site of the Sjoquist bench, donated in honor of Paul L. Sjoquist of Two Harbors. Parking is available at the east end of the tunnel.

 

Gooseberry Falls State Park

This segment currently has 8.4 miles of completed trail. With the 2006 completion of the 3.5 mile segment connecting Gooseberry Falls State Park to the Split Rock River, there will be a stretch of 13.1 completed miles.
The 8.4 mile segment of the GGST between Split Rock River and Beaver Bay is the longest and most scenic of the currently completed trail segments. A spur trail connects to the historic Split Rock Lighthouse. The GGST can be accessed at two designated Trail Heads along this segment: at the Trail Center in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and at the Beaver River in Beaver Bay. The Trail Center parking lot offers parking, restroom facilities and drinking water. Restaurants, restroom facilities and other amenities are available in Beaver Bay.
The completed isolated 1.2 mile segment near Gooseberry Falls State Park does not have a good access point. There currently is no available parking in the State Park. When the trail is later completed through Gooseberry Falls State Park, estimated to be July, 2007, the access point will be at the parking lot near Lake Superior adjacent to the scenic Gooseberry River. Water, parking and restrooms are available at the park's administration building.

 

Temperance River State Park Segment

This trail segment is 3.0 miles long and connects the towns of Schroeder and Tofte. Parking is available at the MnDOT wayside rest in Schroeder and/or at the Tofte Town Park/Public Access on Lake Superior. This segment travels through the interior of Temperance River State Park and crosses the Temperance River Gorge. This trail segment also offers a very scenic view of Carlton Peak, with its elevation of 1526 feet.

 

Tofte to Onion River

This 2.5 mile trail segment connects the town of Tofte to 1/2 mile west of Onion River, where it dead ends. This trail segment currently offers greater parking challenges than other trail segments. At this time there is no designated public parking available. Bikers are advised to speak with business owners before parking and leaving vehicles on private property. Food, beverages and restroom facilities are available in Tofte.

 

Grand Marais

The 1.5 mile segment of completed GGST in Grand Marais lies within the Grand Marais city limits. This trail segment connects to the Grand Marais Corridor Trail, a one mile paved bike trail that travels through the heart of downtown Grand Marais. There currently is no designated parking area for this segment of the GGST but the Coast Guard Point parking area is one possibility. All amenities are available in scenic Grand Marais.

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